I love (some) online vintage shops! Boat People is two gals from Quebec City with an eye for coveted vintage. Cool site >>

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What exactly is eco-friendly design and clothing?

We hear about it – and most of us think of rough hemp and bamboo in shades of beige and green.

When I read about the sustainability practices of Nicole Bridger, winner of Canada’s first eco-friendly design award, Design Forward, I was reminded of what is means and takes to create true eco-friendly clothing. Comfortable, ethical and beautifully constructed and trendy. Soft and wearable.

As winner of Design Forward she receives:

• A three-month national PR campaign, provided by Third Eye Media
• Feature in EcoSalon – the number one green fashion blog!
• Participation at Nolcha Fashion Week’s Ethical Fashion Preview in NYC in September 2010
• $1000 in eco-friendly fabric, supplied by Telio (to make a sample collection to show in NYC)
• $1,000 towards Fair trade and Organic certification, provided by Ecocert.
• and more!

Nicole Bridger, Vancouver-based designer

Fabrics/Blends:

Nicole Bridger uses mostly organic cotton, and natural fibres such as hemp, linen, bamboo and soy jersey. Wool is certified organic as well.

She has made a conscious effort to tack the orgins  of all fabrics used in her collections, including hemp jesery and modal jersey orginating from LA, organic cotton woven in Portugal, and linen grown in Belgium.

Production

All garments are made/sewn in Vancouver, Canada – supporting good working conditions and fair wages.

Design

Garments are named through design affirmations, like “heart”, “truth”, “protection”, “listening”, “courage” etc. Neutral colour palate, allows for multi-seasonal wear. Designs are cutting-edge, feminine and practical.

In the context of her maternity collection, the design integrity is not sacrificed, and it has the added bonus of being worn before, during and after pregnancy.

Special Features

Tagua nut buttons (like coconut, made in China).
Labels are cotton instead of polyester (made in India).
Hangtags, business cards etc. are made from 100% post-consumer paper in Vancouver.

Nicole was up against finalists: Laura Chenoweth and we3(twigg & hottie).

Some of the other competing designers nominated for this award include Thieves, Deux FM, and Paper People Clothing.

construct(this) is Heidi Ackermanʼs third collection presented at Alternative Arts and Fashion Week. This Spring/Summer 2010 collection explores and expands upon Heidiʼs obsession with architecture, futurism and abstraction.

Pulling inspiration from the Russian avant garde movements of the early 20th century construct(this) combines contradictory materials and patterns to create controlled chaos on the body. Experimentation with vegetable tanned leather, thin curved metal and deconstructed knits will create a provocative tension for the wearer and observer.

I won’t be attending the third nite of [FAT] Friday, April 23, 2010 and will be missing some amazing fashion shows including:

David Wigley
Youth.InAsia by Joshua Shier
Heidi Ackerman
Romandin by Cristina Sabaiduc

Anna Smutny will be doing a performance piece; DJ Discrete will make a rare appearance; and Christabel will be performing!

Liberty Village, 1 Pardee Ave. 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. Licensed! $30 at the door

On April 24, 2010, three or four of Canada’s hard-working fashion labels will compete for the title of the best new designer at the Elle Canada/TFI New Labels Gala, an annual event.

For 2010, the top five contenders are:

Paris Li

TFI resident designer. Collection of tunics, dresses and separates inspired by the Asian philosophy of elegance and beauty.
www.parisli.net

Jennifer Waters of House of Groves

House of Groves creates garments with grace and integrity, meant to become instant classics in a modern woman’s wardrobe – using eco-friendly fabrics, menswear tailoring and detailed construction.
www.houseofgrovesdesign.com
Follow Jennifer’s competition journey: http://jennifersletters.blogspot.com/

Justine Diener & Justine Poon of Diepo

Vintage lingerie inspired looks – Ryerson School of Fashion grads recently showed at Alternative Fashion Week.

Hayley Gibson of Birds of North America

Ryerson grad, established designer of a few years sold in several stores across Canada.
www.birdsofnorthamerica.ca

Anastasia Lomonova

Montreal based, Ryerson grad who’s been designing and selling her brand for a few years already.

On April 24, 2010, the TFI New Labels® competition finale takes place where one lucky designer will win $10,000 cash from Mattel Canada and a $25,000 editorial package from ELLE Canada. Tickets for the benefit are on sale now at www.elleevent.com.

I made it to two events last week, including the Breeyn McCarney show (review to follow) and managed to finally meet a handful or two of new peeps…which is actually quite exciting because I love the friendly network that is the Toronto fashion blogging scene…

Stefania Yarhi, fashion blogger writer and photographer - Textstyles

Tricia Campbell Hall, stylist and blogger – triciacampbell.blogspot.com/

Johanne Durocher of fashioninmotion.wordpress.com

Briony Smith, fashion editor of BlogTO

Jahmilla Small of Plush Embassy: plushpaparazzi-embassy.blogspot.com/

Shout outs (and links) to everyone!

Rachel

Well, they’re saying that we’ll start seeing trendy women wearing bowties this year – and it’s likely true, what with American Apparel and Forever 21 selling bowties geared to gals. I personally haven’t seen this at all in Toronto yet – but here’s some boys in bowties…soooo refreshing after seeing guys in Clubville still wearing oversized hanky scarves!

photos: lostinthewillderness.com | lostinthewillderness.com



photos: lostinthewillderness.com | lostinthewillderness.com

Photo: Style Rookie/13-year-old Tavi – tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com

1. Tommy Ton (JakandJil.com) Shoots for Paris Vogue!

Toronto blogger turned international street photographer star Tommy Ton photographed 13-year-old blogstar Tavi for the Une fille un style pages. Reported by Laura Minquini on her blog…

http://thecanadianschooloffashion.blogspot.com/2010/01/tommy-tons-first-paris-vogue.html
and
http://jakandjil.com/blog/?p=3671

2. ‘Why I Hate Fashion’/'Why I Don’t Hate Fashion’ by Eye Weekly Style Writer Sarah Nicole Prickett

I actually read Eye Weekly nowadays when I receive a Tweet or FB link from its newest City Style columnist Sarah Nicole Prickett – who has pretty much revamped (or created) the section. The comments at the end of this article are somewhat vicious – but call me privileged, a de-valuer, or vain – ‘I Don’t Hate Fashion’ either…. Curious to hear what you think.

http://www.eyeweekly.com/style/citystyle/article/81988

(and while we’re at it, Tavi also rebuts…)

3. Toronto Life Style Blog: 34 Toronto Stores that Didn’t Make It Through 2009

This is quite the list – and includes longtime faves like Finishing Touches, Studio Labiri and 175-year-old Dack’s Shoes.

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/style/shop-talk/2010/01/04/thirty-four-toronto-stores-that-didnt-make-it-through-2009/#more-16088