REVIVAL Presents: Hundred Lives of Levi's by Deanna Flinn

Sustainability, recycling, upcyling, repurposing, thrifting, reading labels, slow fashion, all lessons well learned through many seasons of ECO Fashion Weeks, in Vancouver and a continuous practise I see in the collections of local and international Designers. I registered for Deanna Flinn's HUNDRED LIVES OF LEVIS Fashion Show, and found out more about her here. Revival, at 2408 Main is a beautifully decorated vintage and home goods store that also does fundraising and fashion events, supporting great causes like Dress for Success and promoting local Artists and Makers. Christina Florencio, owner of Revival, and Deanna, met with Marilyn Wilson and me, before the event, for a tour and a quick look at the collection and well organized show prep and preshow fashion photography. Please look at both websites for for information and the best photography and stories, ever. Deanna's collection is in the store now, and as each piece is one of a kind and handmade, so it will sell out quickly. Revival is a wonderful resource for your closet as well as ongoing Fashion events. There is a second store at the Bentall Centre, downtown. Deanna Flinn wore a classic leather jacket, with her line drawings as patches on the pockets.The leather was in good shape except for some damage, so she used denim from one of the 100 pairs of jeans, she found on Marketplace for $1 a pair, to add art and individuality and to extend the life of a perfectly wearable piece. She repaired some of the jeans, by adding denim from the $1 levis; she made hoodies, sweaters, jackets, coats, dresses and more. The photos show the details. This collection was created over a 3 year period, with sustainability and functionality in mind. Oh, but there is comfort and Art and story, too! These clothes are about statement, strength, easy movement, and care by the maker for the wearer and for the environment and zero waste. Deannna's teaser reel shows the designs close up! Attendees dressed for HUNDRED LIVES OF LEVIS! I wore a silk, botannical print by Melissa at Adhesif Clothing, a long time, Eco Designer, in the Main Street area, and now in Germany. I also bought a green bag, at REVIVAL, to go with all the green I wear. Loved that Deanna and Christina wore denim from the collection. Keeping our focus on slow fashion, saving textiles from the landfill, creating wearable art, making it new again, vintage and denim forever! And, in this old Mount Pleasant neighborhood, on Main, there was a vintage car, a Pontiac Bonneville, glorious gold, blast of the past and here today for the best photo opps! Please see my reels of the store and the show here and here.

First Time at the Toronto International Film Fest (@tiff.net) and the movie: "Good News" by South Korean Director/Writer Byun Sung-gu

The Toronto International Film Festival has long been on my bucket list, but this was the first time I was in Toronto at the right time, Sept 4-14th. There is great advertising in papers, businesses, theatres, galleries, libraries and on social media. It's big! There are 5 film venues, a Festival Street (for Star viewing) hundreds of helpful, friendly volunteers, lots of promotions and photo opps, special menus, special events, and a lively buzz throughout the city. At this time, I felt like I was in New York, where anything might happen. You know...see a star, be a star...even for one night. We started at the Shangri-La Hotel, for photo opps and a celebratory drink. Beautiful setting and always terrific service. I had planned to wear black shoes, but my stylist, Anthea, insisted on red, a bit of rebellion against the tradition of the classic black dress look. She tells me I can wear black as long as there is an added element, a fancy brooch, colourful scarf, or in this case, gold embellishments and the red shoes. I loved the chance to sit in the Director's chairs! I also liked that the gold photo wall, matched my gold purse and her Michael Kors boots with gold stars! Photos are by Shangri-La Staff. Now that is service! We had tickets to see GOOD NEWS, by South Korean Writer/Director Byun Sung-hyun, screenplay by Byun Sung-hyun and Lee Jin-seong. Cast includes: Sul Kyung-gu, Hong Kyung, Ryu Seung-beom, Yamada Takayuki, Shiina Kippei and Kim Seung-O. This was based on a true story about a plane hijacking that took place during the 70's that became an international event involving South Korea, Japan and the USA, all using desperate and sometimes madcap strategies to prevent tragedy. Surprise, Suspense and Humor kept us hoping for a happy ending in this one. You can see a clip of it on the Toronto International Film Festival website or watch it on Netflix, Oct 17, 2025. I have a far away photo of the Q&A at the Princess of Whales Theatre. Hats off to the Interviewer and Translators and to the Director and Actors! Would have loved to see a live screen translation, though, because it was a full house and we were not in the front row. Next time, I will attend the Press and Industry prescreening interview for a closer look and listen. Anthea took a quick video of me on Festival Street, on King, where I was on the Star walk, accidentally and briefly. You walk along, with the crowd and then, the gate closes and the limo drives along slowly and then, the Stars step out for photos and chats. Imagine. So much to learn for TIFF26. We finished up at the Ritz Carleton Toronto for a farewell drink and pizza and snacks. Hospitality, music and lots of bubbles. Magic!

 

Magic Carpet Fashions with Ivan Sayers in Support of the Vancouver Unitarian Refugee Fund (van.ca/refugee-give) Saturday May 24, 2025

Magic Carpet Fashions is about the fashion inspired by African and Middle Eastern cultures here, in the USA and in Europe, as evidenced in the clothing and accessories Ivan Sayers brought from his collection of historical clothing 1700 to the present. He showed 15 or more outfits in a two hour presentation, and discussed where he acquired his finds, the fabrics construction/production, geography, cultural and political events, trends and how the outfits would have been accessorized and who would have worn them and for which occasion. Additionally, Designer Somaya Ahmadi showed a selection of her designs, which you can find on her Instagram, The Vancouver Unitarian Refugee team, hosted the show in the VanU Sanctuary and Catherine Stewart opened the event by telling us about the refugees they sponsor and support. Last year they sponsored more than 80 refugees from all over the world. This very well attended event raised funds from the fashion show tickets, and sales of donated clothing, jewellery art cards and refreshments. You can learn more here. Here are my photos and notes from the presentation. Everyone always asks for more. For more Ivan Sayers events: https://www.ivansayersevents.com

Looking at African Motifs on the dress, beneath the jacket. Ivan knows the details!

Black and gold with African camel motif, dress, jack and scarf (Africa) and Caftan - a very popular African inspired trend, world wide.

1960's dress worn to dance at a Diplomatic Event, with King Hussain of Jordan. White fox fur from Nairobi.

Leopard prints, hat and coat are real leopard, image of power. Brown cocktail dress, lion fur bag. (Exotic animals)

1948 Wedding dress, damask, classic white, lustrous, elegant, inspired by Dior, emphasis on skirt, lots of fabric after the war, platform shoes.

Turban hat matches colour with dress pattern. 1940's. Skirt and top - war time so pieces are interchangeable. Monkey fur jacket from Gold Coast. She carries a large plastic purse, practical for carrying essentials in case she has to go to an air raid shelter.

Turban and scarf again, with black and gorgeous African embellishments. 

Emphasis on beads, some of which became the gorgeous buttons on this outfit. 

1930's gold closures on red cape Ivan got from local group: Jericho Players, over a black and red dinner dress embellished with gazelles, bias cut dress gives a long and lean figure

Brown is the colour of desert sand/Africa/Egypt, Turban/scarf (Lawrence of Arabia) furs and beads, travel to far off lands

1920's machine embroidered, now, gold = riches, exotic furs, long and slim, stockings match dress, note gold work closure on bag

Long slim body, long necklace,  stockings match dress, Mummy brown colour to match King Tut's Tomb.

Bring on the ostrich feathers (Egypt) and diamonds and gold and glass! 1920's!

A 'basic' black dress, perfect for accessorizing with as many necklaces and scarves as you want. 1924 was the opening of King Tut's tomb and the beads and symbols reflect inspiration from Egypt and ancient cultures. Beads made in Czechoslovakia. Cloche hat frames face! Stockings show colour but not skin. Red gloves distinctive as most were white or brown.

Outfit is 1968-69 but inspired by harem pants (1917) Harem was a popular 'exotic' fantasy, Persian inspired. Her baton is a powder puff. Hand-made outfit, embroidery from a pattern.

Sarah wearing a Bernuse cloak, with hood, inspired by Berbers in North Africa. Her turban covers a bob haircut, 1920's, breaking away from Edwardian era. Figure is natural, no corsets, now. Long beads for tall and slim effect.  

Catherine Stewart (@catherinemstewart2425)  Vancouver Unitarians bringing Refugees here, through the Canadian Refugee Sponsorship Program

West Side Story, An Impressive Production by CTORA Theatre - MAY 8-24, 2025 - Granville Island Stage

I thought the original film production of West Side Story was outstanding and didn't think other versions would be able to compete. But live theatre brings its own interpretation and, I think this story continues today. I am, once again, captivated by the music, the songs, the choreography and the dances, the characters and the drama of it all! But in live theatre, there can be silence, a pause for reflection and a few seconds to consider what will happen next. And that whistle that breaks the silence, ...who is being called and who is calling? Same for the snapping of the fingers, "we're cool" "we're dancing", "come here", "join up or join in" or "something's coming". There was also the silence of sneakers and soft shoes, for grace as well as stealth. The power comes from skillful dancers, light on their feet, moving quickly, purposefully, and efficiently. And then there is more silence as characters take stock of each other, lots of thinking before they break into song and dance. 

CTORA Productions has done an excellent job of bringing in the best for all 6 teams: Creative Team, Designers (Set,Costumes, Lighting and Sound), Musicians, Stage Management, Production, and Marketing Team. The marketing for West Side Story is excellent and begins with the CTORA website, which has such fantastic photos and videography by Canna Zhou (Instagram), who has been with the company since 2017. 

The West Side Story Production Brochure, is a beauty, too. Red, with the shadows of Maria and Tony, reaching up to their story title, it contains the profiles and photos of the entire team! You know them even before you see the show. I really like the preface: From Director, Chris Adams, and his comments about the heart of the show: "At the heart of this piece is a rare alchemy: Leonard Bernstein's sweeping, complex score, Stephen Sondheim's sharp and emotionally rich lyrics and Jerome Robbins' iconic choreography." Music Director, Kevin Woo and an orchestra of 14, managed to play from a separate room and used monitors to see the stage. I knew about the orchestra and its location because Canna gave me a quick tour before the show. Seeing the musicians at work, is another wonderful benefit of attending live theatre. All of the musical numbers are listed and were performed so well. 

Favourites were: "Something's Coming" and "Maria" by Sayer Roberts (Tony) "I Feel Pretty" Cassandra Consiglio (Maria and Shark Girls) and "Somewhere" by Holly Collis Handford, (Anybodys, Tony, Maria and Company).  It takes an entire Creative Team of dance and movement experts to make the action real, safe and in sync with the music. WOWS to Chris Adams, Director, Suzanne Ouellette, Choreographer, Kevin Woo, Music Director, Julie Murphy, Intimacy Director, Violence Design, Mike Kovac Fight Director, Celene Harder, Assistant FD, Jennifer Lynch Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain and Monica Sumulong Dumas, Assistant Music Director. Kudos, too to Brian Ball, Set and Costume Design for not only dressing up the set as an iconic backdrop but also for envisioning clothing that moves with the dancers and reflects past and present trends. A nod to Andy Sandberg for a preshow chat about her lengthy Stage Management experience and her love for West Side Story. I saluted the Set Design and Building and Lighting in my instagram reel of my West Side Story Evening. A big thank you and bows to all! Dear Canna, I send roses for sharing your perfect photos! It is so rare that I attend events for pure enjoyment minus the dreaded photo editing. There is a place for us in this visionary, creative community! Go TEAM!!!

Photos by Canna Zhou