Meet Moira of Moira Coughlan Handmade Bags

Moira Coughlan is the maker of functional, durable - and downright fashionable - handbags. Currently based in Toronto, Moira designs and creates all of her handbags by hand. Originally trained as an Architectural Technologist, Moira decided in 2008 that designing handbags was way more fun than designing buildings and the rest is history! Moira believes that durability, functionality and simplicity, are key to sophisticated and timeless design. Combine these with environmentally sensitive production and you have a winning handbag.

Moira starts the design process with sketching and more sketching. Once she finds a design that works on paper she makes a prototype then edits and re-edits that. Once a winning proto type is found, production can begin – hooray! Moira cuts and constructs all bags by hand and sews everything stitch by stitch! Whew! What a job, but she loves it and hopes that you love your handbag as much as she enjoys creating it!

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!

Meet Mandy of Mandala Design

I think I’ve always been interested in fashion. As a kid, I remember having very strong opinions about what I would and wouldn’t wear. In high school, I taught myself how to sew on my Grandmother’s sewing machine. Thinking back, some of the outfits I created were probably a little silly, but they were unique and that seemed most important at the time. My Dad encouraged me to pursue fashion in college and I founded Mandala Design in 1991, after graduating from Sheridan’s Fashion Design program. I ran Mandala part time, in addition to working in the fashion industry, until 2005, when I took the leap to focus all my energy on designing. I design two seasons each year and spend a great deal of time getting the fit right. Most of my clothing is able to transition from a casual working environment to dinner to the weekend. I am inspired by classic styles and simple lines with a bit of whimsy thrown in. I use unexpected details, interesting fabrics and vintage touches to make my clothing stand out from the many options available today. Being unique never goes out of style!