Sixteen Canadian Designers Set to Reimagine Bathroom Tissue as Couture for Breast Cancer Cause
The 2026 Cashmere Collection embraces the theme “Symphony,” blending established names with fresh talent for its 23rd annual fundraiser.
Kruger Products has unveiled the designer lineup for its 2026 Cashmere Collection, the annual fashion fundraiser that challenges Canadian designers to turn soft-strength bathroom tissue into wearable art. This year’s theme, Symphony, brings together sixteen creatives — nine returning veterans and seven newcomers — for a runway show built around the idea of individual voices harmonizing into one collective statement.
The initiative, now in its 23rd year, continues to use fashion as a vehicle for breast cancer awareness. More than 30,000 Canadians receive a breast cancer diagnosis annually, and over its history the Cashmere Collection has channeled over $5.6 million toward research, support programs, and awareness efforts through its charitable partners, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.
Who’s on the 2026 Roster
Returning designers include Antoinette Di Carlo, Christopher Paunil, Donn Sabean, Catherine Addai, Kelsey Erin, Lesley Hampton, Nikki Yassemi, Oscar Mendoza, and Sam Wong — spanning Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax’s design scenes.
Joining them as first-time participants are Claudette Floyd, Curtis Matysek, Funmilayo Odeniyi, Richard Wei, Somaya Ahmadi, Sudha Hemnani, and Tia Kureshi, representing cities including Vancouver, Burnaby, and Middle Sackville.
The Bigger Picture
Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer at Kruger Products, framed the roster as a mix of experience levels united by a “common purpose to shine a spotlight on the breast cancer cause through the spirit of fashion with compassion.”
The collection will be revealed publicly on October 7, 2026, at Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto. Starting that evening at 9 p.m. EST, the public can vote for their favorite garment online — each vote triggers a $1 donation from Cashmere, capped at $100,000. A parallel campaign around specially marked pink-ribbon packages of Cashmere and Purex tissue adds another potential $100,000 to the cause.
