We all like to look good, but isn’t it better when you can help people in the process? Last week, Jessi Cruikshank launched the “Africa Tee,” her third collaborative design with Me to We Style, a social enterprise that that provides people with better choices for a better world.

Smashingly stylish, the Africa Tee is a one-shoulder top with a tribal pattern around the neck. In true Me to We fashion, it is made in Canada, eco-friendly, sweatshop free from 100% organic cotton. Not only will part of the proceeds go toward helping families in Kenya, for each Africa Tee purchased Free the Children will plant a tree in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya. It comes in black, or white options and can be picked up at Me to We on 223 Carleton St. or online at www.metowe.com/shop. ($44.50 plus an additional graphic tee for $20)

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Campaign

From April 15, 2011 and throughout May, Rethink Breast Cancer and the Joe Fresh® brand are introducing colorful new bullseye tees (no pink) and totes to raise funds for breast cancer research, education and support.

Tees are $12 and totes are $24. The limited-edition sequined bulls‐eye is $14 but only 1000 will be available at select Joe Fresh locations (including 540 Granville St, Vancouver; 396 St Clair Ave, Toronto; 10 Lower Jarvis St, Toronto; Heartland Town Centre, Mississauga).

The face of this year’s campaign is model and two-time cancer survivor, Patti Hansen, who poses with her two daughters Theodora and Alexandra Richards (the girls’ father is Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones). Hansen was honoured to be asked to be part of one of cancer’s most fashionable fundraising initiatives and donated her time to be part of the campaign.

Wear your Fashion Targets Breast Cancer tee on Fashion Targets Friday – Friday May 27, 2011. Join hundreds of Canadians across Canada who will wear their target tee on this day to remind women to “target” their breasts and help raise awareness for the cause.

Shop for the Cause: A Pop Up Sale for JAPAN (via the Red Cross)
Saturday April 2nd (11-6) & Sunday April 3rd (12-5)
Nathalie-Roze & Co. ~ 1015 Queen St. East at Pape, Leslieville
416-792-1699

A 2-day sale with 20% to 70% off women’s clothing, jewellery & accessories ~ all donated by big-hearted local designers/crafters and shops, plus some vintage clothing, a bake sale & a silent auction of various services (eg. manicures, massages, gift cards for local restos, etc.). There will also be a table of beauty swag donated by local media gals.

DESIGNERS: Damzels, Dagg and Stacey, Bergstrom Originals, Anneke Garnette (leather handbags), Headmistress, Lilliput Hats, Snoflake, Pho Pa, Momo/Tomoko Kitai, Thien-Le, Embody, Individual Clothing, Spruce Clothing, SLO, Thank You Red (jewellery), Tweek (accessories), Red Pegasus, Studio Fresh, Labour of Love/Propaganda, Boa, I Heart Accessories, Flare magazine and lots more…

100% of cash raised will benefit the Red Cross’ efforts to help survivors of the recent natural disasters in Japan.

http://www.redcross.ca

———————–

WANT TO HELP? We’re still seeking donations!
If you’re a crafter/designer, baker, retailer or have some special women’s wearables you’d like to contribute (eg. new, almost-new or vintage dresses, accessories, handbags or fab shoes), please call the shop at 416-792-1699 or e-mail: virago9@rogers.com OR just bring them to us by Friday at 5pm please.

NOTE: Donations can be dropped off at either Nathalie-Roze & Co. at 1015 Queen St. East at Pape in Leslieville (until 5pm Friday) OR at Lilliput Hats at 462 College St. (W. of Bathurst) in the West-End during regular store hours (thru to 4pm Friday).

Not that it needs to be said – but just because we don’t write about the *much more important* ails of the world, doesn’t mean of course that we don’t care…

Moving on, I received an E-mail from Jenn Woodall – a Ryerson grad and costume designer. She’s been busy sewing Japan Disaster Relief pouches – and selling on Etsy for $10 with 50% of the proceeds going to the Red Cross.

I don’t have to tell you – but pouches are soooo convenient to hold everything separately in your bag – change, camera, glasses, pens, etc….

Other Items on Etsy for Japan:

Topnotch is selling these simplistic bracelets and donating all proceeds > | Cedarridgertrading is selling these little beaded flowers to help >

Love Japan pouch from Tokyoinspired > | Japan tote at Whodoesntwantthat >

Last weekend in Toronto “venture capitalists” (read vultures) flocked to the Hyatt for the Ontario mining convention – the largest in the world. While they discussed how to maximize profits regardless of human rights, conflict or environmental law (“How Not to Be Evil” is not on the agenda – I checked), something quite different happens at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Liza with the incomparable Louis Manzo of Black Wool Inc. (wearing vintage sunglasses that collapse into the size of a Triscuit)!

The Crystal is crammed with university students eager to Rock the Runway – a yearly fashion event benefitting War Child Canada, which supports women and children suffering from – what else, war. High impact, micro-credit programs are run by War Child to assist women in Afghanistan with training and business development, and I wonder what fashion designers in Kabul could do with peace, a little money and a lot of talent.

Baby Steinberg

18 Waits/Designer Danny Torjman

Eco-darling Baby Steinberg recycles some of her smash hits from LG Fashion week, including dresses made from coffee filters and cell phone chargers. There is some new talent too – 18 Waits by Danny Torjman uses economical lines from the Depression, with a cheeky po’boy look. Slim flannel trousers are paired with pigeon-grey jackets and accessorized with bootleg whiskey and antler Bowie knives; classic bad boy, just the way I like it. Another newcomer is Arnaldo Santos, ready for the red carpet with obsessively pleated goddess gowns and a jaw-dropping dove-grey gown with a back drowned in pearls.

Teesha & Vanessa in Arnaldo Santos

The music is surprisingly good – the Young Empires feel like a cross between A Flock of Seagulls and Big Country – old school new wave with a dj-ing guitarist. A minor mishap occurs when a chair collapses, leaving a lady struggling in her heels like a fish on a hook. Lucky for her she is seated near a gentleman who instantly takes the situation in hand, gives her his own chair, and moves discreetly to the back of the room to stand with the rest of the cherished relics in the museum.

The event is suitably situated in the old armoury, and the walls are painted with murals of the crusades. Red crossed knights battle with Ottoman Muslims on horseback. It’s all very gallant, but war is never as pretty as the monuments, murals and news made to whitewash the mess. Let’s leave war and the vultures who create it where they belong – in the museum. Cheers to the hundreds of undergraduates who are working to make this dream a reality.

Event photos by Lynne McCoombes

Eat Pray Love inspired fashion: Nadya Toto | The Ice Princess in Romona Keveza | Photography Matt Sullivan

The limos line up in front of Toronto’s historic Royal York for the 6th Annual Book Lover’s Ball – one of Toronto’s greatest fundraising events for the Toronto Public Library System (If you’ve ever wondered how royal this hotel actually is, be advised it stocks an entire set of china and silverware for the exclusive use of the Queen).

Sleek aristocrats and bibliophiles flock to the ball to pay homage to our beloved libraries and to stalk Canada’s hottest glitterati. Guests dine on sumptuous food prepared by celebrity chefs Marc Thuet (revered for his compassion and croissants) and David Garcelon. The centerpiece for each table is not the gorgeous blood red tulips, but an acclaimed author – ooo la laa! I come face to face with Lawrence Hill (of Canadian classic The Book of Negroes), but am terrified of screeching like a Justin Bieber fan, and my introduction is swallowed in a sea of shyness. (Damn!)

After dinner we are treated to collections of designers inspired by, what else, books! My absolute favorite is interpretations of Eat, Pray, Love – Nadya Toto’s dresses are elegant enough for Audrey Hepburn’s Roman holiday. Models who make Michaelangelo’s David look pudgy sport luscious little SHAN swimsuits (think white, tight, and tied up with a little bow). Actually, think about that some more…

OK, Back to books – Toronto’s libraries are the busiest in the world, which might explain how smart and witty we all are. They are also housed in our most stylish and celebrated buildings, having won several international architecture awards. Everyone is a fan of our libraries, from kids in priority neighborhoods who need help with homework, to corporate Cleopatras who’d rather show off their new glasses at the library than work from lonely home offices. We love our libraries and raised over $450,000 in this one night!

I leave the ball happily thinking of cuddling up with the Honourable Bartleman’s new book ‘As Long as the River Flows”, when I look into my gift bag and find Marc Thuet’s new cookbook! Don’t be jealous – just check it out at your local library.

Photos by Matt Sullivan thenarrative.net

Novel Fashion:
Eat Pray Love: Nadya Toto | SHAN
Mystify: Second Denim Co.
Midnight at the Dragon Cafe: Samuel Dong
Secret Daughter: Envers
007 Carte Blanche: Hugo Boss
Romona Kevetza: The Ice Princess: Romona Keveza, Waxman tuxedos

photo: http://jakandjil.com/blog/

For National Sweater Day, February 17, 2011, WWF Canada is encouraging everyone to put on a sweater and turn down the heat at least 3 degrees to reduce carbon dioxide and help fight climate change.

There are a lot more ways to really help besides turning down your own heat: you can organize a workplace cool down, have a little sweater party or plan a little event that helps raise cash for the organization.

For more ideas, check out the website http://wwf.ca/takeaction/sweater_day/

Jacob and Jacob Lingerie recently launched a huge clothing drive with a goal to collect and donate 50,000 articles of previously loved clothing to Goodwill/Renaissance – of course for people in need (or thrift store shoppers) to find and enjoy!

Now I know we all give our old or no longer worn clothes to Goodwill anyways – but for this initiative, Jacob is giving donors 25% off any regular priced item in its stores for every piece donated!

Simply bring in clothes you’d like to donate to any Jacob store and you will get your discount!

Goodwill sells second-hand items at its network of stores, creating work opportunities and skills development for people facing barriers to employment.