Clothes Line Finds - Vintage clothing, fashion events and reviews

Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

COVID 19 Doesn't Stop MSC_BWSS, My Sister's Closet Thrift Boutiques

Written by Dianna Drahanchuk

The covid 19 closure of the two My Sister’s Closet was a significant setback for Battered Women’s Support Services. The stores generate hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for BWSS programs that help women and girls escape violence. At the same time that the stores closed, the BWSS crisis line opened for 24 hours a day. The urgent need for this is underlined by nearly daily news reports of increased violence during this time of covid confinement.

Languishing in the shop are many incredible clothing and accessory items donated by generous patrons. To alleviate the funding crunch and stock backlog, with the Zoom go-ahead approval by BWSS Executive Director Angela Marie McDougall, BWSS Manager of Development and Social Enterprise “Super” Samantha Kearney spearheaded, organized and opened an online shop from scratch within 5 weeks from store closure. BWSS E-Commerce Coordinator Kristina Moser uploads to Shopify information provided by a handful of volunteers, Kim Wong, Lynn Katey, Pauline Watt and professional photographer Christine Ross, collectively they selected, photographed and itemized in detail the first 350 donated clothing and accessory items. Additionally, the MSC online catalogue includes “One Thing” jewelry designed by local artisan Satareh Bateni (contact info@wearts.ca).

My Sister’s Closet shoppers must have really missed the store because the online shop made $1,000 two days before it was officially launched on May 1st, thanks in part to Vancouver is Awesome (link) that scooped the story. Orders came in from everywhere, from Edmonton, Toronto and as far away as New York. Two days later the first shipments were out the door.

Take a look at MSC’s terrific easy-to-use website and see gorgeous photos of the stores smart offerings. My favorite item is the gift certificate option, perfect for special occasion giving. Check the online shop often because over a hundred items are added weekly. Store opening date is yet to be determined.

Monday, May 11, 2020

HFT High Fashion Twitter and the #HFTMetGala2020

Who would ever get an invite to the Met Gala, NYC? Who would ever imagine that any gala would be held during COVID 19? A group of 10 young women, (ages 15-22 from 7 countries) led by Aria Olson founder of HFTMetGala organized a twitter gala, to start May 4th and the force was really with them! Kudos to them for tweeting responses to submissions and comments. How did they manage? One opened her twitter to find 4,000 tweets! Sara Li, their official press correspondent, said, "long live all the magic we made.In an article she wrote for Fashionista, "The Power and Politics of High Fashion Twitter, Apr. 8, 2020, she talks about HFT being a space for "...free speaking about fashion, with a focus on representation, sustainability and accountability..." and there is ample evidence for all of these in the submissions I so enjoyed.

Originally, there were 4 categories for your creative expression: PhotoSet Creation, Brand Challenge, Illustration and Wardrobe Challenge and a fifth, one that I would definitely try, next year: Open Creativity. So the invitation was open to all and there were no judges, ratings, or red carpet, although Twitter was a continuous room of photos, personalities, designers, artists, eco and cultural statements, just a colourful explosion of creativity. The responses I saw were appreciative, supportive and collaborative. This was definitely a terrific way to see new work and meet new people. Although I have a Twitter account and read and tweet, occasionally, there is a lot to learn. I feel that I only skimmed the surface. I did manage to tweet congratulations to Aria Olson (and her team, and to tweet out my hearts for oh those illustrators, those who shared culture and language, those who styled their own wardrobe looks: including Marilyn R. Wilson, who took fellow Canadian Designers: TildArt1 CarolynBruceDesigns, Sans Soucie, Jac by JC, Art Point, Artist Gustav Klimt, in her look for the event.

In keeping with the theme of Fashion And Duration, based on the book "Orlando" by Virginia Woolf and Philosopher Henri Burgues, there were many references to the past: Victorian, Tudor, Renaissance, Classical, and more, brought into the present and, of course, the future. There were face masks and space masks, masks of all kinds. Corsets for women and men, and gender fluidity, very much a part of history past and present. There were formal looks, normally what you'd wear to a Gala and then there were the sporty, casual looks, fancied up or not that during this time, we might wear to a twitter Gala. Fashion, our wearable Art, our history, endures, expands, retreats, simplifies, exaggerates, and tells our story in the multiple languages, cultures, medias that we are.

So glad to cross off one of the items on my bucket list: To get to the Met Gala! Finally, by invitation and at no cost. I did make a food bank donation though, as this was a support for that. Always fashion for a cause.

Here are some of my favorite entries from the online gala:

Illustration Expression

Xutizhou

She illustrated PRADA-traditional Chinese Garment Qipao 2017

Joenevieva - Illustration inspiration by Elizabethan Period

Wardrobe Styling Challenge

Sydney Smith - Black Panthers wardrobe styling

Manicvalentino - Victorian Era and 60's

Marilyn R. Wilson of Olio by Marilyn

Kristen Handy - Little Women from her own closet, hair, accessories, dress

Gailq - Classical painting (Girl with the Pearl Earring) and Ifugao fabrics hand down from her mother

Stefany - Anne Boleyn meets Carrie Bradshaw, inspired by the 1500's, dark palette and pearls with modern prints and strappy sandals.

Open Creativity

Shostakovich - Pearl hat, mask and eye monocle, inspired by Maison Schiaparelli and Pearls

There were many, many more to look at. Although it was fast, there will be an e look book for those who registered. It was inspiring, new and bright! It was Fashion during COVID 19. It happened this year and I hope we can all go next year. Guess I will have to try TIK TOK, next.

Friday, March 6, 2020

African Fashion Week, February 15, 2020, Vancouver

This was another vibrant, dynamic AFAM (African Fashion and Arts Movement) celebrating African Culture, Design and Performance. AFAM was founded in 2018 by Yao Zeus Mohammed and I have written about it previously, here and in 2018, here.

This time, AFAM was held at The Pinnacle Hotel At The Pier, in North Vancouver. It was emceed by the fabulous Dayo Alabi. These photos are Dianna Drahanchuk's view of the evening. There are many more photos on the Clothes Line Finds Facebook page. Enjoy and keep an eye out for AFAM 2021. Guaranteed there will be dancing on the runway!

FASHION SPLASH Victoria! A Celebration of Local, Eco Fashion Designers

On February 29, 2020, Dianna Drahanchuk and I saw twelve runway collections by local Eco Fashion Designers who, along with a huge production team of Hair and Make-Up Artists, Models, Musicians, and many more, demonstrated such an array of creative talent and, in addition, raised money for Victoria Women's Transition House.

We were invited to an excellent Model Photography session and met many of the Designers, here.

Dianna and I would like to commend everyone involved with Fashion Splash because we were so impressed with the team spirit, commitment to crediting everyone, through the excellent Brochure and Social Media and particularly for a very efficient registration and ticketing process. These are key in establishing a successful event, ensuring growth and building community support. We look forward to seeing more ECO Fashion, for next season, for sure. Thanks to Joseph Gonyeau, Producer, for the initial invitation.