Sample Sale: La Grande Braderie de Mode Québécoise
A fashion lover's dream!
If you are at all interested in Quebec fashion and its designers, attending La Grande Braderie de Mode Québécoise is the place to start. The semi-annual event brings together 35 to 40 Montreal-based fashion designers and companies to sell surplus inventory or one-of-a-kind samples that were never reproduced. Normally, the event runs for three days and follows Montreal Fashion Week. And to top it off, clothing is normally marked down by 50 to 80%! Can you say Christmas Shopping!
A Boyish Charm
Even though I love glamour and all things chic and elegant in fashion, I also like a masculine and boyish touch. Growing up with two older brothers, surrounded by wrestling and toy cars, I used to be a tomboy. As I grew up I became more “girly” but still, I prefer sneakers to sandals and pants over skirts. I believe that my personal style is pretty simple and girly with a small boyish touch. This is why I love all the boy clothes that women can wear. Those boyfriend shirts and boyfriend jeans or short are some of my favorites pieces to see in fashion looks. I consider a suit jacket over a pair of shorts or skirts can be the perfect detail to add some modern pieces to a look. Shopping in the men’s department you can come up with some great new ideas, it’s really fun. Here are a couple of pictures I saw of the latest runway looks with the “boyish” look, let me know what you think.
Jackie
Puerto Rican Fashion
Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico! For those of you who have no idea where it’s located, it’s a gorgeous island in the Caribbean. Famous people from here? Ricky Martin, of course, and Mark Anthony.
In our fashion industry we have such great designers like Luis Antonio, Lisa Capalli, Lita Von Zane, Carlos Alberto and others (I have provided some pictures of their works ahead). Designers that pay so much attention to detail in a simple, sophisticated and modern way.
San Juan Fashion Week is always fun! (San Juan is the capital) You get to see the designers express themselves in such an artistic way. Fashion companies, students, “fashionistas” all get together in such a great activity. During the day models getting ready, people choosing their outfits and designers doing their last minute touches all in a days work for just a few minutes on the runway. Every designer with their different style portraying their different messages.
Then watching the pictures in the newspaper the next morning, online the next day and in the magazines weeks after its all part of such a fun week!
-Jackie-
Sewing with Lightweight Fabrics
Summer is almost here. Finally!
Put away the fuzzy fleece and make room for summery sheers. Have a summer wedding to attend? Try a shawl in a pretty organza. For those hot summer nights, try making a one of a kind night dress from a sexy silk. Though these fabrics make our summer wardrobe bloom, since they are so delicate there are special precautions we should take when sewing with them. Here are a few tips:
• Use a fine point needle
• Set the machine for the smallest stitch
• Use silk pins for pinning
• When pinning place a paper cutting board under the fabric to keep it from sliding.
• Use fine cotton covered polyester thread or lingerie thread.
• Use a “baby hem” or a rolled hem.
• Use small buttons, covered snaps and hook and eyes for closures. Use a nylon zipper if you must as it is the lightest.
Happy Sewing!
-Tajah-
New newsletter and camps, camps, camps!
Alright, have you seen our new, outstanding newsletter???? If you’re not already subscribing, get ON IT! The emailed version is chock full of links to all our favourite things. TSS eNewsletter V3.pdf Sign up now by emailing newsletter@lovesewing.com
At The Sewing Studio this week we’re all about camps. We’re running our first session of summer’s Fashion Runway Week today until Friday with students from The York School, a private school in Toronto. In addition to learning to sew, students will turn an existing garment into their own piece of haute couture. They’ll learn fashion illustration, how to design a logo and hang tag, how to style an outfit, and all the while they’ll hear from industry pros including Jessica Biffi of Project Runway Canada, Anna Lisa Sang of Flare, Fashion, House & Home, and LouLou, and Janette Ewen of CityLine and Globe & Mail. Sounds amazing, don’t you think?
We’ll keep you posted on the camp. In the meantime, there’s still room in the summer versions of Fashion Runway Week! Register now and see full details by downloading our summer camp PDF.
In addition to Fashion Runway Week for tweens and teens, we’ve got Teddy Bear Week for young creatives ages 8-13. AND…. we’re adding a new camp to the roster: Lights! Camera! Fashion! Stay tuned for news on that. Students ages 8-14 will re-work a pair of jeans into a fashionable bag and a parent’s button-down shirt into a dress. On the last day of the camp, we’re bringing in a professional makeup artist for a photoshoot, and each student will leave with their very own personalized magazine cover!
So as you can see, we’ve got camp fever here at The Sewing Studio. Summer’s on its way……
Happy Sewing!
Denise — Founder & Managing Director
Dubai Fashion Week
Born and raised in Dubai, I never would have imagined what a huge impact fashion would have on this flourishing city. Growing up in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E), fashion was not an option until the late 1990’s early 2000’s. Watching it come together has been quite exciting, thanks to numerous investors taking an interest in bringing fashion to the Middle East.
Dubai Fashion Week was founded by a company called Concept Events and had it’s first run in 2007. Concept Events conceived and produced the Dubai Fashion Week as a pioneering trade event for the fashion industry, establishing Dubai as the centre of international fashion in the Middle East. With over 30 designers from all over the region such as Walid Atallah, Amal Murad, Reem Ali Beljafla and Salma Khan just to name a few. They will all get a chance to display their new collections that will range from couture to prêt a porter.
The week will also showcase the winners of DFW’s Emerging Talent Competition. Those lucky enough to attend the “invite only” event will witness exclusive sneak previews of wardrobe must haves and trends for Autumn/ Winter ‘09.
DFW is now in it’s 5th season. The regional and local fashion industry are excited for the designers to show the media, fashion retail buyers and fashion-consumers just how much talent exists in the Middle East.
I am proud to say that Dubai has come a long way from when I grew up there. It is now one of the world’s most extraordinary cities and it continues to grow with amazing talents.
Dubai Fashion Week is scheduled to take place from April 5- 9th. It’s on right now! Check it out at www.dfw.ae for the latest news and a chance to see the fabulous collections by the amazing designers and upcoming talents.
-Tamara-
The One-of-a-Kind Show!
The One of a Kind show hits Toronto twice a year. The Spring show in March /April and the Christmas show in November /December. It features unique and inspiring work by over 750 local artists and is one of Toronto’s favorite events!
The “show” has been running for over 30 years and still manages to attract an average of 200,000 visitors a year.
If you are trying to find that “rare and original” gift for someone, then this is the place where you will find it. Or perhaps you’ll want to find something there just for you! Either way, it’s a win win situation.
It has become a great shopping attraction due to the unique and exceptional gift ideas. Come and explore some art, furniture, fashions, home decor and more by amazing Canadian artists.
The One of a Kind Show is running from April 1-5 at the Direct Energy Center.
Tickets at the door
Adults $12
Seniors (65+) $6.50
Students (13-17) $6.50
Children (12 & under) Free
If you buy your tickets online now you’ll receive $2 off adult admission.
Visit their website for more info at:
www.oneofakindshow.com
Hope to see you there for a “One of a Kind” time!
-Tamara-
Montreal Fahsion Week
Montréal’s Fashion Week (put on by Sensation Mode) is coming up March 2nd – 5th 2009. As with any Fashion week it draws buyers from all around the world to experience the fashion and style of the hosting city.
One of the showcasing designers that really caught my eye was Soia & Kyo, an outerwear company based in Montreal. I visited there very cute and interactive site (www.soiakyo.com) and instantly fell in love with there jackets and coats. Known for there detailing, over-sized buttons and out of the ordinary styling, Soia and Kyo are definitely a brand to look out for.
You can still get last minute tickets by going to Marche Bonsecours (In Old Montreal where the show is being held) between March 2nd and 5th to get your tickets. Go to www.montrealfashionweek.ca for more details.
-Tajah-
