Sandi Bassett, Artist Designs Her Pink Outfits For the EWMA Collections Supporting Cancer Research at Vancouver Fashion Week, Wed. April 25, 2024

Sandi Basset is an Artist who has taught, mentored, made Art and designed for EWMA Studio and Store, as well as playing a major role, with Laurie Bricker, in getting ready for the bi-anual Atira X EWMA show at Vancouver Fashion Week. I have written about them both, here and here. This time, Sandi did not walk, but she wore the green outfit that Barbareh modelled last season at fashion week. It was through modelling, that Barbareh conveyed her message that dreams can be pursued even while in treatment. Early, this year, Barbareh lost her battle with breast cancer and since her wish was to raise money for cancer research and a cure, her family, the EWMA Artists, Sewists, Designers and Models from the original team, plus Cancer Surviors walking bravely for the first time, and other Professionals, came together in a warrior fundraising walk of 18 pink looks. In support, Vancouver Fashion Week donated tickets to raise funds and there is an auction/gala by Atira/EWMA, in the works, to raise even more money. There was a sea of pink outfits, accessories and pink jewelry in the audience. See my reel on Instagram here. Having helped to develop the pink drive for cancer, concept, Sandi's 3 outfits are accessorized by Laurie Bricker Laurie Bricker. They began working on this show, right after the last one. Soft, dewy makeup is by Bully Blocker and make-up looks and hair ribbons for the hair, are by Love Berlin. Well known Professional Model Erin Leigh, who of course, rocked an iconic pink gown and spectacular jewelry, spent a lot of time at EWMA, especially with models who had never walked in any fashion events. Bravo team and team work! Sandi's first look was a white vintage dressing gown, up-cycled into cullotes and made into a jump suit, with pink fringe from Dressew. This outfit has a fringe tail, too, to lighten the outfit and make it playful. The hat, one of Sandi's specialties, is also covered in the Dressew pink fringe. Next up is another hat, with sparkly brooch, and feathers and more thrifted jewelry bits. This second outfit is a jacket and pants made out of pink 1980's drapes. Big shoulders and lengthy jacket, worn unbelted but also has a belt. The pink blouse material was donated by Fab Cycle Van, long a supporter of EWMA and generous doner of fabric and funds, over the years. The third look, accessorized by a captain's hat, was actually modelled by a boat captain from Victoria, who came all the way to Vancouver, for every fitting. The jacket is Fab Cycle Van material and Sandi quilted the jacket using batting from The Gathering Place and lace also came via Fab Cycle Van. Sequins and jewelry bits were thrifted but the major jewelry was made by Laurie Bricker. The skirt for this outfit was made by Domi, another EWMA Designer and Model, who made 3 of the other pink gowns in the collection. Artists in our midst! Art and Fashion are a powerful vehicle for fighting for a cure. Women supporting Women. BC Cancer Foundation EWMA Vancouver Fashion Week, strong allies in the battle.

Image via Sandi Bassett

Below runway images via Arun Nevader (Getty Images)

@extremely.erin Erin Leigh

LOVE TO UKRAINE by Tetyana Golota at Vancouver Fashion Week Tuesday April 23, 2024

LOVE TO UKRAINE is a tribute to Ukrainian culture, and is a contemporary reflection of how its historical crafts,fabric woven, hand made and intricately embroidered and cross-stitched, appear on clothing and accessories, musical instruments, home furnishings, buildings and more. I encourage you to learn more here. Its brilliant colours, usually on a white background, depicting flowers, birds, animals, people, includes, for this collection, many outfits with special 'patches' and pictures of toys. The runway show opened with a model carrying a teddy bear, which represents children impacted by war. Our clothing tells our story and the toys remind us that children, our future, are the most profoundly affected. Removed from home and country, survival taking precedence over play, traditions lost, life lost, so much at stake here. While a reel on my instagram has music and dance (Dovbush Dancers, directed by Debbie Karras) and costumes by Janice Black, Costume Treasurer at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, these photos show the toy motifs up close. Thank you, Tetyana Golota for bringing the blue and yellow flag of the Ukraine, to Vancouver Fashion Week. For every collection, there is a dynamic video and a vibrant background, always different, always teaching. Here is my previous coverage of Tetyana's LOVE TO UKRAINE shows from 2023 and 2022. Tetyana is an ECO Stylist, bringing thrifted and fabrics and accessories and upcycling them for her collections. She always models and wears her designs in her daily life. For this and other collections, she uses family heirlooms and pieces made and donated by her community. Many of us wear blue and yellow, when LOVE TO UKRAINE is on the schedule. We see, we learn, we remember. I love Tetyana's vibrant green dress with the giant teddy bear on the front. When asked which of her looks is her favourite, she says...all of them a have unique features and designs and history. Very much like each of her LOVE TO UKRAINE fashion shows, all different, all exquisitely designed and all with the message PEACE FOR UKRAINE!

Image via Tetyana Golota

Image via Tetyana Golota

Image via Tetyana Golota

Image via Tetyana Golota

Eduardo Ramos, Extraordinary Designer Brings Spanish and Latin American Elements to Fashion and Dance at Vancouver Fashion Week - A Grand Finale to the Evening of April 28, 2024

Originally from Mexico, Eduardo's designs reflect his cultural background, its costumes (lace, beading, pleats, matador hats and jackets, flamenco ruffled dresses) dance, folkloric traditions, and the music that accompanies the models as they move, and this time, dance on the runway. As soon as his name comes up on the screen, the front row, especially is camera ready and leaning forward in anticipation. Eduardo has shown previously, here and also with Global Fashion Collective, at Fashion Weeks in Paris, London, Milan and New York City. At Vancouver Fashion Week, we are fortunate to see international and local Designers, and here, we can meet ours, get to see them at work, especially at the fashion schools, like Lasalle College Vancouver, from which Eduardo graduated and continues to consult with students on their collections and presentations at VFW. 

Eduardo's latest collection, Ephemera, reflects personal interests, a tribute to his mother and her love of the orchid, (purple and white) and to his childhood memories, his love of history, Spanish and Latin American, in particular. There is also the theme of clothing as multifacted, multilayered, exquisitely detailed, multi functional and evolving pieces. For example, there is a classic men's or women's trench coat, that has beaded sleeves and upper back, with pleats, that to me, speak of a very creative amplification of just one kick pleat, making the coat, much more dynamic and functional. The trench goes from noir detective to 'noir detective on stage'instantly. This is what great design does; it makes you want to put it on and go to far off places. Another example of this is the white suit that gets dressed up with an beaded collar, close fitting but with powerful shoulders, tux pockets,detailed cuffs and one pant leg pleated and the other plain. The purple (orchid) dress is fitted but flounced/ruffled on the bottom of the skirt. It is not a decoration but constructed to move and refect different shades of purple. It is balanced by smaller ruffles, almost flowers, that balance the whole look. Love the headpieces, which speak to me of matador hats, vertical, rather than horizontal, that show architectural training, (yes, Designer/Architect) in their construction.The colours, cream, purple, black and white have never looked this dramatic! I realize that I have never worn an outfit of just one colour...I might, now! This is a celebration of the creative mind and its product, an insistence of appreciating and closely examining beauty and its transience. It is also about slow fashion and taking time to make love and skill, priorities. Think about the stages of Orchid growth and the grand finale: the bloom. A magnificent collection, Eduardo! 

Find him at Eduardo Fashion Studio and on his website. Two more interviews with lovely photos and more about Eduardo Ramos, can be found at www.oliobymarilyn.com. You can also see my Reel here. And then...there was the Dance! Eduardo made the costume for Sidney Chuckas, who danced a mesmerizing performance of transition and transformation. A white orchid grows and is transformed. This is the same process for humans. The costume is gender neutral, with a collared shirt and a long train. Suit to dress from clothing to costume to culture and story through Design and Dance. Transition to transformation. The creative mind, in all of its stages, beginning with the concept and passion and struggle to create and to savour each stage, no matter how difficult.Eduardo and Sidney met on a collaborative campaign and with shared interests in fashion and expression through performance, they brought this to the vancouver fashion week stage, in a fabulous culmination of 6 days style. So many partnerships and collaborations, this one with Ballet BC and Vancouver Fashion Week and a fine representation of talent from Lasalle College Vancouver. Much gratitude and appreciation, all!

Maeve Downing: Volunteering, Learning The Art of Fashion Show Production Behind the Scenes At Vancouver Fashion Week

I met Maeve at Vancouver Kids Fashion Week in 2017. Since then, she has been actively involved in the Fashion world and agreed to a short interview to tell us what she has been up to!  

Maeve Downing lights up when she talks about her passions: environmental activism, theatre production, stage management, music, fashion and volunteering. She was attracted to her school's leadership program by key words: Social Justice, Sustainability and Action; she has projects in mind and is determined to get them done. She is the Drummer in the school's band/jazz band. She is the Stage Manager for the yearly play. She runs the Climate Club and wants to see a District Wide Student Event that shouts out critical environmental issues through the message board of Fashion. Maeve says that since everyone is involved in fashion, it is easy to attract volunteers to this important cause. Fashion Note, here: Maeve is wearing a gorgeous brooch, a Crane. Cranes are symbols for Creativity, Perceptiveness, Wisdom, Conservation, Preservation, Peace, and Joy, all of which were reflected during this interview. Fashion speaks.  

A long time Volunteer at Vancouver Fashion Week, she is involved in every way, possible. She modelled for two seasons at Vancouver Kids Fashion Week, held bi-annually, during the weekend days of Vancouver Fashion Week. This time it is April 27-28, 2024. Not only did she model and help back stage, but she also was a guest blogger with me, in 2017 and 2018. At age 8, she could easily describe kids' fashion, especially that one dress that everyone would want in their closet. Here she is in 2017  and  2018. She has modelled twice for  VFW and recently attended  NYFW with  Global Fashion Collective. When I am doing Designer interviews, I see Maeve dashing by with a steamer, scissors, tape, stapler, and her phone, that crucial connection to every station at the huge event that is Vancouver Fashion Week. I know that she would have the flashlight to guide me and would know exactly where people are. And along the way, if I asked her about an idea, she would have a better one. About Volunteering, she says, you have to be ready for a fast moving environment and be prepared to be involved, to be busy and to be doing things that matter. She has vision and people follow her. Maeve says there is a place for almost everyone at Vancouver Fashion Week and many more volunteers are needed. There is a very helpful orientation and you learn from others, too. It's truly a group project!  

Maeve and I met up at John Hendry Park (Trout Lake) a beautiful spot in East Vancouver. And here is another example of the consummate Volunteer, one who is willing to meet up on a chilly, gray day, walk around and answer questions, pose for photos and not ask, "Where is Annie Leibovitz?" and help with the ideas for this blog. Maeve will read this, in draft, and will likely add more photos and ideas to bring in more volunteers. So very organized, she will ensure that the job gets done and done well. This was an hour in the busy life of a Volunteer. What was accomplished? Thank you Maeve for this interview, a shout out to Vancouver Kids Fashion Week and Vancouver Fashion Week  and  Global Fashion Collective, a reflection of some different ways to volunteer: modelling, helping backstage, working with new recruits, helping with social media, talking about being a volunteer, seeing runway shows, meeting Designers, Models, Hair and Make-up Professionals, learning about the fashion industry, impact and sustainability, expanding resumes and learning about other careers, building community, all by being an active participant in fashion weeks. By the way, did you know that most cities have them and when you travel, you just might be able to volunteer? But first start here, in your own city, at your own, very accessible  Vancouver Fashion Week  and Vancouver Kids Fashion Week. See you there, April 23-28th, 2024. On April 25th, Maeve modelled for @vccfashion Grad, Designer, MIAN LAM, in her collection: MERZIFORMATION. This is such a joyful collection, with a birthday party theme. At the end of this whimsical, celebratory show, I received a purple birthday hat! I put it right on! More at information about volunteering at fashion week  here. Benefits for Volunteering: Learning more about local and international Fashion Designers and Fashion trends Work Experience and Resume Development, expanding your skill set, being on a variety of teams and assignments in a fast paced environment (with lots of support) and sharing Fashion as action and Fashion with a message, including your own Fashion Week! This offers the opportunity to acquire new skills in the time you have, for a week or year round. Hearing new Music and learning how Music and Art complement and enhance runway performance is another fantastic perk!

See my latest reel from Van Fashion Week 2024 here! 

Photo courtesy of Maeve Downing

Photo courtesy of Maeve Downing

Maeve  Modelling for VCC Fashion Designer, Mian Lam (red hat) at Fashion Week April 25, 2024

Maeve at Fashion Week modelling for Merziformation by Mian Lam, April  25, 2024

Vancouver Community College Students Illustrate the Ivan Sayers (SMOC) Little Black Dress Exhibit Hudson's Bay VancouverDowntown Mar 1-25, 2024

A collaboration between Ivan Sayers SMOC and Adam McCormack, Special Events Coordinator, Hudson's Bay Vancouver Downtown, brought a special exhibition of Little Black Dresses from Ivan Sayers' vast collection of vintage clothing 1750-1970. 12 classic dresses were beautifully displayed on the second floor, along with a backdrop of photos of Hudsons Bay, over the years and future development plans. I saw the exhibit several times and found many interested customers wanting to chat about their own dresses, their favourite designers and stories about HBC history here, and in other locations. Very little mention of catalogues, as most people had great memories of shopping with friends and family, not only in their own communities, but in those they visited. This is the first of more collaborations to come! I am very interested in Illustration and encouraged Fashion Students from VCC Fashion to see the 12 dresses: Dior Paris Atelier, 1952, Elizabeth Arden, 1953, Ben Reig, 1954, Carosa, 1952, House of Worth, 1956, Dior London Atelier, 1958, Dior New Zealand Atelier 1958, Galinos, 1960, Galinos 1960, Dior Paris Atellier, 1963, Oscar De La Renta, 1968, and Dior London Atelier, 1964. 

Although all of the dresses are so detailed in their construction and are 'stand alones', I did ask that Students add a background and something of themselves, for example, a mirror reflection, a hand sketching, accessories they would add, just a bit extra. Some chose to show the depth and complexity of the colour, black, and others the fine tailoring, but some added the beautiful HBC building, their school, VCC and more. Adam welcomed them and spoke about the collaboration and HBC history of fashion events, and I talked about my history with HBC and VCC, why I think Illustration is so important and how Fashion Students are our future. Tried not to take too much time as the Students already had their work spaces chosen and their sketching materials at the ready. In the middle of a very busy school schedule, they demonstrated "The VCC Effect" by having their illustrations quickly completed and mounted in a VCC Illustration Exhibit, to accompany the Little Black Dress Exhibit, just in time for Ivan Sayers' fabulous talk, March 9,  about each dress and its Vancouver connection. For example, one of the Oscar De La Renta dresses is signed by him as Ivan arranged that when he went to Oscar's Perfume Event, at Hudsons Bay downtown. Ivan's stories are never to be missed. Not only that, but Melanie Talkington of Lace Embrace Atelier, arranged a black dress flash mob and many SMOC members and attendees joined in. The Little Black Dress Exhibit truly came to life. Fantastic for Fashion Students to make a wonderful contribution and to see how their Illustrations make them part of the Fashion Community and Fashion Story.What I can tell you, for sure, is that I draw stick people. All of us are so inspired by those who not only draw but also Design. Please read more about Ivan Sayers and The Little Black Dresses, in the March SMOC Newsletter. It is free to subscribe. Scroll to bottom of news page and enter your email for "news and updates". Also know that there are monthly events by Ivan Sayers, Fashion Historian, and SMOC. There is a huge Fashion History Community, in Vancouver, and many share their collections and expertise at SMOC events at Hycroft and around metro Vancouver. Thanks so much to Adam McCormack, Ivan Sayers, VCC Fashion, Instructors Allison Drake and Lisa Gellert and Program Coordinator, Sarah Murray,  for connecting me with VCC Students, who are so enthusiastic, whatever the project. I made a reel on my instagram, but here are the photos.** A list of Student Illustrators' names has been requested. They are at the beginning of their studies and careers. No doubt we will see them at @vancouverfashionweek, in the audience, as volunteers, as Illustrators and eventually on the runway, as Designers. Fashion Futures, here, now! Check out the HBC Instagram at Hudson's Bay Vancouver Downtown.

Allison Drake, Lisa Gellert, Adam McCormack

Photo by Adam McCormack