The Cashmere Collection designer competition has returned, and once again it features a New Brunswick designer.

Chavah Lindsay of Grand Bay-Westfield was the 2024 winner, and she was invited back to be a part of the collection again this year.

Over the last 20 years, the Cashmere Collection has raised over five million dollars in support of breast cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment programs.

Lindsay’s submission for 2025 was inspired by the Bay of Fundy tides.

“It is my third time being part of the collection. My first time was back in 20 19 and then last year was the winning year. This year I am back, but it’s a little different this year. Last year, there was a live vote, and this year, there is voting up until October 31,” Lindsay told our newsroom.

The theme for the 2025 Cashmere Collection is ‘Tapestry of the North.’

“I kind of went back to the roots of my childhood and time spent on the beach on Deer Island on the Bay of Fundy. I wanted to encompass that uniqueness that is the Bay of Fundy, with the highest tides in the world. The dress is actually two looks,” Lindsay said.

“Whether the tide was high or low, there was always adventure. Those days shaped me. This dress reflects that story. The overskirt comes off, revealing a second look… high tide and low tide. Because life has both. The swelling highs and the quiet lows. The moments that feel overwhelming, and the ones that lay everything bare and show you what’s been hidden underneath. Both sides matter. Both are beautiful.”

Dresses are made entirely from toilet paper, and Lindsay said it’s not easy to construct something out of that material.

“It’s very fragile, so you can’t just cut into it. You have to have a plan of action. We don’t get to meet with the models ahead of time, so it really needs to be an adaptable design. I went with a corset back so it can be flexible in sizing, and then a wraparound skirt. I’ve definitely run into some issues in the past where, like, the needle has ripped my tissue. Then it doesn’t matter how far you are into the design; you have to start over again. So instead of working against the toilet paper, I worked with it. I created my own textile, so instead of just sewing the toilet paper straight up, I adhered it to the fabric, and then it became really resilient,” Lindsay explained.

The toilet paper isn’t provided in rolls, like most are familiar with. It is similar to a sheet of fabric, and Lindsay was provided with several pieces.

The two looks of Lindsay’s design reflect not only the Bay of Fundy, but also the growth and process that people go through with cancer, which is what this event is all about.

She was quite honoured to be chosen for the competition because some big-name designers are also involved. “Cancer is also close to my heart because I lost my mom to cancer. I think most people in the world know someone who has been diagnosed with it, or who has been touched in some way by cancer. To be able to give back through my fashion and my art is really great.”

Sixteen designers from across Canada are vying for the top spot in the 2025 Cashmere Collection.

You can vote for your favourite until October 31.