May 2, 2002/ FW/ --- Showing her debut collection this season at Toronto Fashion Week, Eryn Reid's theme "Plexippus," has a personal meaning.

A former competitive figure skater, Reid routinely covered her hair with a scarf to cover her hair while practicing.

The scarf was emblazoned with the monarch butterfly's wing design.

This scarf served as a talisman to her trade and became an inspiration for PLEXIPPUS, the designer's debut collection.

Plexippus is Latin for monarch butterfly.

Known for its relentless migration and metamorphic transitions, the Monarch butterfly is a fitting symbol for the designer who after touring much of the U.S. and Europe figure skating decided to go to fashion designing.

A radical change, just like the butterfly who goes from caterpillar, to cocoon to the beautiful Monarch and its remarkable wing design.

Taking a bold step for a freshman, Reid showed both men's and women's collection at the The Liberty Grand.

Traces of Reid's inspiration are revealed in the many changes found in the range.

The cocoon stage of the monarch is transposed sartorially into a white cashmere coat, providing vivid form and a gentle silhouette.

Warm tones of autumn and those eponymous to the monarch, sum up the palette of colours from which Reid executes with remarkable deliverance.

There are a lot of references to the 1960s and 1970s, as shown by the I-Dream-of-Jeannie inspired outfit.

You can see Yves Saint Laurent's peasant look with the black and red skirt and top, which is almost a Spanish gypsy costume.

The collection is a good showing for a designer on a freshman status, though it could have used some editing.

With a total of 54 looks shown, the statement was lost somewhere in between.

Eryn Reid