Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Meet Moira of Moira Coughlan Handmade Bags
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Meet Hannah of Foundlings
Hi, I'm Hannah of Foundlings, a treasure trove of unique vintage-inspired garments specially designed with the trend-setting green shopper in mind. Many pieces in the collection are crafted from vintage and upcycled materials and supplies. Whether it's cute or camp, nifty or nerdy, silly or stylish - you may just find the perfect fit!
I began my fashion journey ten years ago, and got my start in the costume design world as a sewer for "Mamma Mia". Shortly after completing my studies in Fashion Design at George Brown College, I entered the REVAMP competition - an annual environmental fashion show put on by the Recycling Council of Ontario. As luck would have it, my papier mache dress made of Archie comics was selected as a finalist in the Wearable Art category! This was the beginning of my interest in repurposing materials.
I launched my first clothing line in 2000 under the moniker Bork and began selling at Peachy Fresh (Fresh Collective's precursor in Yorkville). After several years of peddling my wears, I decided to return to university and complete my degree in Fine Art History and English Literature. Now, I've resurfaced with a new clothing line after seven years out of the fashion loop! I really missed sewing and designing, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be part of Fresh Collective!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Meet Mandy of Mandala Design
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Meet Stefany of Whirl Girl!
I've been hooked on sewing ever since my mom taught me how to use a sewing machine so I could make a series of skirts for my high school art show. Ever since, I have had a passion for creating unique clothing using vintage/ recycled materials and eco-progressive fabrics. Last winter (2008) I couldn’t resist buying a cute bomber winter coat. The coat was great, but from the waist down I was freezing in the face of winter. Because of this I was inspired to create a warm winterized wrap around skirt that could be worn like a jacket, but for your lower half. Sewing had always been a hobby of mine, and I would often make skirts and other fun things for myself and my friends. When I started wearing my warm wrap skirt around Toronto I was amazed at how many people (total strangers) would stop to ask me about my warm skirt. I loved mine so much and wanted to wear it everyday (and still do) - that I though 'hey, maybe I'm onto something here.'
I do a lot of walking, biking and waiting for the streetcar to get around town and also recently adopted a cute rescue pup named 'the dude' - so I spend a lot of time outside - and when it's cold out I love being able to 'whirl' into one of my skirts, it always makes the weather seem just a wee bit warmer. I also love to hike, canoe trip and travel, and know how essential versatile, quick-dry clothing is when you're living out of a backpack.
I've expanded my line to include hand dyed hooded jackets (like the one I'm wearing in the picture), scarves, tops, and have a new wrap skirt in the works for this winter so stay tuned!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Candice at the Candi Factory!
Since she makes a funny face when attacked by an itchy piece of fabric, Candice created the candi factory to experiment in super-cute softness and occasional polka-dots. These lovable underthings and other things are made from scratch in her High Park studio.
Our little factory runs smoothly thanks to Shreve, factory advisor/husband, and to River, our wild 1 1/2 year old son who mostly keeps away from the sewing machines.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Meet Jenn of Paper People Clothing
Jennifer Fukushima grew up in
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Meet Laura-Jean
In my personal life, I live in Parkdale with my husband, musician Steve Singh, my wonderful little son Dexter, and our dog Jefferson. My studio is in our basement, which makes for a pretty busy household, but it's a lot of fun!
Meet Charmain!
INTEGRITY DESIGNS, created in 2006, by designer/manufacturer, Charmain Bertram, specializes in classic denim designs, bags, comfortable knit wear using sustainable fabrics, recreated recycled clothing designs and unique silk screened prints.
Having studied Fashion design and techniques at George Brown College while working at Leo's textiles, Charmain learned the fundamentals of garment design and an in depth knowledge of textile application. Subsequent to graduating with a diploma in fashion design and techniques, a designers’ assistant position with custom jeans designer and tailor, Sydney Mamane, was acquired. This created and nurtured a love for classic denim design and a passion for detail. Following this, Charmain was employed by Cathy Cooper of Urban Bride. Where she learned the science of delicate fabrics and the tricks of the trade in formal wear.
Following the closure of Urban Bride, INTEGRITY DESIGNS was born. Becoming a member of the Fresh Collective, on trendy Queen St. West in Toronto Ontario , INTEGRITY began, with hand painted knit designs, classic jean cuts, patchwork doupionni silk bags and an overall devotion to the environment.
Think BIG
Live small
Live with INTEGRITY……Monday, January 26, 2009
Meet Tricia!
At the time I did not own a car, so I took an old lady cart, extended the handles and packed up my entire booth in it for the 20 minute walk to the market. People were always amazed at how I was able to get my entire booth - tent and merchandise all into this little cart! What a girl will do to get her business going:)
All the while in school I continued selling my clothing during the summer months at the Hillside and Mariposa folk festivals.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Meet Haji!
We are the only store in Toronto who has a visting Japanese engineer installing the window display!
It's not only the designers at Fresh Collective who help to make the store awesome! Haji is our newest intern! Here from Japan to learn English, he approached me because he's interested in fashion and wants to learn to sew. He's so easy-going and ready to help out with anything. After he did an amazing job on the window, we were starting a photo shoot, and I asked him how he felt about modeling. After a little laugh, he shrugged and said "Whatever!" so we put him to work modelling the Yasmine Louis men's tops.
Here's how the window turned out. (I'll post the modelling shots later!)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Here's our very own Odd Bird- and her bird, Loki!!
She's our most senior member, being with Fresh Collective for years and she is absolutely crazy about birds! (Whenever I talk to her on the phone, I hear the squawking in the background.) She works full-time at her day job, yet seems to have endless energy for being involved in the shop and working on her line.
She is a one-woman show in her work on Odd Bird Designs, printing, colouring then glazing all the dominos. She has other styles of jewellery too: the "bric a brac" line, Scrabble bracelets and more, and she has recently added tee-shirts!
She wholesales her line to other stores too, and top of this she works every other Saturday in the shop, some Sundays, plus takes on other jobs like working on our website, planning our sale parties and general organizing and planning to keep the shop running smoothly. She's a fun, funky gal with a great attitude and a lot of creative energy!
Here's Fred (and Sam! ) from Utility Grade
Frederica Tomas was born in Toronto, Canada and attended the Ontario College of Art, where she studied printmaking and won a scholarship for Book Arts.
After graduation she started Utility Grade to distribute her handmade cards and original prints.
Her linocuts are primarily portraits of Saints, Sinners and Strange Beasts, with a bit of Pop Culture commentary. Linocuts are printed onto japanese paper using a vandercook SP15 proof press and rubber based inks, then painted with watercolours.
In response to many customer requests, she recently added a line of t-shirts and tank tops with imagery derived from her original prints. These are screen printed onto cotton using black ink, then hand pinted with fabric paints, sewn onto the back of the t-shirt with a window cut out to reveal the image. The shirt becomes the 'frame' for the print.
Frederica lives in Toronto with Jim and her canine companion, Sam. She listens to Bob Dylan everyday.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Introducing Nicole Boudreau!
Here she is at a photo shoot for her aprons, goofing around as usual! Nicole is an awesome lady- super fun, funny, positive, hard working and all in all just a cool person to be around. I love it when my schedule gets switched around and I get to spend a Tuesday working with her at the shop!
And Nicole is just one of the many personalities that keep Fresh Collective the fabulous beehive of creative energy that it is! With almost 20 local designers sharing the space and selling their work, there's always something going on in the shop, and if it's a Tuesday when Nicole works in the shop, it's often something funny!