When Dish designer Jason Trotzuk started envisioning his spring line, he was reacting to the wars and terrorism dominating our media, minds, and even fashions. He decided to go in the opposite direction.

"I could see all these utility and military looks--all these greens and browns," says Trotzuk, found in his creative oasis, a studio past the legions of denim sewers and patternmakers at the back of parent company Pimlico's gigantic jeans factory in Burnaby. "I thought, 'For the last couple of years we were serious and worried, and spring could be a time to be self-indulgent. We have not seen corals and teals in a long time, and let's bring back a return to brightness.' "

The result is a feminine, vibrant new collection that edges into slightly dressy, preppy, colour-saturated jeanswear. Think wrap halters with floral prints and satin trim; striped velour tube tops in eye-searing fuchsia and yellow; and bubble-gum-pink sleeveless polos with mesh backs. All are meant to complement Dish's staple jeans: back-to-basics, vintage-washed looks with impeccable fits. ("Whiskering is over," Trotzuk announces.) There are still utility-style pants that gather up the sides with drawstrings, but this season they're made of crisp poplin in hues like a lettuce-lime green.

Just as Trotzuk's colours are lighter, so are his fabrics. One strong emphasis of the latest line is linen. "Everyone loves it, but no one's really brought it to that street level before," he says. He's reinterpreted it for pieces like fitted capris and miniskirts in the same sun-drenched palette.

Another big push is layering. If you need one item from Dish this spring, it's a double set of sheer, textured tanks (made of ribbed rayon jersey); sexy and body-clinging, they come in fun combinations like fuchsia and orange or khaki and pale pink. Stack them again over one of Dish's long-sleeved, scoop-neck tops in gauzy mesh-jersey to achieve the colour blocking that Trotzuk says is so important this year.

With such style-setting American stores as Fred Segal and Saks Fifth Avenue picking up Dish, plus a recent mention in Lucky magazine, Trotzuk seems to be finding a niche for apparel that's evolved from ultra-casual clothing for the 14-to-20 set to a somewhat more sophisticated line that can appeal to anyone 14 to 28 and up. "Dish is a young, contemporary street line and I'm trying to grow with the customer," he says.

Dish is available at Aritzia (various locations), Off the Wall (various locations), Hangers (Park Royal), and Below the Belt (various locations). Prices range from about $30 for a wrap camisole and $44 for a matching tank set up to $78 to $150 for jeans.