High Fashion
The Marilyn Brooks label • 1963 – 2003
A lifetime of fun, fantasy, and fashion. From the legendary Unicorn in the early 1960s to Marilyn Brooks Boutiques in the 2000s — over 40 years of adventures in retail, fashion, music, and imagination. The colourful stories of this Canadian fashion icon’s creative life are plentiful and unforgettable: drama, daring, larger-than-life ideas and events, all carried by an infectious enthusiasm that continues to inspire.
About Marilyn Brooks
Few designers have impacted the Canadian fashion industry and endeared themselves to such a loyal following from coast to coast as has Marilyn Brooks. Celebrating over 40 years as one of Canada’s most renowned designers and media personalities, Brooks pioneered the concept of managing a vertical fashion business as a designer, manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer.
“I love what I do and love to inspire young people to follow their dreams”
Honours
Awards & Recognition
Marilyn Brooks’ lifelong devotion to improving and promoting the Canadian fashion industry has been recognized with numerous honours and awards. Beyond supporting its designers and mentoring young talent, she has dedicated countless hours to fundraising for causes including AIDS research, UNICEF, Parkinson’s, and the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. Her honours include the Order of Ontario in 2000 and the Order of Canada in 2022, two of Canada’s most distinguished civilian honours.
The Label
The Marilyn Brooks label represented fashion excellence with ease of wear and care for 40 years in the fashion business. The women who wore Marilyn’s designs ran the gamut from twenty onward, but they were all creative, self-confident women with strong personalities who exude warmth and humour.
Retrospective
“Designing woman closes up shop: Marilyn Brooks, a formidable force in the creation of Canada’s fashion industry, is moving on…”
The Calgary Herald – Sunday, February 2, 2003
by Doris Montane, The Calgary Herald
To most people that’s called retirement, but not to Brooks.
“We don’t use the ‘R’ word,” Brooks says. “It’s the ‘F’ word, fulfillment of a different kind. I’m going to do some things I’ve not been able to do.”
At the top of her list is Brooks’ first love… painting.
By the decade
1960s – 2000s
Marilyn Brooks shook up the fashion scene with the launch of The Unicorn in the early 1960s in Toronto. With gargantuan fashion shows known far and wide as the most fun and outrageous events ever to be held, and with attendance well above the thousands, it was a very special time in fashion history. Go back in time and enjoy a sampling of clothes from Marilyn Brooks’ original store, The Unicorn, and many decades beyond…
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
The FAQs
Frequently asked questions of Marilyn Brooks over the years.
Throwback Fun
Backstage chaos, runway sparkle, and a whole lot of fun — step inside the moments that didn’t make the headlines.
1970s
Marilyn Brooks, Elliott Gould and Susannah York
1970s
Acapulco photo shoot
AVENUE magazine, May 1983
Marilyn Brooks in her office 1976
Apartment fashion show, 1970s
Marilyn Brooks & actor Don Harron
Latest News
The scoop on this & that.
Marilyn Brooks Invested to the Order of Canada
Fashion Designer, Retailer, Mentor, Author November 17, 2022, OTTAWA — Today Marilyn Brooks was honoured in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa as she was invested into the Order of Canada. Former Governor General Michaëlle Jean presided over the investiture, as...
Order of Canada
Fashion Designer, Retailer, Mentor, Fundraiser, artist, Author June 29, 2022, TORONTO – It is with great pride and honour we announce today that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, has appointed Marilyn Brooks-Coles, O.Ont....
A new Year with Hope, Love and Creativity
As we start the new year, let’s look forward to a year filled with hope, love and creativity. I have been spending time safe have home with my husband, painting and keeping in touch with friends. We are so fortunate that in today’s day and age, we can go through...
