Even though I’ve lived in Toronto all my life, I just discovered the real Queen West area. Before, when you tell me that you’re heading over to the area, I’d think that you meant anything east of Bathurst. Well, without a metropass, I decided to take my time in heading over to the “End of the Decade” sale by strolling and taking in the neighborhood’s yuppie vibes. So when another sale in the same area popped up on my Twitter feed the next day, I was excited to head on over. Poking my head into the Gladstone Hotel is where I found designer Ashley Rowe and her self-titled collection.

Graduating from George Brown’s fashion management program three years ago, 26 year-old Ashley Rowe has already racked up some significant accomplishments, including internships/employment at FASHION, FLARE, Holt Renfrew , and the FDCC. Wanting to find a median between the exorbitant prices of designer department store Holt Renfrew and the stylish, yet lacking in workmanship and uniqueness, wardrobe staple of H&M, Ashley took the bold chance and started her own line in 2007.

Infusing the essences of England’s “out there” personality and American rock & roll style into her clothing, Ashley’s miss rowe line received its nomination as a finalist for the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s (TFI) prestigious New Labels competition. Particular about fabric choice, Ashley presents versatility as a designer with creations in leather, silk, linen, and Egyptian cotton. And with each season comes an evolution of the line; inspired by her holiday trip to Mexico, the upcoming season is said to be a “voyage into patterns, prints, and textures,” which I am sure will be hot with her clientele aged 20 to 40.

What remains a staple each season, though, is the suit; from the Fall’09 collection are the glimmering Lennon jacket paired with Ono pants. Believing in comfort and ease, this suit’s chic style, along with other pieces from Ashley’s line, allow for office girl to head from work to the lounge for drinks with her girlfriends after a long day. And with reference to the titling of the pieces, “Yoko” and “Ono,” Ashley creates a unique playlist for each season with Lykke Li as the inspiration for Spring’10, which features a colour palette stemming from nature and the surroundings of her parents’ farm.

What I love most about this line is that the edginess of Ashley’s fabric (and sometimes color) choices provide style for a night out on the town, and the excellent tailoring and key shapes permit them to be office appropriate. And with a small colour palette, it’s a delight to see what Ashley designs and how she makes each piece a must-have.

As of this past July, Ashley left the nest at TFI and moved into the Gladstone Hotel in the Queen West area where other designers and artists currently reside. Also, after four seasons of miss rowe, Ashley is embarking on her second line, ASHLEY ROWE.

For more information, check out Ashley’s website at http://www.ashleyrowe.com. But for now, watch her Fall ‘09 campaign, Les Smoking, featuring Mosha Lundström Halbert below:

Black and white close-up of Ashley Rowe's Spring'10 Pieces

Hand-dyed coral dress from Fall'09

Back view of the Lennon jacket

The suit from Fall'09

An all white ensemble for Spring'10

Profile picture courtesy of Toronto Life, and images courtesy of Ashley Rowe

Barb :: Jan.31.2010 :: Fashion, Spotlight :: No Comments »

The times where I have attempted to wind down and relax during vacation or breaks have countless, as are the times where I’ve failed. I was devouring my Raspberry Symphony cake at sen5es Bakery & Restaurant while talking about LG Fashion Week with my cousin when a lady working hard at her computer said “excuse me.” I was actually fearing that she was going to tell me that I was being too loud or obnoxious and that I was bothering her, but she turned out to be a designer wanting to know what I thought of this past LG Fashion Week. Phew. Turns out that she none other than Sarah Shell, designer of 442 McAdam, who was hard at work for her new collection.

Launched in Calgary in October 2008, 442 McAdam has been well-received by fashionistas and professionals with numerous magazine and television spots, as well as invitations to present at LG Fashion Week and Edmonton Fashion Week. With a touch of bohemian, the bags make themselves perfect for everyday wear. The bronze and silver (which an available option for the Spring/Summer 2010 collection) hardware accents, though, allow the Flop and Gator clutches maximum versatility in day and night wear. The accents draw on various inspirations, including old cabinet pulls. What can also be said about the flexibility of these bags is their use of cowhide leather; the snake and gator textures seen on the bags are in fact punched into the cowhide leather and then painted. Just as beautiful on the inside, each bag features pockets for organization, magnetic closures, and an attached keychain clasp.

This season showcases a lighter palette, as well as in the introduction of the Duffle bag for travel and exercise, and The Sac for the girl on the go. The top selling clutches, Flop and Gator, and Mini-Skirt reprise their roles in the 442 McAdam lookbook. And as previously mentioned, the accents are now also available in silver, which makes outfit matching easier.

What’s my personal opinion? I’ve never been a huge fan of the bohemian trend (okay, it’s more so because I don’t look great in a lot of the clothing), but these bags are gorgeous and might very well change my mind on the whole style. Well, that and the fact that a bag is easier for me to pull off. The workmanship and time that goes into creating these bags and their textures are unbelievable. So here’s my 2010 prediction: Sarah is definitely a designer to watch out for as her designs will be picked up by more stores and rock the fashion world hard.

For more information, check out the website: http://www.442mcadam.com

The Duffle Bag; perfect for exercise and travel

Flop Clutch; comes with removable gold chain

Sac; perfect for the girl on the go

Mini Skirt Sac; easily fits your laptop, books, and/or files

Gator Clutch; also comes with removable gold chain, and just so happens to be my personal favorite

Images courtesy of 442 McAdam, and headshot courtesy of Dead Sexy Magazine

Barb :: Jan.17.2010 :: Fashion, Spotlight :: No Comments »

My idea of supporting local goods goes like this: I get ecstatic over Canadian designers being worn on New York streets, will go home to purchase specific items from Canadian stores (e.g. Aritzia), and buy my groceries from the farmer’s market. I could probably be a little more serious, but with that said, it’s no wonder that I can at least appreciate Honey Thistle – a new accessories line started by University of Toronto student Wei Xu.

With all her pieces being handmade, Wei is constantly creating and experimenting, which has resulted in several collections in spite of the fact that Honey Thistle was only founded this year. Much of the inspiration stems from an aim to be comfortable and practical, but also extends itself to other things, such as music lyrics, organic shapes and items, and children’s storybooks.

What do I personally think of the line? It’s cute and great for casual wear. I can definitely see Wei’s style in these pieces (i.e. it’s not a random array of jewelry), which is essential for anyone starting a line or brand. Also, take a look at some of the pieces and you have got to love the names of some of these items, because they are so appropriately labeled with pieces such as “Flight” and “Scattering Ice.” But I can also see for there to be room for improvement and elevation of the line. Using semi-precious stones in some of the pieces instead of plastic/glass beads could refine the line’s overall look and offer more to a collection in terms of product variation.

Currently, you can win Wei’s (until 10 November) jewelery, along with several other great steals, by entering the October giveaway hosted by Viva Woman. You can also view more of Wei’s pieces by heading over to her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/honeythistle

"Flight" – absolutely love the feather

"Paris, Je T'aime" – Shows off meticulous work and Wei's love for charms

"Peas" – cute bracelet, love the glass beads in this piece

Be sure to also become a fan of Honey Thistle on Facebook!

Images courtesy of Honey Thistle at Etsy

Barb :: Nov.08.2009 :: Fashion, Spotlight :: No Comments »