Guest Judges, Project Runway Canada

Joseph Mimran

Joseph Mimran has worked in the fashion business for over 25 years and has been involved in creating some of Canada’s most exciting and best-known brands. In 1980 he championed a few designer brands, most notably, Alfred Sung. The company expanded into the U.S. and eventually extended the brand into licensed products over a myriad of categories such as fragrances, eyewear, sunglasses, jewelry and most recently a home collection.

In 1984 Joe co-founded Club Monaco, where he acted as President and CEO. In 1995 Joe launched Caban a lifestyle home products and fashion concept that was unique and geared to the growing numbers of design motivated consumers. In 2000 he sold both concepts to Ralph Lauren Polo Corporation.

After the sale Joe started Joseph Mimran & Associates, providing design, product development and branding positioning services. Through this venture Joe has been involved in numerous exciting and emerging business ventures. Some of these include: Pink Tartan, Tevrow + Chase, the Loblaws PC line of general merchandise focused on the home; and, most recently, the Joe Fresh Style clothing line.

Joe is also the Chair of the Fashion Design Council of Canada.

Kimberley Newport-Mimran

As one of North America’s leading clothing designers, Kimberley Newport Mimram is the creative mind and driving force behind Pink Tartan. Currently one of Canada and the United States’ most in-demand lines, Pink Tartan recently extended its relationship with high-end department store Saks Fifth Avenue and is now carried in over 170 stores across the continent.

Kimberley founded Pink Tartan in 2002 in partnership with her husband and business partner, Joseph Mimran. The move to create her own label followed the birth of her daughter in 2001, hence the “Pink” in Pink Tartan. Together with her husband they created a line of sophisticated and chic sportswear that is a reflection of Kimberley’s style and personality. After bursting onto the Canadian fashion scene in 2002, Newport brought PT to New York and opened its showroom in the fall of 2004, and has since been commissioned to design uniforms for luxury lifestyle clients such as The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel’s Tropicana Bar and Porter Airlines.

The results speak for themselves, counting such A-list celebrities as Kate Hudson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Fergie, Nelly Furtado, Vanessa Williams, Anna Paquin, Kim Catrall, Yasmin Warsame, Lisa Cant and Heather Marks among its loyal customers; making Pink Tartan one of North America’s most coveted lines.