HILARY MACMILLAN: The Toronto Designer to Know If You Love Colour With a Conscience
Pretty clothes are lovely. Pretty clothes with a backbone? That's a whole different conversation.
Hilary MacMillan is the designer I wish I'd discovered sooner. She's from my city, she designs for women of every size, and she once put "Equal Pay" on the back of a varsity jacket like it was the most natural thing in the world. Because it is. With fashion week around the corner, she's the Toronto name I want on everyone's radar.
2022 Barbie Mattel × Hilary Macmillan CANADA MADE Chevron Cardigan Crocheted
THE STORY
Hilary MacMillan grew up in Toronto and moved to Vancouver for university, where she earned a degree in Political Science and Economics at the University of British Columbia. Then she switched lanes completely and completed a one-year Fashion Design program at Blanche Macdonald Centre.
She came back to Toronto and launched her namesake womenswear label in 2013. She draws on fashion history and past decades, with details like epaulettes, military styling and corsetry, and she's built the brand around her values: cruelty-free vegan materials, local production and fair wages. Her sister later joined the business to run the numbers side.
Her Feminist Capsule varsity jackets carried slogans like "Equal Pay" and "Smash the Patriarchy," with 15% of sales donated to Up With Women, a nonprofit supporting women rebuilding their careers. She has shown at Toronto Fashion Week, collaborated with Mattel on a Barbie collection, and in 2023 was named one of six Canadian Emerging Fashion Designers by Amazon Canada.
SIGNATURE PIECES
Statement dresses: feminine shapes with a vintage-inspired twist.
Jumpsuits: polished, easy and made for real life.
The feminist varsity jacket: the slogan piece that started conversations.
Swimwear: bright, modern and size-inclusive.
FUN FACTS
She studied Political Science and Economics before fashion.
Her collections run from XS to 4X.
She once described her company as all-female run and all-female staffed.
She donated a $25,000 grant to her old fashion school to fund two scholarships.
Her designs have been worn by Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Kim Cattrall, Victoria Beckham and Tessa Virtue.
WHO IT'S FOR
Colour Lover · Modern Professional · Values-Led Shopper Hilary MacMillan is for the woman who wants her closet to reflect who she is, not just what's trending. If you're a minimalist, start with one of her solid jumpsuits. If you love colour, go straight for a printed dress.
HOW I'D WEAR IT
For a fashion week day, I'd wear one of her colourful dresses and turn the colour all the way up. A fuchsia midi dress with structured shoulders under a glossy red patent trench, belted, so pink and red colour-block from head to knee. Then silver block-heel Mary Janes, an emerald shoulder bag and silver earrings. It's loud, joyful and proudly Toronto. Supporting local designers is my favourite kind of front-row moment.
WHERE TO SHOP
Her own online store (search "Hilary MacMillan" to find it).
Designer marketplaces that carry independent labels, including Wolf & Badger.
Check the size chart. She designs for an extended size range.
IF YOU LOVE HILARY MACMILLAN, ALSO SEE… Andrea Iyamah · Escada (for bold colour) · Moschino Cheap and Chic (for clothes with a message)
Sources:
Blanche Macdonald: Fashion design grad Hilary MacMillan rises to Canadian style superstardom: https://blanchemacdonald.com/stories/fashion-design-grad-hilary-macmillan-rises-to-canadian-style-superstardom
FASHION Magazine: Hilary MacMillan: https://fashionmagazine.com/flare/identity-politics/hilary-macmillan/
Wolf & Badger: Hilary MacMillan: https://www.wolfandbadger.com/ca/designers/hilary-macmillan/
