Browsing “The Inseam Series”

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo courtesy of One of a Few.

Just as the name implies, One of a Few is a collection of unique, carefully curated pieces housed in your girlfriend’s dream closet – complete with curtain change rooms, antique décor and an upstairs loft. Next door, Two of a Few, a more spacious area that serves as its sister store, holds both men’s and women’s clothing for the discerning eye.

One of a Few was one of the first fashion boutiques to ignite growth in Gastown and ever since its inception over seven years ago, it has become a staple in the neighbourhood. Conveniently, I meet owner Michelle Rizzardo at one of the Gastown’s latest attractions, Revolver, to discuss her stores and how the community has progressed over the years.

Valerie Tiu: One of a Few was one of the pioneering boutiques in Gastown, and one of the first stores in the area that I fell in love with. How has the neighbourhood progressed recently?

Michelle Rizzardo: The last couple of years have been the biggest growth. It’s been just over seven years for One of a Few and Gastown has totally changed – with restaurants, clothing stores …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Michelle Wong

A.D.F.M is Vancouver’s own one stop shop for everything you need to satisfy a culture craving. Art, Design, Fashion and Music are the elements that drive this distinctive online experience. A.D.F.M is motivated by the creative community, employing a team of stylists, local designers and artists to contribute. Not to mention, it is home to a killer storage unit that doubles as a personal shopping space for locals.

Founder and owner Michelle Wong has amazing taste and an eye for the latest and greatest finds. After exploring the diverse unit of clothing, books, accessories and art, we discuss Michelle’s unique approach to online shopping.

Valerie Tiu: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Michelle Wong: I always wanted to be in music and entertainment, so after high school I went to the UK to do music production. I got my degree there, and worked in the music industry for a little bit. It just didn’t feel like home yet …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Eileen Soo.

Conducting first time meetings often results in a guessing game while scanning the room for my interviewee. Such is not the case when I meet Cassie Dee. She is clad in her signature black frame glasses and an iconic orange floral blouse from her Spring 2012 Collection. Cassie is one of Vancouver’s latest designers to show at Toronto Fashion Week, and one of the reasons why I am itching to store away my winter wardrobe.

Check out what Cassie has to say about her line, her recent experiences in Toronto, and why the former Calgarian calls Vancouver her new home.

Valerie Tiu: How did you get into fashion?

Cassie Dee: I think I was always interested in fashion. When I was younger, it wasn’t a huge part of my life. I did explore lots of different creative options – I played music, I wrote, but more and more my direction became fashion. I’ve always been interested in different silhouettes and dressing differently.

I never really got into sewing until I was 18 years old. Once I got into it, I learned really fast and I was really focused on it. I moved to Vancouver from Calgary to go to Helen Lefeaux. I was looking for a shorter program to get into, then that way, I could see if I could really make a go at it. I liked the pattern making, the sewing and just …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Lifetime Collective

For Part Two of The Inseam Vol. 27, I chat with designer Jude Feller. Formerly of local contemporary label, lily + jae, Jude has recently made her debut with Lifetime’s Spring/Summer 2012 Women’s Collection.  The result is a fresh take on the brand: clothing that is distinctly feminine, easy and wearable, yet blends seamlessly with the men’s collection. We discuss Jude’s collection, her design process and how working for Lifetime has become a memorable experience.

Valerie Tiu: Did you always know that you wanted to work in fashion?

Jude Feller: Always. Starting in high school.

VT: What was your first fashion memory?

JF: A fashion show in high school. It was a collection of Velour tracksuits in 1995. Haha….

VT: This is your first collaboration with Lifetime Collective. How did you make the transition from designing your personal line, lily + jae, to designing for Lifetime? …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Lifetime Collective

Lifetime Collective is the ultimate success story. More than just a clothing label, Lifetime has evolved from a creative project in a Vancouver basement suite to a full-scale operation among friends, artists, designers, filmmakers and the like from all over the world. Celebrating their 10^th year in business, owners and menswear designers Reid Stewart and Trevor Fleming remain steadfast to their creative collaborative process.

Valerie Tiu: You started Lifetime Collective in 2002. How has the brand evolved over the last 10 years?

Reid Stewart: For starters, we’ve become a little bit wiser with how we do things. I think the overall design from the clothes to our catalogs has developed over the years into something more “us”. We’ve been lucky to meet many creative and interesting people over the years, which has really pushed us. It has let us evolve over the years and think about what it is that we do.

Trevor Fleming: Yes, I would say we are for sure more efficient in being able to execute on our ideas. That has given us a lot more time to step back and look at the full picture, making sure everything flows together the way we want it to.  I think in the beginning we would get way too involved in one particular aspect – but then again, I guess that is really the best way to learn how to do something properly.

VT: Where did you draw your inspiration from for the Spring/Summer 2012 Menswear collection? …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Nibz Bandanaz 

There is a common misconception that snow gear is unfashionable, and while this may still be true in some cases (note the dreaded onesie), this is changing rapidly. Nibz is a collection of high quality bandanas that keep you warm and dry without sacrificing style on the slopes. Its founder, Sara Niblock, is a snowboard cross athlete, ensuring that each piece is designed with the rider in mind.

I chat with Sara about her venture with Nibz, her motivation for the line and what makes Vancouver so awesome.

Valerie Tiu: Tell us a bit about yourself.

Sara Niblock: I grew up and graduated from university (I studied kinesiology) in Ontario, then headed west as soon as I could – and I won’t be turning back. I grew up beside a tiny hill called Chicopee; I knew no better then …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Michelle Ford

I meet Randi Obenauer in her East Van studio at the Dynamo Arts space. When I enter, I can immediately sense the creativity flowing in the room – there are art pieces and random knick-knacks strewn about, ladies painted head-to-toe in pink and blue, and Bob Marley playing in the background. Surely, it is the perfect place to get inspired. It is also Randi’s second home, where she hand makes each and every piece in her line, Ora Bags.

Made from both new and recycled leather, Ora has caught the attention of publications like FASHION Magazine and has become a Vancouver fashion staple in four short years. With a background in fine arts, automotive upholstery, textiles and fashion design, it comes as no surprise that Randi’s work is carefully thought out and well-constructed. The result is bags that are intricate, functional and beautiful at the same time.

I chat with Randi about Ora, her fashion memories and taking her collection to the next level. …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Sarah La Greca

Gypsy Market is not typical vintage offering. In fact, the collection is reminiscent of current high fashion looks,consisting of modern silhouettes, quality fabrics and unique details. When shopping vintage often poses as an overwhelming pursuit, Gypsy Market presents a unique and cohesive line of carefully edited looks.

I chat with owner Sarah La Greca and her partner in crime, Sara Gourlay, to discuss Gypsy Market, the science of vintage shopping and what’s next.

Valerie Tiu: Can you tell us a bit about your concept for Gypsy Market? How did you come up with this idea?

Sarah La Greca: Gypsy Market is a curated vintage collection. I handpick and put together collections of modern, wearable, more high fashion vintage pieces, rather than your typical “vintage-y” type looks. It’s not retro. My signature …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>