Fashion

A Conversation with Drunk Gurl’s John Michael

It has been a little over a week since John Michael’s Drunk Gurl – MICHAEL Collection hit the runway for not only breathtaking fashion, but a heartfelt tribute as well.

I have had the privilege and honor of working with John Michael on three occasions: Halifax Fashion Week 2025 and 2026, as well as Paris Fashion Week in October 2025. John Michael is one of those rare people who makes you feel safe, welcomed, and at ease from the moment you meet him. His warmth is matched only by his passion, and that passion is undeniably contagious. It shines through in every conversation, every interaction, and every piece he creates. This light translates directly into his work, where each collection tells a story with authenticity and heart. Watching him channel both his creativity and his grief into the MICHAEL Collection was a testament not only to his talent as a designer, but also to his strength as a person.

John Michael’s Drunk Gurl collections have traditionally celebrated the playful and lighthearted spirit that deﬁnes the brand. This year, however, the collection took on a far more personal meaning, evolving into a heartfelt and powerful tribute to his father, Michael Kirk Brewer, who lost his life to Glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

John Michael describes his father as someone who remained positive throughout both his life and his battle with the disease, choosing gratitude and optimism even in the face of the unimaginable. That resilience became the foundation of the collection, with each piece reﬂecting not only the deep love between the two but also the strength and enduring legacy Kirk left behind.

Glioblastoma remains one of the most under-researched forms of cancer, due in part to its rarity and the limited public awareness surrounding the disease. Through Drunk Gurl, John Michael set out to help change that, using fashion as a platform to spark conversation and bring greater attention to the cause. “You see nowadays that breast cancer has many treatments, and the success rate is much higher than it was in the past,” John Michael explains. “That didn’t happen overnight. It happened because awareness was raised, which helped fund critical research.” He hopes to inspire similar progress for Glioblastoma, a disease which treatment options remain limited and outcomes are often devastating. “I want to bring the same awareness to Glioblastoma. There are families like mine whose loved ones are diagnosed and are left to research and learn about it on their own because there is so little information and so few resources available.” He notes that many patients face treatments with extremely low chances of success, highlighting the urgent need for greater funding, research, and public attention.

Initially, John Michael did not intend to return to Halifax Fashion Week this year as he was taking the time to be with his family and care for his father. After his passing, John Michael received a bag of his father’s clothes, which were initially to be donated. After spending some time in the trunk of his car, the clothes never made it to donations and instead wound up in John Michael’s studio. Grief has many ways of showing and many ways of coping, and to John Michael, he found comfort in his art. After conversations with Solitha Shortte, founder and owner of Soli Productions, Halifax Fashion Week and Soli Management, as well as Blair Bartlett, a close friend and Director of Photography for Soli Productions, John Michael was encouraged to transform his grief into something meaningful. They encouraged him to take a leap of faith and create a collection that would serve as both a tribute to his father and a platform to raise awareness for Glioblastoma during Halifax Fashion Week’s 5th Annual event.

At ﬁrst John Michael expressed being hesitant, he wanted to be mindful of his family’s emotions and whether they were ready to see such a public reﬂection of their grief. However, with the unwavering support of both his family and the fashion community, John Michael moved forward with what would become the MICHAEL Collection, a heartfelt testament to the enduring bond between him and his father.

Though most fashion shows have open castings, John Michael went in another direction, and instead of casting, he reached out to those who have worked with him in the past. “I just felt it was important to be around familiar faces and the Drunk Gurl family we’ve created” he continued: “the team I have worked with in the past has become a somewhat of a second family to me, and I wanted this show to be full of unconditional love and support amongst all of us.”

After many long nights in his basement, John Michael was able to create a truly wonderful collection with nostalgia and memorability in each piece. Many pieces included fabric from his father’s clothes. Some pieces were completely made up of his father’s ﬂannels, jeans and shirts while others featured subtle details and textures that served as quiet tributes to the man he was. Every look carried a piece of his father’s story, resulting in a collection that was not only visually stunning but also a heartfelt celebration of Michael Kirk Brewer’s life, legacy, and enduring presence.

One of the pieces included a blue hat to represent the hat John Michael gave his father for Christmas and kept with him through treatment and would insist that it made him feel better. This blue hat will be intended for a fundraiser going forward to further support the funding for Glioblastoma research.

The show concluded with Atlantic Canada Top Model, Arjun Pandey setting down one of Kirk Brewer’s cowboy hats, followed by models carrying roses and carefully placing them next to the hat. John Michael was met with applause and standing ovation after his show, and backstage was a space full of love and unconditional support. To have been a part of this collection and be by my dear friend John Michael’s side was an honor I will never forget.

As for the future of Drunk Gurl, John Michael already has a whirlwind of ideas in motion, including an extension of his men’s line as well as appearances at both Paris and Milan Fashion Week this fall. He is currently creating two new, consecutive collections. The first, Oma collection, will be nod to the women who follow their heart and carve their own path. The second line, Nati collection, named in honor of Solitha Shortte, the founder and owner of Soli Productions, Halifax Fashion Week and Soli Management. Nati will return to the core values that ﬁrst deﬁned Drunk Gurl: conﬁdence, vibrancy, self-expression, and authenticity. Together, these new ventures mark an exciting new era for John Michael, one that continues to push creative boundaries while remaining true to the spirit that built his brand.

The MICHAEL Collection was a runway to remember. Through every stitch and fabric choice, John Michael transformed grief into art, ensuring his father’s story would live on in a way that was near and dear to his heart. By sharing such a deeply personal journey, he not only honored the life and legacy of Michael Kirk Brewer but also shone a much-needed light on Glioblastoma and the families affected by it. As the ﬁnal rose was placed on the runway, it was clear that this collection represented something greater than fashion.

Thank you, my dear friend, for creating this beautiful collection and giving me the honor of walking in it. I, along with the fashion community cannot wait for what you create next.