Four (and More) Vancouver Creatives Bringing Sparkle And Shine To The Runway And To The Community Part 2 of 2.

I met Photographer Yvonne Hanson while she was at the beginning of her full time photography career (post here). She has a beautiful and very busy studio now and is travelling all over with Vancouver Fashion Week as well as for many magazine shoots and a vast array of other projects.  I interviewed her to find out more about a 12 hour, one day shoot of EWMA runway looks, a tribute to their creativity as well as to a farewell salute to Designer Vivienne Westwood. Descriptions of the shoot would include: Unique, Unconventional, Independent, Activist, Political, Dynamic, Powerful, Dark Glam, Evolving, and Inclusive and Creative Community. This series featured the hats and designs of Artist Sandi Bassett, Laurie Bricker, as well as the designs of other Artists. All are tagged in her the photographs, thanks to Yvonne Hanson and to Rainne Medina, who has organized the group shoots and meticulously kept a careful record of tags. Everyone gets credit, here! Yvonne is able to tell a story with each photograph. She is quick and accurate with her shots and manages to flatter everyone if she catches you in the frame. Yvonne wants to work with 'regular' women, of all ages and sizes. Inclusivity is key. Most people have not thought about modelling, since they think about those on the cover of Vogue or those on the runways at fashion shows. Yvonne has a talent for inspiring confidence and focusing on us as we walk and as we are, rather than freezing us in what might look artificial. She and Rainne are supporting all to make photo memories of theirs and other's work. So a closer, more appreciative look at the designs, the show and where this can lead. And, more social media to share this wealth of creative endeavour. I want to see Yvonne in more photos and perhaps even walking that special runway, this time.

Rainne Medina has many hats and talents. I met her at EWMA Store where Artist Sandi Bassett had her fabulous hats for sale and Rainne came to buy them and take them to LA., NYC and Paris Fashion Weeks and further. See my previous post on Rainne here. She is a Make-Up Artist and Photo Shoot Designer and Producer and is working furiously with local Photographers, like Yvonne Hanson and others, to get Vancouver Fashion Designers and Artists into magazines. She is such a inspiration for others to share their talents, too. Rainne does extensive research for 'looks' throughout history in Art, Music and Popular Culture, globally, both to shape and add depth and complexity to photo shoots. So for EWMA, who else can wear these Designs and who else can be inspired by the runway show and where else besides Vancouver, can this go? 

You can see Ads for Rainne's sponsor Bully Blocker in the background of many Vancouver Fashion Week photos. Bully Blocker is a Skin Care Company whose motto is: Healthy Skin. Healthy Life. It is great to know that great skin care products protect the skin of the models, who often model several different faces/looks not only each night but during the whole week. Rainne's philosophy is that everyone should get paid, whether it is time for print or sharing of skills, and that everyone involved, should receive credit. Time is so important and so fees for connecting people to photos and shoots and fees for make up, hair and outfits, are also necessary.  I am thinking that everyone should have an illuminated tag to make social media posts not only easier but ensuring credit goes where credit is due. 

I asked Rainne what she would like to see for the next EWMA collection. She would like to see Haute Couture and High Fashion. She wants to see more of Sandi Bassett's hats and Laurie Bricker's ceramic (and other materials) jewelry and clothing. She wants to see more post fashion show shoots and,  SHE WANTS TO WALK! 

This is the story of EWMA studio and EWMA store, where enterprising women create a runway show at Vancouver Fashion Week and then what can happen after that. We know they will again command that runway in April 2023 and we look forward to many follow up photo shoots and all that can evolve from them.

 

 Photography by Yvonne Hanson

Creative Director Rainne Medina

 Photography by Yvonne Hanson

Creative Director Rainne Medina

 Photography by Yvonne Hanson 

Creative Director Rainne Medina

Hat and Fashion Director (Sandi Bassett), Corset/skirt/accessories (Kiln Ceramic Jewelry), (wardrobe stylist (Mekal), Model (Atheing Biar), MUA (Jessica Lockert, Avery, Diego Pacheco, Rainne Medina), Hair stylist (Joy Castillo)

 Photography by Yvonne Hanson

Creative Director Rainne Medina

  Hat and Fashion Director (Sandi Bassett), Cape Designer (Leslie Lowley), Accessories (Kiln Ceramic Jewelry), wardrobe stylist (Mekal), Model (Atheing Biar), MUA (Jessica Lockert, Avery, Diego Pacheco, Rainne Medina), Hair stylist (Joy Castillo)

 Photography by Yvonne Hanson

Creative Director Rainne Medina

 Hat and Fashion Director (Sandi Bassett), Accessories (Kiln Ceramic Jewelry), wardrobe stylist (Mekal), Model (Atheing Biar), MUA (Jessica Lockert, Avery, Diego Pacheco, Rainne Medina), Hair stylist (Joy Castillo)

Four (and More) Vancouver Creatives Bringing Sparkle and Shine To The Runway And To The Community Part 1 of 2

A runway show involves the efforts of many creatives, an array of diverse artistic expression, for sure. This is part 1 of 2 blogs about 4 creatives who are taking EWMA, to the next level. The show, in itself, is a grand production, and a platform for many other projects and opportunities. EWMA X Atira, has been a dynamic runway presence Vancouver Fashion Week, for many seasons. It is produced by women creating Art at the EWMA studio and selling it at EWMA store. The designs are eco, one of a kind, found, thrifted, upcycled, recycled, handmade, a wide range of clothing, accessories, paintings, photography and more. The show necessitates collaboration, teamwork and often multiple roles for participants. Developing a theme, vision, constructing the outfits, tying the 'looks' together, accessorizing, creating the model statement walk for the collection, designing the background visual/video, make-up, the social media and then a follow up production, a record of accomplishments and a prep for the next show, this time April 12-16, 2023.

Let's begin with Artist, Sandi Bassett, whose fabulous hats caught the attention of Make-Up Artist/PhotoShootProducer, Rainne Medina, who took them to Paris, NYC, and LA Fashion Weeks. More about Sandi, and Rainne's first meeting here. Sandi has made hats and outfits for the EWMA show and this time, her green pleated pants, accessorized with a ceramic corset by Laurie Bricker of Kiln Ceramic Jewelry, were stunning. 

One of Sandi's favourite looks made by @backwardsrider, a first time sewist

Hat, jacket and pleated pants by Sandi Bassett and bra top by Kiln Ceramic Jewelry

Model Mel Yanga modelling with Kiln Ceramic Jewelry

Artists Sandi Bassett and Laurie Bricker

Mel Yanga Model and Farlee Mowatt

  

Sandi Bassett, Mel Yanga, and Laurie Bricker

Sandi Bassett pants, jacket and hat and the top by Kiln Ceramic Jewelry

Kiln Ceramic Jewelry corset and earrings

Jada Modelling Sandi Bassett purple hat, outfit by @lauriebricke

Yvonne Hanson 

Sandi believes in service and has been teaching Art at EMWA studio (DTES) and working with the women who go there to be in a community who's goal is to end violence, create safe, creative spaces and teach a wide range of skills and entrepreneurship. When she began helping with the EWMA runway show for Vancouver Fashion Week, she thought she was preparing for a small event. Once there, she saw that it was a multi day event, featuring local and international Designers and Artists. VFW is truly global in that it shows in Paris, NYC, Tokyo and more. And now, many of the fabulous photographs and runway shows are featured, globally in multiple magazines, including Vogue Mexico. 

Two shows ago, Sandi worked on featured a black and white  and red theme, here Previous themes were set, but now they are determined by a team, lead by Sandi, Laurie and Farlee Mowat. For this past season I loved all of Sandi's hats and outfits accessorized by Laurie's outstanding earrings and necklaces, but Sandi's favourite was a cape, by Backwards Ryder. This cape was a first time project by a first time sewer, whose work went from the craft table to Vancouver Fashion Week. So there is much to be celebrated after the main event, the fashion show, where the outfits come off the mannequins and onto live models, some from EWMA and some Professional Models. There are many opportunities behind the scenes and on the runway, but then what? I always photograph the runway show because I admire EWMA's strong, confident models and unique designs. I include a few of my photos here, but am thrilled to see professional photographers, like Elizabeth Lim and this time, Yvonne Hanson do further shoots that show how the original designs can be enhanced by showing them, close up and in real life settings. There is great potential for these being featured in a variety of magazines, illustrating how fashion designs go beyond the runway. We learn that EWMA is so much a community builder and shows the power of women to set an example and inspired others to do so. 

The jewellery, the jewellery, let's see how these ceramic pieces have grown bigger and more complex over the seasons of Vancouver Fashion Week. I interviewed Laurie Bricker of Kiln Ceramic Jewelry find out more. Laurie started out at EWMA store as a shopper. She then brought her pieces to sell there. Later, she became a peer support worker and a teacher of ceramic jewelry. She is self taught, but has always had an eye for fashion. She has designed for 8 seasons of EWMA at Vancouver Fashion Week. Laurie collected her pieces and the work of the other Artists at EWMA for their first professional photo shoot with Photographer, Elizabeth Lim. These two giant talents made a great connection and in her words: "EWMA garments and jewelry are meant to be immortalized in photographs, portrayed in a creative lights." Laurie says she started with single strand small necklaces and earrings, focusing on detail and shape rather than size. Now she sees how much bigger and more complex pieces can be much more visible on the runway, but also contribute to the impact and statement and overall theme. Her jewelry is now entire garments, too. Her bikini, halters and corsets were show pieces, this season. I asked her if the ceramics were cold, but she says they heat up quickly. She loves working with all of those models who animate her work so magnificently. Do look at her instagram to see them and more fab photography by Donya Ma and Barb Model Makeup Photographer and marvellous make-up by Rainne Medina

Photographer: Cassidy Chen, HMUA: Tessa Talbot, Stylist: Elizabeth Lim, Model: Tiyana Schmidt 

Agency: Chan International, Design By: Kiln Ceramic Jewelry, Sandi Bassett

Photographer: Cassidy Chen, HMUA: Tessa Talbot, Stylist: Elizabeth Lim, Model: Hope Taylor

Agency: Chan International, Design By: Kiln Ceramic Jewelry, Flint Quellewright, Heels: Public Desire

Photographer: Cassidy Chen, HMUA: Tessa Talbot, Stylist: Elizabeth Lim, Model: Dalene Klopper

Agency: Chan International, Design By: Kiln Ceramic Jewelry, Corset: Corset Story

Photographer: Cassidy Chen, HMUA: Tessa Talbot, Stylist: Elizabeth Lim, Model: Ansu Klopper

Agency: Chan International, Design By: Kiln Ceramic Jewelry, Heels: Public Desire

Edie Orenstein, Vancouver Milliner and Illustrators at SMOC - Jan 15, 2023

Very enthusiastic about hats and usually wearing one, I greatly enjoyed Edie Orenstein's presentation about Women's 1940's hats. I wore a classic, wool, green beret and green necklace and earrings by Carolyn Bruce. Have lots of hats, made on a block and hand stitched, some with feathers, some with bows and some accessorized with brooches. Edie's were much more sophisticated and constructed of better materials and much more complex in construction and design. The hats came from several collections including Edie's. There were hats from Ivan Sayers, Claus Jahnke and SMOC.

Edie says that berets are on always on trend; it's that romantic connection to the French Beret. I like it because it is chic, fits well, can be worn on either side of my head or at the back or front and always stays on. Easy care and easy to style up or leave plain. When I wear a beret, I think of story and maybe even try to make that happen. There is a global explosion of hat making and wearing now. A lot are machine made and consequently more affordable. Hats are worn for a wide variety of events. but I hate to see them at the table. Whatever you choose and where ever you might go with them, Edie says it takes confidence and planning. She sees hats as sculptures so they are statements and wearable ART. 

Hats are political, cultural and historical. Compare flamboyant hats of the boom years with the smaller, more economically made ones of the war years. Think of the times and who was allowed to Design and who was excluded/forbidden from having any business at all. Claus Jahnke has many rare hats and labels that exemplify creativity despite desperate times. 

Edie encourages us to think about what is powerful about a hat. What do you want it to be? Is there a statement to be made? What story might you tell about the maker, the history, the origin and will the stories be shared with other hat wearers? At an event or just every day? And speaking of events, there is a great one coming up at the Museum of Vancouver. Opening night is March 15th and the exhibit runs from March 16 throughout 2023! It is a vast exhibit of 4 collections: #IvanSayers, Claus Jahnke, SMOC (society for the museum of costume) and Lace Embrace Atelier and Antique Corset by Melanie Talkington.

Here are some of my Hat Event photos of Edie Orenstein and other familiar collectors and makers. But, additionally, two new faces: Madison Prangnell and Forest Tomlin are two who are new to SMOC and made reels of what they saw. Forest's illustrations are also featured throughout this post!

First hat presented by Edie Orenstein

 

Illustration by Forest Tomlin of pink hat with flowers

 

Claus Jahnke

 

Edie Orenstein

Lynn Katey in her Audrey Hepburn hat

Illustration by Forest Tomlin of Lynn Katey's outfit

Ivan Sayers and Lynn Katey

Ivan Sayers, Lynn Katey, William S. Walker, Milliner, and Dianna Drahanchuk

 

Claus Jahnke and Jenna Johnson of Cappelleria Bertacchi, Gastown

 

Edie Orenstein demonstrating the way to wear the hat

Edie Orenstein

Edie Orenstein and her audience

Marlo de Vaal, in white gloves for those special hats

 

Edie Orenstein through a hat

 

Edie, Marlo and Ivan

Marlo de Vaal

Forest Tomlin, Colleen Tsoukalas, Madison Prangnell

Illustration by Forest Tomlin

Illustration by Forest Tomlin

Illustration by Forest Tomlin

Illustration by Forest Tomlin

 Illustration by Forest Tomlin

Dorothy Grant at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week Nov 28-Dec 2, 2022

I have the Red Raven scarf made by local Haida Fashion Designer, Dorothy Grant. The red raven seems ready to fly from a black background. Visible from a distance, it draws the eye. Raven sits on my white coat, every winter. I wear the scarf and look more at Ravens. And everywhere I look, I see Dorothy Grant's work. A prolific Designer, she has been creating clothing and jewellery since 1989. I have seen her here, at the Museum of Vancouver and at all of the Indigenous Fashion Weeks in Vancouver as well as one in Toronto. She has been a Member of the Order of Canada, since 2015. Here are her beautiful designs at this year's Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. I love how the designs can call you from a sleeve or a cuff or a pocket or they can animate a whole dress or coat. This is statement, culture, ceremony, transformation and language, a visual world that calls us to observe and create.

Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week happens once a year and this was the fourth! It is 5 days of the best of Fashion, Art and Performance from established and emerging Indigenous Artists. Always well organized, it is a fine welcome to a must be seen celebration of Artists in our midst. Thanks to Co Producers Joleen Mitton and Pam Baker and their huge team for making this a great platform to showcase Indigenous achievement. Thanks to Bold Love for her Social Media expertise, ongoing support and for sharing these photos! Hats off to fantastic photographer Alana Peterson for the closeup details and for capturing the dance down the runway!

Dianna Drahanchuk, who frequently guests on Clothes Line Finds, interviewed Dorothy Grant, here.

When I was in Toronto at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, I posted about her in Harvest Moon.

At the first VIFW, in July of 2017, there she was, supporting that very first outdoor runway, right in the heart of Vancouver.

I look forward to seeing Dorothy Grant, at the next VIFW and of course, on my journeys to Seattle, Toronto, and in Vancouver. A raven will be nearby.

 

Photo credit: Alana Peterson via VIFW