Judge, Project Runway Canada

Shawn Hewson was born in Montreal and grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, where he attended high school and university. In 1995, Shawn moved to Toronto to attend law school at the University of Toronto, following which he pursued a career as a corporate lawyer at a large downtown law firm. In 2002, Shawn and his wife, Ruth Promislow—both practising lawyers—founded Bustle Clothing, launching the brand with a line of men’s and women’s’ T-shirts. After a successful season as a T-shirt line, Bustle was expanded to a small collection of men’s and women’s sportswear pieces. The aesthetic of Bustle caught the attention of the fashion community and the collections, as well as the brand, continued to grow. In 2004, Shawn left his career in law to focus on Bustle full time.

Now in its tenth season, Bustle has become a leading Canadian sportswear label known for its cheeky, sexy, and sharply tailored leisure aesthetic. Shawn and Bustle have been retained for numerous custom projects, including designing for brands such as Vespa, Ford of Canada, Deschini International Handbags, Miller Genuine Draft, the Pantages Suites, and Cosmopolitan Hotel & Spa, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, and the Fashion Design Council of Canada. Shawn is involved with numerous charitable organizations and activities, including The Face of Fashion, Charity Step, and Fashion Cares, and also gives volunteer seminars to fashion students on the business challenges faced by young designers. Celebrities who have worn Bustle’s designs include Nicole Richie, Tara Spencer-Nairn, Stacy McKenzie, Jake Gold, J.D. Fortune, and Jesse Metcalfe.