Vancouver Fashion

Vancouver's online fashion culture magazine

Spend on Trend: Designer Round-up

September 16th, 2008 | Published in Event Report

Words and Photos by Maria

Spend on Trend, taking place since 2004, rounds up local designers who offer Canadian-made goods and invites the masses to spend their money on them, which is pointedly implied by the event’s name. It certainly feels great to shell out a few bucks (or more as it is deserved) on local artists, which I most decidedly did on the last day of the 3-day event on September 7th.

Some of the faces I saw at the event—glowing with pride that their products are Canadian-made, of course—were designers just starting off on their ventures, and it was great to see another event like this embracing them so. Amanda Anderson from Kulus Designs, with her smartly designed pieces featuring First Nations art on strategic areas of each garment, was one of these designers and a highlight of Spend on Trend. Amanda collaborates with local aboriginal artists to create the prints, while she works her magic on the garment designs. Her butterfly hoodie was one of my favourites. It cinches at the front into a v-neck–giving it a very girly flair–a butterfly design takes up the whole of the back and a hand design is printed on the pouch pockets. Amanda grew up surrounded by art as it is a big part of her family and she has undoubtedly grown up to find her own way to interpret what her heritage has presented her over the course of her life. All her pieces are made and printed here in Vancouver.

Pascale Rootham and Mark George of Pascale.Mark were two more of the new faces; their collection started less than a year ago. Pascale, having gone to fashion design school, sews most of the vests that encompass their collection. And Mark, sporting a BFA in Sculpture, puts in with his never-ending creativity. All the vests in their current collection are completely unique, as Pascale and Mark like to experiment with different fabrics, buttons, and trims. Their variety in fabrics makes them versatile throughout the seasons: from denim with colourful cotton lining for temperate climates to tweed wool with heavy cotton lining for the colder months. Although Pascale.Mark only includes the vests for now, the collection will soon expand to also include jackets and skirts. These two artists make their vests in their home-studio: their close and personalized production makes their vests all the more special, as they both believe that artistry comes way ahead of mass production.

Jewellery masters and Vancouver staples Toodlebunny and Filou Designs were also present; their collections smartly laid out on their show tables. Trudy Wynans of Toodlebunny uses gold and sterling silver in her designs and puts them together with semi-precious stones, wood, bone, and charms like medallions, lockets, hearts, and good-luck elephants giving her pieces an enchanting charm. Filou designer Fiona Louie sticks to solid sterling silver and 24k gold vermeil which she shapes into designs inspired by nature and her travels. Ferns, birds, and bunnies are featured in her necklaces and earrings; as well as circular pendants in the shape of sand dollars and some that resemble fossils of long lost organisms.

Denise Wilson brought along her two lines: bronsino and Patina Designs. Denise works with leather to create handbags of all shapes and sizes for her bronsino line. Her designs stand out for their practicality and elegance, as well as for their unquestionable quality. Denise uses reclaimed leather and leather from vintage coats to make her bags–one could not expect less from a socially conscious designer based out of Vancouver. Her Patina collection is just as beautiful, but it focuses more on small coin purses, casual bags, and leather journals all of which (including her bronsino line) she makes herself–with a little help, of course–right here in the city. Another local artist to be proud of.

It’s exciting to think of the doors these designers are opening up to make sustainability and home-manufacturing a more concrete reality. And events like Spend on Trend are bringing them together under one roof. The fact that there is interest form the public is so encouraging as they get to interact personally with the people behind the product. It is a long lost art that many people are craving for; to have that connection and face-to-face contact with the makers of the products we buy. Props to Spend on Trend for creating a venue for this type of interaction. Check out Spend on Trend at their website and don’t miss their next designer round-up!

Published in Event Report

Fresh off the press

Archives >>

Attached Photo Gallery

Fresh in Event Report

Event Report: Style & Strut Bridal Fashion Event

Wedding season approaching, one of our favourite bridal events was the Style & Strut Bridal Event, held at the Sutton Place Hotel on January 22, 2012.

Blanche Macdonald Grad Show 2011: the spectrum

The 2011 Blanche Macdonald grad show delivered once again with an array of well-executed designs as proof of the hard work behind the well-respected fashion design program.