FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE

CELEBRATED CANADIAN FASHION DESIGNER
MARILYN BROOKS, C.M., O.Ont PASSES AWAY

TORONTO (July 5, 2026) – Celebrated Canadian fashion designer Marilyn Brooks, C.M., O.Ont, passed away yesterday at the age of 93 years. Marilyn Brooks was a trailblazing fashion designer, retailer, mentor and creative force who dominated and helped build the Canadian fashion scene for over four decades. Few designers have impacted the Canadian fashion industry and endeared themselves to such a loyal following from across Canada as has Marilyn Brooks.

Born in Binghamton, New York and raised in Detroit, Marilyn discovered her love of sewing at the age of eight. Shortly after starting a career in the U.S. as a display director, she moved to Toronto to assume the role as a Director of Display for John Northway & Son Ltd., a Toronto-based retailer. In no time, she began to take Toronto by storm, as well as falling in love with her new country. Her enthusiasm and creativity were catalysts that launched a remarkable career, one that would reshape the Canadian fashion landscape.

Marilyn began her legacy with the launch of The Unicorn in 1963, a first-of-its-kind and highly successful boutique she opened with her then husband, John Brooks, in a funky area of Toronto’s Gerrard Street West. Shortly after, the Unicorn expanded to key centres in Canada and the U.S. Marilyn, then went on to pioneer a vertical fashion business model that amalgamated designing, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing and led to the launch and expansion of Marilyn Brooks Boutiques in Canada and the U.S.

In addition to making an indelible mark as one of Canada’s leading fashion designers, Marilyn was also dedicated to creating and promoting the Canadian fashion industry. She was tireless in her efforts to ensure Canadian fashion designers had a forum to showcase their semi-annual Collections.

When the Canadian Fashion Designers Association of Canada disbanded in the late ‘70s, Marilyn quickly assembled a group of Toronto fashion designers and founded Toronto Ontario Designers (TOD). TOD continued the legacy of presenting semi-annual designer Collection fashion shows for several years. This was followed by her involvement with Designers Ontario, a non-profit organization representing Canadian fashion designers and which produced the Matinée Fashion Ready-to-Wear Shows. Marilyn became the President of Designers Ontario in 1999 after the loss of the Matinée Fashion sponsorship and later renamed the organization the Fashion Designers’ Council of Canada.

Marilyn was also a member of the Advisory Board for the School of Fashion at both Seneca College and Ryerson University, now known as Toronto Metropolitan University. She worked tirelessly to ensure young designers were well-equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the industry once graduating. In addition, she was an active fundraiser for numerous prominent charities including Big Brothers, Parkinson Canada, UNICEF and Fashion Cares as well as community-based organizations such as the Cabbagetown Youth Centre.

Her commitment to the Canadian Fashion Industry led to Toronto Mayor Art Eggleton declaring February 4, 1988, as Marilyn Brooks Day in recognition of her 25 years of contributions to Toronto’s fashion and retail landscape. The Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Association (BIA) also recognized her many years of commitment to the area, by mounting a plaque in her name on Cumberland Street in 1999. She was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2000 in recognition of her contribution to the fashion industry, her success as a leading fashion designer and mentorship of designers. She was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2022, an exceptional honour which recognizes her as one of Canada’s most iconic fashion designers.

“As a kid growing up in Toronto in the ‘60s, Marilyn was one of my first fashion idols,” says Jeanne Beker, CM, renowned Canadian fashion journalist and media personality. “Her Unicorn boutique was the Mecca of cool, and with it, she introduced us fashion-hungry Canadians to untold sartorial possibilities. Throughout the years, Marilyn was the “Queen of Hip”, and her bold vision, unparalleled style savvy and kind, nurturing nature will forever remain an inspiration to all of us who adored her.”

The highlights of Marilyn’s 40-year career were captured in her autobiography “Behind the Seams: 40 Years of Adventures in Fashion, Music and Art From The Swingin’ Sixties Onward” which was launched in 2017 at the Royal Ontario Museum. A private funeral will be held for family, with a public celebration of life to follow later in the year. Marilyn is survived by her husband of 44 years, Kennedy Coles.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Norma Meneguzzi Spall
The Results Group Public Relations
416-686-9110
norma@theresultsgrouppr.com
media@marilynbrooks.com