Career Timeline
1959
Annie Thompson was born in Goose Bay, Labrador.
1977
Graduated from Vincent Massey Secondary School in Windsor, Ontario, with honours; excelling in Arts.
1979
Graduated from University of Windsor’s Fine Arts Program.
Recipient of prestigious FASHION CANADA GRANT while attending Ryerson University.
1981
Graduated from Ryerson University’s Fashion Design Program.
1980 – 1982
Began her private label, ANNIE T, designing custom women’s wear.
1982 - 1991
Opened MMMONGO Boutique in Peterborough, Ontario, selling her collections; clothing designs, handbags, belts and jewellery for women and men.
1989
Honoured as “Woman of The Year” in Peterborough, Ontario.
1991
Women’s finalist and Men’s first runner-up in the Dubonet Design Contest.
1992 – 1994
Launched unique studio and in-store boutique, THOMPSON & BROWN PORTFOLIO, in Queen’s Quay Terminal, Toronto.
1992
First runner-up for the Evelyn Dollery Award.
1994 – 1998
Opened and operated retail studio, ANNIE THOMPSON STUDIO, at 38 Camden Street, Toronto.
1995
Recipient of the Yorkdale Design Discovery “Fashion Fantasy Award”.
1996 – 2000
Designed original creations for FASHION CARES fundraising gala for ACT Toronto.
1998 – 2008
Opened flagship store, ANNIE THOMPSON, at 674 Queen Street West, Toronto.
1999
Named “BEST DESIGNER ON QUEEN” by What’s On Queen.
2000
Honoured as “BEST CUSTOM DESIGNS ON QUEEN” by What’s On Queen.
2001
Launched the popular PERSONAL BAGGAGE COLLECTION of handbags.
Commissioned to design a line of bags for baby safety products company in Philadelphia, USA.
First solo art exhibit of paintings and sculptural textile installations by a Canadian fashion designer, “FOG-DOG”. Annie Thompson sold work at the Material Matters Contemporary Gallery in Toronto.
Named “BEST DESIGNER ON QUEEN” by What’s On Queen.
2003
Showcased work at Ontario College of Arts & Design’s GO WEST art gallery.
Participated in Toronto Fashion Incubator’s 15th Anniversary celebration. One-of-a-kind garment displayed at the Design Exchange.
Named “BEST DESIGNER” by Now Magazine.
2004
Dressed Canadian Music Award-winning singer TARA MCLEAN for the JUNO AWARDS.
Contributed four beautiful creations to the Design Exchange’s “PLASTIC” exhibit.
Annie Thompson’s ‘Acrylics on Canvas’ displayed in Studio Tour, Chautauqua Designs in Clarksburg, ON.
SHIFT GALLERY presented “Chances Are…” featuring paintings by Annie Thompson.
Participated in the TEXTILE AND COSTUME COMMITTEE’s “Magic of Indigo Blue” exhibit and auction at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto in conjunction with Levi’s®.
Curated the “Art-to-Wear Show” featuring work from her students from her textile design class at Ryerson University.
Canadian Designer at the KEILHAUER showroom in NYC; Annie Thompson showcased her textile installations - “Textillian and Sid”.
2005
Commissioned to create “Trans-Cultivation” – an environmental textile installation for the TTORONTO ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN AWARDS at the Art Gallery of Toronto.
2006
Annie celebrated her 25th ANNIVERSARY with a multi-media fashion and art retrospective for clients, friends, media, and industry at Toronto’s ultra-hip Mod Club.
Participated in Rock-It Promotions’ TASTEMAKERS LOUNGE during the Toronto International Film Festival where Hollywood celebrities got their hands on Annie’s one-of-a-kind specialties.
2007
Travelled to Japan as one of ten participants with the CANADIAN APPAREL FEDERATION as part of a Canadian Trade Mission.
Commissioned by leading office furniture design company, TEKNION to design ten one-of-a-kind eco-friendly, sustainable fashion sculptures used in an exhibit celebrating the grand opening of their Michael Vanderbyl-designed showroom in Toronto
Commissioned to design costumes for award-winning choreographer MICHELLE SILAGY’s “Necessary Velocity” dance performance.
Partnered with KEILHAUER SHOWROOM at the New York Design Center for her second textile installation entitled “New York Dolls”.
Annie Thompson showed in the FASHION TAKES ACTION eco-runway fashion show, Toronto.
Participated in Ryerson University School of Fashion’s REWIND GALA AND FASHION SHOW - celebrating fashion through the ages.
2008
While still catering to her loyal fashion clientele, Annie closed her much-loved Queen West boutique to allow time for her numerous artistic endeavors, re-opening, to the delight of her fans, a new studio at #1 Wiltshire Avenue, Studio 205, Toronto.
Commissioned once again by Teknion for a runway show and installation of one-of-a-kind fashion sculptures for the unveiling of their Calgary, Alberta showroom.
2009
Participated in “Fashion No No” - Visual Arts Exhibitions at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre –creating and installing life-size, thought-provoking fabric dolls.
Travelled to Kolkata, India to teach patternmaking and production of handbags to a range of non-english speaking Muslim and Hindu women.
Panel speaker for the Pamela Bol documentary “Who Does She Think She Is?”, Revue Cinema, Toronto.
Showcased her collection at [FAT] Toronto’s Alternative Arts & Fashion Week, Historic Distillery District’s Fermenting Cellar.
2009 – Upcoming / Ongoing
Ongoing - Annie Thompson Artelier “Open Studio Days” at 1 Wiltshire Avenue, Studio 205, Toronto. Visit http://www.anniethompson.ca/ for dates and times.
Created a completely experimental, one-of-a-kind robe made from recycled garments for Canadian musician SARAH SLEAN’s Recession-ista Canadian tour for her Montreal performance on June 4th. The dress is to be auctioned benefiting the David Suzuki Foundation.
Annie will be teaching classes on eco-fashion at the Lakeshore Arts Centre in Toronto.
Annie returns to NYC in October 2009 to present her collection of eco-friendly and sustainable upholstery fabric sculptures in Teknion’s NYC Showroom.
2010
Annie Thompson will return to India to continue her work with the Craft Council of West Bengal. Thompson will design and work with skilled technicians on a major textile art installation with a dance component to build revenue for the organization. Her work will be exhibited in Kolkata (Calcutta) and major centres across the globe beginning 2011.
March 2010 – Annie will be showcased as guest artist at the Birla Academy of Arts & Culture, Calcutta, India, Annie will present her latest works of acrylics on canvas.
Thompson, in collaboration with renowned Canadian textile artist DOROTHY CALDWELL, will exhibit work at the James Baird Foundation Gallery, Pouch Cove, Newfoundland. October 9 – October 29.
Annie will be travelling to Arizona in collaboration with the University of Toronto’s radio station CIUT for a fundraising project for Hopis youth.