Canada's KING of Resort

It's that time of the year when you're either planning ski and snow or coveting beach and sun - I'll take the latter! For the majority of us, vacation wear consists of a few short shorts and tanks; maybe some wedges and sundresses... But if you're the type to do some fashionable cruising (and you have a few extra bucks), consider skipping Kors or Klein and check out independent shops selling Canadian brands.

Arthur Mendonca is definitely one of Canada's most popular fashion designers of this decade - likely because of his (popular) trendy, colourful collections that are always feminine and sexy (what the ladies like) and are worn by celebs and socialistas who can afford their higher price points.

$$$ Available at Studio Labiri , 548 Danforth, Finishing Touches, 3281 Yonge, Joy Cherry 3323 Yonge, Scarlet Boutique, 363 Eglinton West

Hanging out at Toronto's Boutique Le Trou

Susie Love cuffs | Elizaveta Yankelovich a.k.a. Kameleon neckwear

Danielle Meder of final fashion

Boutique Le Trou, 940 Queen Street West
Full of high-quality Canadian designers including SD&R, Phillip Sparks, Nada, Lucian Matis, Zoran Dobric...

Franken-Jewellery : Do it youself!

Review by Daniel Wilson

I will admit that crafting, as a movement, frightens me a little. I just don’t feel I have it in me to be one of those people that can create fabulous ‘wearables’ out of flotsam and broken scraps. Apparently I was wrong.

Last week I arrived at Keep Six Contemporary art gallery (938 Bathurst St) somewhat apprehensively, but armed with a bag of broken jewels and an open mind for the meet-up of The Franken-Jewellery Swap.

This is the 3rd swap of the growing group of handy-hands that organizes itself through Facebook and word-of-mouth. “We still like to keep it casual here, but clearly this is catching on,” said organizer Julia Burton. As Uffie and The Teenagers played from the computer behind the desk, I sat down and found my own neon green plastic plate to serve as operating table. I gathered broken limbs of necklaces and bracelets that had been sent to the grave long ago.

The idea here is that everyone comes to the swap armed with bits and scraps they have either collected from second-hand shops or things they have saved when clasps broke or chains snapped. There is a warm communal spirit in the air. Slowly I started to get the hang of things. A former ESA teacher near me explained I could just help myself to the tools and the lady on the other side showed me how to bend tiny metal jump rings to attach things to each other.

I realized I had the beginnings of an amazing necklace on my hands. I took a Denis Gagnon pendant that I got from the opening of his Montreal boutique and I added a Hell’s Angels style earring, a strand of pearls and a black crystal chandelier pendant.

A couple hours after arriving at The Franken-Jewellery Swap I had, not only a terrific new necklace, but a changed opinion of crafters in general. These people are not anyone to be frightened of, but warm helpful people that if you embrace you can come away with the knowledge of creation.

The next swap is tentatively set for Feb 13th 7-10pm. $5 donation to participate please.
For confirmation of that date, join the Facebook group: The Franken-Jewellery Swap found at link http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6120589686

TFI’s New Labels Competition SEMI-FINALISTS Round 1

Six new designers from across Canada have been chosen to participate in the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s 2008 New Labels® Fashion Design Competition, held this April 24, 2008.

The semi-finalists include Adrienne Butikofer (Toronto), Eugenia Leavitt from Eugenia Designs (Montreal), Krista Ozolins from Plush (Toronto), Lara Presber (Calgary), Ashley Rowe of miss rowe (Toronto) and Oriol Swaan for Gino Gaudet (Saskatoon).

Stay tuned for updates about the annual competition - where one designer will win a prize package valued at $25,000 from ELLE Canada!

3x3 Mag Illustration Competition

Student Show: All work done by undergraduate and graduate students during the calendar year 2007 is eligible. Deadline February 14, 2007

Professional Show: We've added three new categories this year: self-promotion, sequential and 3-D in addition to our children's book, animation, advertising, editorial, book, institutional, for sale and unpublished categories. Deadline: March 14, 2008

Details, application and payment info online @ www.3x3mag.com (great links to illustrators too)

The 3x3 Contemporary Illustration Annual No. 4 is in the mail and on newsstands next week.

Illustration Ai Tatebayashi

DIY @ the Workroom

by Siya Chen

This new year, why not make a resolution to start making your very own fashions and crafts?! Get crafty, meet others and make something useful at Toronto's new DIY centre, The Workroom!

The Workroom is Toronto's first SEW and CRAFT by the HOUR space. I's equipped with everything you need to complete all your large or small projects. This is perfect if your don't own a sewing machine, serger or big working table. Owner Karyn has also personally selected a variety of amazing fabric from Japan to make your pieces extra special!

You can hang out and use the equipment for $7/hour or show up at one of the Stich'n'Bitch free monthly open forums for makers. Classes are also available for non-sewers.




The next Sewing Machine Essentials class is on January 19th. Sign up quick because space is limited and it fills up quickly!

For more information of classes offered and detailed schedule, visit theworkroom.ca
The Workroom, 1340 Queen St West (just west of the Dufferin bridge)

Toronto Life: On the Block

I recently renewed my subscription to Toronto Life magazine - an exclusively T.O. monthly mag with current politics, Urban Decoder, restaurants & entertainment, people & fashion and themed CityGuides. ($24 year includes 10 issues of FASHION).

Although I tend to hold on to stacks of copies (for reference??), I'm often on the Toronto Life website in the Shopping section and its shop reviews, fashion faces profiles and Good Stuff Cheap.

One of my favorite sections is On the Block, where the writer looks at specific areas of the city (Parkdale, Yorkville...) and reviews 5-10 shops in that neighbourhood, complete with a map pinpointing all locations - a great resource for planning your next shopping/browsing outing!

Go Green: Hatley Organic Tees

'Bitch' tee $10sale | moose pjs $26sale | bear boots $50

Nature-inspired sleepwear, loungewear and outerwear for the entire family are Hatley’s claim to fame! At their sunny new 1000sq.ft. boutique at 2648 Yonge St., this family-run global clothing and housewares company showcases their new collections. In true Canadiana-style, little moose and bears adorn pjs and rain boots, all which have been featured in magazines from Lou Lou to Vogue Bambini.

New to its roster The list of Hatley's enviro-friendly manufacturing process extends to using unbleached hang tags, biodegradeable and compostable fabrics, non-chlorinated bleach and recycled paper for catalogues. They plan to go 100% organic by 2009.

Based in Montreal, Hatley boutiques are scattered through Canada and the products are sold all over the world. Shop Hatley Nature, 2648 Yonge Street and online www.hatleynature.com