NEW YORK, Feb 5, 2004/ FW/ --- Calgary-based designer Paul Hardy will unveil his Fall/Winter collection at New York's Olympus Fashion Week at The Studio Noir, on Monday, February 9th at 9:00 AM.

Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Canada the 30-year-old designer has been emerging as one of the most promising design talents Canada has seen in the last decade. Now he is expanding his pursuits on a more global level.

Hardy maintains a unique design sense by marketing a line from a social concept rather than a visible brand. This modern day storyteller continuously inspires his loyal followers with an aspiration to excel with greatness in their lives, to think outside the box and inevitably live life more abundantly. His non-conformist approach stemming from the themes of his collections, challenge individuals with an idea. Once understood, one is left with the responsibility as to whether or not they are going to act upon what they have learned.

This season's collection is inspired by the Biblical story of Rahab - the harlot and her scarlet cord. The Paul Hardy Fall/Winter 2004 collection is a visual metaphor for the city of Jericho 'deconstructed' and in ruins, like a stark canvas of black, white, and shades of gray. It also reflects a woman's struggle for social acceptance paralleled by the tension of the element of rope, and its ability to liberate or to bind…drawing in accents of crimson red. Freeing herself from the mental bondage that she was only good for one thing, Rahab found truth in reality and chose to enter into a new community of acceptance. It evokes the idea that sometimes a city, a person, a concept, needs to be broken in order for it to be built upon.

However, beyond the profound underlying messages of his collections are clothes that carry a timeless mark of complex simplicity, resulting in luxurious functional garments.

Women's Wear Daily has coined Hardy's designs as "thoughtful, well-made and wearable…soft, sophisticated clothes."

Hardy's signature are separates that focus on the layering of textures by manipulating and mixing traditional evening and daytime fabrics together.

For more information, check out www.paulhardydesign.com