Shaun Mascarenhas (Demascaré)
Toronto, ON
Returning Designer
Toronto-based designer Shaun Mascarenhas blends formal training with lived experience to create Demascaré’s gender-neutral demi-couture. Originally trained in Architecture, Shaun brings structural elegance to fashion, honed through work with Oscar de la Renta, Zac Posen, and Romona Keveza. His designs reflect sophistication, innovation, and timeless allure. Inspired by his Bangalore upbringing and his mother’s saree draping, Shaun developed a signature style rooted in cultural heritage and fluidity. With sustainability at its core, Demascaré transforms vintage sarees into modern couture, merging tradition with glamour. Shaun also mentors emerging fashion talent, continuing to shape the future of inclusive, conscious design.
Garment Inspiration
Shaun is dedicating his garment to his aunt who is currently battling her second round of breast cancer. The cape is an ode to Demascare’s very first design and also honours breast cancer survivors as warriors and superheroes. The multiple strips on the cape represent the diversity of Canada with regards to the culture and people of various backgrounds.
