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   Another standout was Karo Pépin. The designer, a beautiful young woman with masses of curly hair, hails from the isolated Beauce region far on the north shore of Québec. She began designing only in 1998. She has a wonderful way with unusual fabrics, using lots of shirring and smocking. There was sureness and sophistication in a simple shirt dress silhouette, cropped mini length in green satin. Or the beige three-quarter-length zip-front coat in a distinctly shirred, slightly distressed fabric. Or the soft, shirred ribboned tops against skin-tight pants, hot pants or skirts. Definitely one to watch.

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TOP AND ABOVE LEFT: Karo Pépin. LEFT, ABOVE CENTRE AND ABOVE RIGHT: Antonio Ortega, the best of last season’s Designer Début collections. In the centre is ballet dancer Rachel Ruler.