Meet Fashion Santa
Fashion Santa wasn’t a guaranteed success. But the world took notice in 2014, after Paul Mason, aka “Fashion Santa”, showed up in a Toronto area mall. Massive international press ensured a great start for the brand, which five years later takes Paul across North America every Christmas season.
Highlights:
- How veteran fashion model Paul Mason developed his iconic Fashion Santa character
- Which markets accepted this new Santa… and which ones did not
- The magic (and risks) of developing a brand around a well-known cultural character
- And why you’ll never see a chair in Paul’s selfie photos.
About Our Guest
Paul Mason
Paul Mason is one of Canada’s most famous male models. He has served as the face of Toronto Men’s Fashion Week and walked the runways of London and Paris, Tokyo and New York, for designers such as Gianni Versace, Dior, Dolce & Gabanna and Armani.
In 2014, Paul created the “Fashion Santa” character, which took the world by storm and became a viral phenomenon during the 2015 Christmas season. Over 88 hours of selfies were taken, including one with fellow Canadian superstar Justin Bieber, to raise money for SickKids Hospital, with the sensation continuing into the New Year. Paul has now become a champion for a number of causes, including SickKids Hospital, Terry Fox Foundation and Hope Springs Cancer Resource Centre.
Paul’s mission today is simple: to help those that need it most by enlivening the spirit of Santa. All of Paul’s work is grounded in philanthropy, with every appearance tied to a charity or non-profit organization.
In a world filled with influencers, Paul stands out. He is just as comfortable in front of the camera doing an interview as he is walking international runways. He is a sought after spokesperson for a number of different brands.
Speaking of brands, Paul holds all trademarks and copyrights to Fashion Santa. The brand has made Paul a household name and made Santa not only fashionable, but sophisticated.
SNAPSHOTS
Photographer: Chris Nicholls | Model: Paul Mason