All posts filed under: Canadian Designers

Dina Gonzalez Mascaro Jewellery

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I went to the opening of the SORRY, I’M NOT SORRY, I’M NOT A JEWELLER by Dina González Mascaró show held at the Ossington Philip Sparks shop. Dina is an Argentinian, born Vancouver based artist visiting the city for the Interior Design Show and the Toronto Design Offsite Festival. She has a Master’s degree in Fine Arts with a specialization in sculpture but she is a self-taught jewellery artist. Dina’s jewellery is very much and extension of her artwork. I really love what she does as it’s so unique. She is really pushing design in a different direction. The jewellery has added dimension and structure not normally seen. Strong women wear these pieces otherwise they end up wearing you. I’m not a cyclist but her bike series is amazing. The wheels move on the mini bikes and the wheel pendant is just perfect. If you are in Vancouver you can visit Dina’s shop/studio, JewellerBau. She does custom work as well. At the opening Dina described a set of wedding bands she created for an artist …

Woudenberg Spring Summer 2013 – Paragon

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I’m a sucker for anything Art Deco related so I was very interested in the Woudenberg Spring Summer 2013 jewellery collection. Toronto based, Emily Woudenberg is a self-taught fashion and jewellery designer with an educational background in Fine Arts and Graphic Design. The spring summer 2013 season marks her fourth collection under the her namesake label, Woudenberg. The collection titled “Paragon” is inspired by the most eclectic and luxurious qualities of the Art Deco movement. A paragon, defined as “an immaculate diamond”, symbolized the frivolity that followed World War I. After the Great Depression and World War II, the opulence of the Art Deco era was out of place and a stark contrast to the sombre reality of the late 1930s. The 12-piece collection incorporates rose gold, opalite, copper industrial materials, rope and hand-sculpted pendants. Staying true to the Woudenberg aesthetic, Paragon is avant-garde and androgynous with each piece as experimental and effortlessly sophisticated as the next. “I wanted to capture the essence of the contrast between extreme frivolity and sombre frugality that was seen …

i want: Raya Backpack by Rimanchik

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It’s always funny how everything runs in circles. The backpack was my staple bag during high school and university. The thought of using a traditional bag was absurd at the time. After finishing my school years, I ditched the backpack and never looked back. Now backpacks are everywhere and I’ve been broken. I want in on this action. Enter the Raya Backpack in fall’s trendiest colour, oxblood. Rimanchik is a Montreal based accessories brand that started in 2003. They keep things local and they also manufacture their products in Montreal. I like how streamline and sleek this backpack is. It’s the size of handbag but gives you the hands free advantage without resorting to something messenger style. The Raya Backpack is available online at Rimanchik.com for $260.00.

Cougar Pillow Boot Quilty Pleasures

Cougar Pillow Boot Collection Fall Winter 2012

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Cougar Boots had a mobile installation going around the city showing off the new Pillow Boot collection for the season. I stopped by the King and Brant intersection where they had set up shop one November day during lunch. The installation was there to show off the new Cougar Pillow boot styles to the public. Media was also invited to check out the new styles. I was really impressed with the new styles added to the Cougar Pillow Boot line. The reworked original Pillow Boot is back in different colourways like black, sienna, rust and tan. New styles are a bit more feminine with wedge heels and different textures. I love the tall Pillow Boot called Quilty Pleasures. They come in black and chestnut. They are calf Leather with quilted nylon. These were the boot I received from the collection courtesy of Cougar. I wore them yesterday because it was the first below -10 degrees day. I seriously forgot how cold it could be as we’ve been spoiled with mild winters for the last couple …

I want – I got Holiday Gift Guide – Part 2

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Yup, this gift guide madness is continuing. I’ve got three more days of I want – I got Gift Guides. You might want to take a look at Part 1 of the I want – I got Gift Guide series. This is the part two of four in the I want – I got Gift Guide series. I have so many favourite things I wanted to include. This gift guide is very much I want – I got. You’ll see things I want, things I got and other obsessions. Some things are affordable and some aren’t but I’ve tried to mix it up. The list covers fashion, beauty, electronics, art, toys and booze. Basically, all the items on the gift guide are I want – I got approved. So, join me the second part of this exploration of things I would love to see under my tree at Christmas. Clover Canyon Printed crepe de chine tunic dress ($238) – Net-a-Porter L designed by Linda Lundstrom Indigo dyed red fox Shawl Collar ($395) – designedbylindalundstrom.com RIMOWA …

I want – I got Holiday Gift Guide – Part 1

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So, this year I lost my mind and I decided to create a holiday gift guide. I’m usually anti-gift guides because I’m not much of a Christmas person and gift guides are a shit ton of work. I don’t know what made me change my mind this year but here we are. People have told me this is a good idea, so I hope you find it helpful or amusing. This is the part one of four in the I want – I got Gift Guide series. I have so many favourite things I wanted to include. This gift guide is very much I want – I got. You’ll see things I want, things I got and other obsessions.  Some things are affordable and some aren’t but I’ve tried to mix it up. The list covers fashion, beauty, electronics, art, toys and booze. Basically, all the items on the gift guide are I want – I got approved. So, join me on this exploration of things I would love to see under my tree at Christmas. …

Lucian Matis SS 13

TFW Spring Summer 2013 – Lucian Matis

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Lucian Matis fashion shows are just an absolute delight. Lucian gave us prints, transparency and leather for the spring summer 2013 Lucian Matis collection. The prints are lust worthy. The images chosen for the prints added depth to garments and made use of seams to create direction and structure with the print on the manipulated fabric. “I named this collection MOSAIC as it is inspired by the mosaics of Morocco in contrast with the transparency and neutrality of the papyrus,” says designer Lucian Matis of his latest collection, “I was always taken and inspired by the beauty of the Moroccan art and it’s ornate elements. Spring/Summer 2013 seemed to be the perfect timing for this inspiration.” Present throughout the collection were a mix of custom pattern designed fine cottons, silks, leather, and crocodile embossed leather (Source: Press Release) It was slowly becoming apparent that two trends were going to dominate fashion week: the Peplum and the Midriff. I love the peplum and hope it turns into a trend that sticks around. The Midriff I could …

i want: Dagger Print b tee by Primary

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Primary has a really cute fall winter 2012 – 2013 collection. I love the black and chartreuse Dagger Print b tee. Make a statement in our dagger print b tee with our fall signature chartreuse hue that curls out on the sides. A powerful office look with a fitted black skirt, or an easy fall blouse option paired with a pant. images: primaryny.com