Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Vancouver Fashion Week Spring Summer 2010 @ Terminal City Club
Jane Iredale Pure Minerals MakeupThis mineral makeup has a lot less then other mineral makeup products, which makes it a whole lot more. It is talc free, no parabens and phthalates, no coal tar and synthetic dyes, no synthetic fragrances, petroleum free, non-comedogenic, non-irritation, and did not test on animals. Moreover, the philosophies behind the label have truly displayed how beauty and fashion, and businesses alike, can bring cummunities and societies together. For more information about this wonderful beauty line, their website is http://www.janeiredale.com/
Eminence Handmade Organic Skin Care of Hungary is the first and only certified organic skin and body care line from Hungary. It uses biodynamic ingredients, it is hypoallergenic, has been clinically tested, and uses recyclable glass packaging, FSC certified paper, and vegetable inks. The products were made using wind power energy, and best of all, all products are free of parabens and harsh chemicals. Talk about through and through organic and envirmental friendly. For more info visit: http://www.eminenceorganics.com/
Ms. Maggie Coulombe is of Korean ancestry, a Toronto native, living in Hawaii and a celebrity fashion designer and stylist. She graduated from Ryerson University School of Fashion as Designer of the year, and has dressed numerous celebs like Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Halle Berry, Teri Hatcher, Lindsey Lohan, and more. Watch for her runway show on Nov 7th 8:00pm at Colin Campbell, 494 Railway Street, Vancouver.
Born to a famous jewelry designer in Vietnam, Ms. Rosalina Lydster is the current hottest sought after jewelry designer by celebs such as Tom Hanks, Orlando Bloom, Hilary Duff, Tori Spelling, Elton John, Fergie, Dakota Fanning and many more. Watch her show with Meggie Coulombe on Nov 7th 8:00pm at Colin Campbell.
Lemon Park http://www.lemonpark.ca/The Lemon Park sisters, Tania and Penny Gleave, have always shared an interest in fashion and design, and often discussed starting a business together. So when Penny expressed an interest in changing careers at around the same time people were asking about jewellery Tania was creating and wearing at her openings, they decided to start Lemon Park.
Lemon Park came from the idea of the seaside park where the sisters and surrounding neighbourhood children spent most of their time outside of school. “Park” was chosen as a result of wanting to suggest an idea of a big, open space, a space in which all kinds of things happen and where ideas take shape. No limitations. Big enough for everyone.
Defy Gravity Design
House of L jewelry Design
Lemon Park came from the idea of the seaside park where the sisters and surrounding neighbourhood children spent most of their time outside of school. “Park” was chosen as a result of wanting to suggest an idea of a big, open space, a space in which all kinds of things happen and where ideas take shape. No limitations. Big enough for everyone.
Defy Gravity Design
DGD is a jewelrl and apparel company inspired by personal freedom and unconventional thinking. Through new ways of thinking and approaching ideas, DFD pushes cultural boundaries and has no fear of being. Their products are a response to mood and emotion and are a reflection of these elements by romanticizing unconventional concepts. http://www.defygravitydesigns.ca/
House of L jewelry DesignThey are better known as vintage remix accessories. All designs are ideal for both casual and couture wear, while most features a modern voctorian era of style, which gives its pieces a romantic touch to their edgy side. Catch House of L jewelry design throughout VFW. http://www.vanfashionweek.com/
It certainly was T.H.E. NOT TO MISS party for all fashion industry personel in Greater Vancouver. As the party began at Terminal City Club in downtown Vancouver tonight, the Semi Annual Vancouver Fashion Week is once again began its full week of fashion shows, parties and lost of industry activities that brings the city one notch more fabulous than usual.
This year VFW Spring Summer 2010 is featuring 4o designers of all styles. I am especially looking forward to Aboriginal designer Dorothy Grant, emerging designer Fala Chien and fashion label Broken Ghost Couture.
For more information visit: http://www.vanfashionweek.com/
I look forward to seeing my lovelys throughout this weekend :) XOXO~
Labels: Defy Gravity Designs, Eminence Handcare Organic Skincare of Hungary, House of L Design, Jane Iredale, Lemon Park, Meggie Coulombe, Rosalina Lydster, Terminal City Club, Vancouver Fashion Week
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Mastering the law of asymmetrical attraction: Mr. Michael Leung
It is never easy to have the slightest grasp of an aspect for the opposite sex but some people just have the exact talent of doing so. A designer? You bet.
Mastering the law of asymmetrical attraction: Mr. Michael Leung
Article by Kaila I.So
Photos courtesy of Mr. Michael Leung
Sitting down and talking to Michael is not a hard thing to do. He is easily the most likable person with a genuinely easy going personality. Dressed in a very casual west coast tee, a hoodie and jeans, a pretty shinny thing shimmering on his neck in Frodo Baggins style immediately became the center piece of his outfit.
“I prefer necklaces. Not that I don’t like earrings, rings or bracelets. I do. For me, however, they seem to lack the power statement aspect that a necklace can bring for an outfit. It is a bigger piece of jewellery, you know?” Michael swung his straw in a gentle circle in his iced frapp and half frowned at his drink as he explained his love for jewellery design.
“I took a few design courses back in high school and [jewellery design] was not my first choice for post secondary education. I wanted to do interior design but I didn’t take Drafting in high school. So I chose what I had experience for and went with it.” It was not just experience that gave Michael the nudge into the world of design.
“I can see it, in my mind, when I think about the person or people that I am designing these pieces for. I constantly think about how they might want to wear it, what would suit their needs, what might be on their mind and how it can be represented through my work. I made a piece for my mom with a pearl detail. I could imagine her wearing it and so I made it. It is all about the person wearing the pieces.”
I was especially being attracted to Michael’s designs during the Vancouver Fashion Week as one of his asymmetrical necklace piece was on display. It was a three part detail piece, with a gold plate heart interlock, a triangle drape with Swarovski crystals, and a necklace string piece. It was love at first sight and for some very strange reason, I had a ‘vision’ of a very elegant Valentino evening gown in pastel pink, silk, corset top, big ribbon at the back, drape bottom, free floating, classic, beautiful, goes perfect with the necklace. OMG wait a minute. . . I am pairing a dress WITH a necklace, not a necklace with the dress. This is how good Michael’s collection is. He can dethrone a fashion house. But only if he wants to.
“I took a chance at trying something new at the Vancouver Fashion Week, did not expect much out of it, and just wanted to try it, for experiences’ sake. I sold some pieces, which is always a good thing.” As I explained to Michael how much he should really really really consider starting his own brand like literally, he gave me a serious look and asked, “You think?”
Yes I think. I think indeed. When I told him how I was so amazed by his work, Michael burst into a sunshine smile. Here is a designer that does not have an ego. And it is a complement.
“I have not really thought too much about it yet. I do like designing. I know I enjoy it, when things are being made and when I can make them perfect. I edit my pieces here and there once in a while. I always have ideas and I always like the non-conforming elements. That is what I look for in my pieces. I aim to make them different, versatile, worthy of making a statement.”
Statement of not, it is certain that nothing of the conforming sort will slip through Michael’s webs of metals and Swarovski crystals. He is here to represent asymmetricism. Move over, pop culture.
Labels: Jewellry design, Michael Leung, Vancouver Fashion Week
Monday, April 13, 2009
Finding New Moon: Ms. Sunny Moon and her Wearable Arts
It is no laughing matter when a career change comes into question. For Ms. Sunny Moon, however, it is about her passion, her talent, and the meaning of her life when she decided to become a Jewellery designer by travelling half way across the globe for her dreams.
Finding New Moon: Ms. Sunny Moon and her Wearable Arts
Article by: Kaila I. So
Photos courtesy of Ms. Sunny Moon
Sunday afternoons in downtown Vancouver has never been as peaceful as I have ever seen as I was scheduled to meet with Ms. Sunny Moon at Caffe Artigiano near the “Glam Shrine” Holt Renfrew. Dressed in a white long sleeve dress shirt and topped with a princess short sleeve grey cardigan sweater and black dress pants, Sunny was slipping on her fresh grounded drip black coffee as I walked in, losing my breath for running up couple of staircases out of a parking lot that seemed more like a maze.
After a very warm greeting and getting my coffee (not black, I wish I can, but I am no where brave enough as Sunny.), it was inevitable to start our conversation with our afterthoughts about Vancouver Fashion Week aka where and how we met.
“Oh it was so exciting for me, it was my very first exhibition event at a Fashion Week and I was able to meet all these wonderful industry professionals that I would otherwise have no chance to meet with.” Sunny was lit up in excitement as she continued to talk about how she got involved.
“I was an Arts and Scripture student at University of Korea. In year 2007 I decided to come to Vancouver to study at Laselle College for Jewellery Designs. I was sad to leave my families and friends behind but this is my dream and I really really really thought that I can do this, to be able to design my own collection of jewelleries.”
And my god she can. I remember I had a fifteen minute break between the fashion shows at VFW and I had to get my bottom off my seat (Throne, actually, because it was at the front row.) to reconnect my blood circulations. That was how I found “them”, the “New Moon Wearable Art” jewelleries collection at a table booth, and I was hopelessly gravitating towards them, like a moth to the brightest lights, being allured away by their unconfined yet structural shapes that speaks such a powerful statement visually, I had no choice but to surrender my full attention and my ladies room time just so I can get her digits. No I am not hitting on the designer, just the collection, but yes, she is one of the most stylish and elegant lady I met at VFW. And to my biggest surprise, we shared a similar background in fashion: Modeling.
“I started modeling actually at the recommendation of my mother.” Sunny recalls as she take another slip of her black coffee. Brave girl.
“My agent sent me to modeling trainings and a few months later, I found myself working in the industry, getting jobs, and I was getting more and more passionate until when I realized I really do love my job as a model. I was able to meet these wonderful people and be in touch with so much creativity, it began to make me felt an awakening inside, of me and my possibility of designing. Finally, I told myself, maybe I can really do this. And here I am, in a city that I like, designing jewelleries, exhibiting my work at shows, getting positive reviews from the industry and having my own list of clients that like my stuff. I have to admit that it is all a wonderful experience and I am living in what I thought I could achieve.” Sometimes listening to advices from parents do put you in the right direction, In Sunny’s situation, it was a without doubt the best career suggestion a mother can give to a daughter.
This is what happens when two girls with similar career background (who both moved on to a retired model/something status) get together and chat. We move off topics. I tried hard to have control over my excessive chatting and failing it seems not bothering at all to Sunny. Travelling, food, where to hang out, some old industry experiences. . .lucky us that the café was half empty because it was the Easter Sunday. We were laughing and rocking our chairs back and forth. Professional images? It was out the window the moment we met.
Directing our conversation to her designs, I cannot help it but to fall in love all over again with her collection. “I called my collection “New Moon Wearable Arts”. My concepts came however for a lot of different inspirations. Most of the time it has to do with my background in Scripture Arts. I often like to apply my ideas into jewellery design using concepts of scripture making. I like my pieces to have a statement, a different element to the current pop cult. I tend to stay away from looking at other jewellery designs because I have my own mix pot of ideas that I have developed during the period when I was doing modeling. I have seen so many elements in design; I want to break away from being slotted into one specific category of design. That is the reason why my collection is “Wearable Art”. If I have to be called as in some form of genre, I would like to be a genre of Art.”
And this is what drawn me to her designs; originally timeless, elegantly romantic and with a magical artistic touch.
“And this is what it means to me, my designs, are art. It would not be me if it is not my art. It would not be art if it was not original design. And it would not be design if it is not done with passion.” Sunny smiled brightly she look at me and look out the window glass door of the café. A column of light broke through the heavy Easter Sunday clouds and shone on the Holt Renfrew sign across the street. One day, I thought, I will not be surprise to see Sunny’s collection being displayed at HR. As I draw my attention to the happy looking Sunny, she broke into an even happier smile. “I hope summer comes soon, it is the best place to be in summer. I love Vancouver.”
We are glad to have you here too Sunny, you bought light to the west coast. Best wishes, with love.
Xoxo, Kaila
Labels: Caffe Arigiano, Holts Renfrew, Jewellry, Korea, Laselle College, New Moon Wearable Art, Sunny Moon, University of Korea, Vancouver, Vancouver Fashion Week
Sunday, March 29, 2009
VFW Spring 09 After Thoughts
From left: Jason Chu, keyboardist/songwriter with my band LOCUS. Dohon Chow, photographer ( obviously, he got a camera in his hand lol)
A lot of press materials.
Our bible for VFW: The Schedule.
Taking a quick snap shot @ "A Night in Shanghai Fashio Show" with Dohon Chow, my dear photographer friend.
On Day 4 with Dohon's assistant Shane.Saturday's showings was the mother of all shows. I was visually feeded with enough coutures that I really really really felt that VFW has offically stepped into the "International" category.
Ok, seriously, my TRUE afterthoughts:
1.Those that attended both the fashion shows AND the after parties are INSANE !!! They must have camped out in their cars or something.
2.A full week of fashion bootcamp, a full week of waking up and scrambling to figure out "WHAT TO WEAR", a full week of turning my head left and right and right and left. A full week of hot bathes and almost FALLING ASLEEP in the tub.
3. I love my flats. Kudos to those wearing 5 inch heels I am honestly impressed.
4. Seeing Dohon and Shane 4 days in a row is absolutely the BEST part about this VFW^^
Labels: Event, Fashion Show, Vancouver Fashion Week
Friday, March 27, 2009
Vancouver Fashion Week Opening Gala @ LEONE
I do not know if it was the complimentary Daniel's Chocolates or the Cedar Creek red and white wine, but everyone sure was happy happy happy at THE fashion party of all: Opening Gala for Vancouver Fashion Week Spring 2009. The night featured Greet and Meet with many jewelery designers, while models roam the floor in their 5 inch high heels handing out business cards for the designers. Since when did persuasive speaking became a requirement for modeling? But they sure did a great job because I did visited ALL the designer tables, and the ones featured on my blog are the ones that I absolutely adore. ( they are featured in separate blog entries for clarity)
Labels: Event, Fashion Show, Vancouver Fashion Week
Archives
December 2007
March 2008
April 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
©2009 ANN.I.E GROUP. Web and Graphic Design by e-Luminous Web Media