Tomb of clothes that are piling up, rebirth in the future!

The amount of textile waste in the world per year over 11 million ton, is it fashion only to make new things? Sustainable fashion that many brands have recently become interested in! Let's look at the transformation of fashion leaders using old and new unconventional used clothes rather than pursuing newness!

1. “USED” Fashion is old? NOPE!

Most people buy clothes every year and every month or everyday. And they say that all the clothes they wore last year are old. However, will the clothes I really wear look old? I say no!

Looking at the flow of fashion, fashion goes round and round and round. We call this Newtro (short for new + retro). And this newtro has the effect of highlighting the details of the clothes more carefully and modernly. Then, what fashion uses old clothes?

2. Vintage Styling

The first fashion to be introduced is "vintage fashion."

This word vintage is the word most related to the word old. However, we can find the word vintage too easily. These days, it can be found on many influencer, celebrities, and social media, and in representative movies and dramas, fashion using vintage is widely used. In particular, Vogue, the epitome of fashion magazines, also informed many people of the simplicity and sophistication of vintage look by covering clothes using vintage. Like this, the vintage look among the old clothes helps people raise intimacy and expectations about used fashion.

3. Grunge Styling

The second one is "Grunge Fashion"!

It is no exaggeration to say that the word "grunge fashion" is a famous line of dirty fashion. Whether it is a word that occurred in rock in the 1990s, it literally shows a difficult but progressive fashion. Let's watch Gucci's 2020 F/W season fashion show using this look! The messy grunge look appears in many street-fashion these days. It gives an old feeling, but I think this Avant-grade look, which leads fashion a few steps ahead, will be the leader in many mixed match-fashion in the future.

4. Upcycling Fashion

Then, is used fashion only styling? No! We can easily find the new transformation of Used Clothes!

Many brands pay attention to waste clothes that we feel too old in design, that the fabric is faded, or that previously worn are not too trendy. And they reform it and sell it again is called upcycling fashion. Upcycle fashion, which redesigns a large amount of garbage and discarded clothes to make them trendy, is a fashion that raises the expectations of brands with nature-friendly and future-oriented fashion.

(Example for upcycling fashion brands: Bethany Williams, Stefan Cooke, Phipps, Kenneth Ize etc.)

5. Clothes into fashion items

Then, is the upcycling fashion which made by brand is the only “used fashion”? Definitely not!

It's so easy to see old clothes in our real lives! And, People will think it's too wasteful to throw these many clothes away as trash. Then we can make fashion using those!

Used and Unique: The Ultimate Guide to GTA Vintage Apparel and Accessories

Are you tired of basic wardrobe pieces that can be found at any fast fashion store? Are you ready to amplify your fashion game with one of a kind, unique, trendy yet cheap garments that don’t contribute negative effects to the environment? Well, Oh George! has you covered with this guide to wear to shop for used and unique vintage apparel and accessories across the GTA!

First on the list is Kensington Market’s Vintage Outlaw. Located at 146 Augusta Ave, Toronto, they are a massive vintage clothing outlet with a large selection and huge variety, not to mention their friendly staff. They carry vintage pieces from famous brands like Nike and Adidas, to one-of-a-kind garments you will not find anywhere else!

Still having trouble finding the energy to go thrifting after being locked up from COVID-19? We got you covered. Why not enjoy thrifting from your bed from Vintage Streetwear Supplier. They are located at 1815 Meyerside Drive Unit 3, Mississauga, but you can shop from your bed from their website, streetcvluture.com! Are you not sold yet? You can join their email list for 15% off your first order and get a chance to win a $100 gift card! With them carrying a wide selection including graphic tees, vintage shorts, jerseys, pants, and college sweaters, they are sure to have something for everyone.

Next on our list we have Siberia Vintage. This store is great for Instagram lovers. Follow them on Instagram @siberiavintage to never miss their story sales! You are also able to direct message them to purchase and are able to get your items shipped. Are you the type of person who needs to try on your clothing before purchasing? They got you covered as you are able to shop in person 11:00am-9:00pm everyday at their downtown store, located at 955 Bloor Street W, Toronto. They even have a Hamilton location available for pick up for those who do not live in the heart of Toronto!

We have saved the best for last with the one and only Black Market Vintage Toronto. Black Market Vintage Toronto also has the option of either shopping in store or online! Not only that, but they have also been voted as Toronto’s best vintage store by NOW MAGAZINE! You can also enjoy 25% off when you purchase any three items. It may be hard to believe but it gets better. Sign up for their newsletter and you will receive a 3 pack of face masks and a bandanna with your first purchase! They are open seven days a week from 10:00am to 8:00PM. The are located near the Fashion District at 347 Queen West 2^nd Floor, Toronto, or you can visit them at www.blackmarkettoronto.com! Feel free to give them a call at 416-599-5858 for any inquires you may have.

So, what are you waiting for? It is time to say goodbye to your basic fast fashion wardrobe and hit up these amazing thrift stores to build your one-of-a-kind, stylish wardrobe. Happy thrifting!

Where to Shop? Where do you buy some vintage clothes?

What goes around come around! You can apply this phrase to fashion trends. If you are looking for new thing from old things, vintage fashion will satisfy your discerning eye on fashion trends. For those who are not sure where to buy vintage items, I want to recommend some online websites for vintage clothes. Let’s get started!

Gems By Miso

Firstly, I introduce Gems By Miso. This website mainly offers vintage jeans. It has a size range to 22’’-40’’. You can get jeans which are famous as vintage such as Levi’s, Guess, and American Eagle. Are you worried if it only has jeans? Don’t worry! This online shop also handles with both vintage lingerie and crewnecks! These items have a perfect match with vintage jeans.

What differentiates this website from others is, it makes your vintage jeans more vintage. If you add 15 dollars, your jean will get a raw ham. Jeans with a raw hem can your mood of fashion more professional.

It might have few options for you, but it would be perfect for those who looking for verified quality and customize option.

Unique Vintage

Secondly, if you are looking for various items or not sure what to get, I recommend Unique Vintage. This website sales various items such as top, bottom, dress, accessory, shoes and so on. You can meet almost every category of clothing! It also offers plus size clothes. You don’t have to get stressed by finding sizes or unusual fashion item. The reason why it has such a various and large category is because produce all the products by itself. Some people might argue that it cannot be vintage, its vintage products are well-expressed and have good understanding of fashion from back.

This web site even distributed its product by era.

You can pick your desired time period and get more accurate items! This website is professionally organized by era, gender, size, item, and so on.

I MISS YOU VINTAGE

Lastly, if you are look for vintage designer fashion items, I want to introduce I MISS YOU VINTAGE. It is basically an online resale shop. You can find high-end brands such as Channel, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Saint Laurent. Because it is handling designer items, it does not have various options for sizes. However, considering the fact that the price of designer brand clothing is normally expensive, this website has numerous items. An interesting point of it is that it mainly offers fashion accessories such as bags, shoes, and jewelries. It has various option for accessories. Also, its price range is wide.

It would be perfect if you are looking for vintage accessories for your vintage outfit. This is not over! If you are willing to sell your disused designer fashion items in your closet, you can contact them and sell them! You should prove the authenticity of your item and the item should be in clean condition.

Now you are all set to shop some vintage fashion items! Good luck with you shopping!

You Just Got Punk'd: Punk’s not dead and is very much alive. Have your wardrobe ready this winter for the rebirth of punk fashion

Amidst the glitz n’ glam and hippie dreams of the 1970s, fashion designers Viviene Westwood and Malcom McLaren’s went against the grain by using their insight into the youth’s turmoil and frustration to further market the punk movement. Their boutique in London, SEX, became a hub where the influential punk band, The Sex Pistols, were regulars. SEX soon became a beacon in the rising punk culture selling fashions of latex, bondage trousers, and spiked heels. Overtime, punk has evolved into many subcultures such as pop punk, death rock, and skate punk. Music continues to influence fashion trends, especially with the rise of today’s pop stars wearing pop punk fashion. Therefore, the rise of young adults on social media following these trends has punk fashion creeping its way back into the scene.

Secondhand Staples

Solidifying a foundation of key punk items will help create a variety of looks. When visiting your local thrift shop, first begin with keeping in mind a colour palette of purple, red, and black. Head to the men’s section and snag a slogan tee and a tartan or plaid shirt soft with wear. Of course, a black leather jacket is essential and should have silver hardware for its zippers or buckles. Moving down to the shoes, the go-to for punk rockers are a pair of lace up black leather boots. Purchasing these items secondhand is not only good for the environment, as it helps create less waste entering landfills, but it also means these items will be broken in, comfortable, and have a worn look. This best compliments the deconstructed, messy punk style.

Studs and Spikes and Everything Nice

Elevate your outfit with accessories, the right hair and makeup, and standout pieces. Safety pins are infamously a punk accessory, so gather enough safety pins to create patterns on clothes or to pin over signs of wear, such as small holes or tears. Personalize your clothes with decorative pins and be creative and hand paint designs directly onto clothing or on scrap fabric to hand sew onto your clothes. Standout wardrobe pieces should clash with the tartan, such as cheetah print, or clothing with interesting textures such as mesh and knit to layer under or over slogan tees. For hair, there are endless hair dye options from bright yellow, to deep red, and obsidian black. Spike the ends of your hair with gel or simply add texturizing spray to ‘zhush’ hair for a messy style. Lastly, outline eyes with a dark colored liner and smudge messily with your finger.

Attitude, Guts, and Glory

Your overall look will be tied together by the attitude and confidence you bring. Punk originally described a defiance towards cultural norms and many punk musicians came from not having formal music lessons, which led them to make their own way and have a sense of freedom. Punk is about embracing the chaotic and messy things in our lives and in ourselves despite society’s standards and recognizing that these things are what make us unique. To fully embody the punk attitude, listen to bands such as Blink 182, The Sex Pistols, The Dead Kennedy’s, and Minor Threat.

Reduce, Repurpose, Recycle: Sustainability has become the new norm within the fashion industry, and it’s easy enough for anyone to participate

New Age of Fashion

The overconsumption of clothes has skyrocketed within the past few years, making the textile industry one of the most polluting industries in the world. Fast fashion brands have exploited cheap labour practices, and unsustainable practices when it comes to waste. Thankfully, a new wave of designers and brands are finding creative ways to repurpose old, vintage clothing, and luckily, it’s simple enough to do yourself.

A Guide to Repurposing

Owning a sewing machine is simple, but knowing how to use it can be tricky, but the internet is one the most helpful tools in today's world to learn a new skill. There are multiple websites and online courses that can be taken, to learn basic skills such as sewing and even pattern making. Sewing is an essential in order to repurpose and repair any of your old clothes, but luckily you can learn in a short Youtube session. Pattern making on the other hand, is slightly more advanced, but can lead to creating perfect fitting garments from any old textiles you have laying around. These skills can be used daily, to help you create something new out of something old.

Old Clothes, New Purpose

A key part of sustainability is being able to repurpose your old clothes, by turning them into something new, or just simply repairing them to a better state. Simply shorten the shirt to turn it into a crop top, or cut the sleeves off to turn the shirt into a tank top. If you want to get more creative, you can take multiple different hoodies and combine them together to create one stylish panel hoodie, with different graphics on each panel. Take an old blanket, and cut a pair of pants out of them for either some comfy, avant-garde sweatpants, perfect for the winter.. There are tons of interesting ideas available all over the internet, which can be used to inspire you to create something one of a kind.

Online Sustainability

With sustainability becoming a popular trend within the fashion industry, there are brands and designers dedicated to producing sustainable clothes. A simple search on the internet can lead you to a world of inspiration for creating your own repurposed clothing. There are plenty of websites that can help you spark an idea for creating something like Pinterest or Tumblr, but if you want to take the less laborious route, you can purchase vintage or repurposed clothing on sites such as Depop or Etsy. Individuals on Depop have created a career out of selling used clothing and some by even reworking into a new piece. Many new designers have built entire brands based on sustainability, which include, Stella McCartney and Eileen Fisher who have spearheaded sustainability within the industry. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ideas out there for you to create something new, by not wasting any fabric, or old clothing, you just need to find it.

Shop Savvy: Shopping is an everyday activity whether it’s in-store or online

Believe it or not, there are savvy shoppers and unsavvy shoppers. Here are some tricks of the trade to up your shopping game.

Rule of Fingers

Ever go shopping and want to measure the height of a heel or the length of a mask? I bet you have and I also bet you didn’t have a measuring tape on hand. What to do? Here’s a trick, the index and middle finger together equal about an inch. Now the next time you find yourself in this situation you know you have a built-in measuring system!

Fit Check

Ever since COVID started the shopping malls and stores closed for a long time but in the past year, they have re-opened. When they first started re-opening almost none had their fitting rooms open and that is still true to this day for some stores. Now how are you supposed to shop in-store without being able to try clothes on? Sure you can almost always rely on sizes but a small at one store may be different at another. Here’s a trick for jeans/jean shorts. Hold the jeans behind your back with the front of the jeans facing forward. Now hold the waist of the jeans around your neck. The rule is that if the waist fits perfectly around your neck where ends meet exactly you can trust that they will fit.

Safety Check

Shopping online has become a ritual during the pandemic as in-store shopping was put on hold. For some, it is second nature and for others, it is brand new. Here are some tips to help you shop online. Number one, always read the reviews. Reviews are a way we online shoppers help each other find out what’s good and what’s not. There you find out if the product is as described, how long an item seems to last, how good the material is in real life, and how the product actually looks thanks to customer pictures and videos. Number two, ALWAYS read the description carefully. It may be a pain but read every word. Sometimes it may seem like they’re selling an “all-inclusive” package but they’re really only selling part of what is shown. Number three, know your measurements so you can read the size chart and know which size to choose. Last but not least, make your selections carefully. Read all the options in the drop-down menu before selecting.

Second Hand Heaven

Thrifting, thrifting, thrifting! Thrifting is a MUST for savvy shoppers! Thanks to thrifting you can find fabulous pieces for much less than retail prices. There aren’t that many tips to gove for thrifting because luck plays a major role in what you find. Just look for your sizes, look for the brands you like, and if the label shows a size other than yours but it looks like it would fit try it on anyway because you might miss out on an amazing piece just because of a label. Don’t be ashamed of spending hours in a thrift store if it gets you fabulous pieces at great prices!

Gender Neutral

In the past women’s buttons may have been placed on the right for ease of breastfeeding or for ease of being dressed by others while men’s were on the left possibly due to weapons being held in the right hand. The varied button placement was also possibly just to define women’s and men’s clothing. Those design choices may have been useful in the past but those reasons of differentiation are irrelevant today. Yes, women’s clothes are great for women and men’s clothes are great for men, but, there is no reason why you can’t explore the playground you’ve been put into.

Colouring your life: All you need to know about keeping curly hair healthy after a colouring job

The colouration of your hair is a chemical process that alters much more than the flavour of your hair – especially if natural curls bless your hair. Of course, the first order of business is to book your colourist consultation. The consultation should be a discussion about information collection and honesty on both sides. Before the meeting, you should email the colourist an inspiration photo of the colour you want to attain, as well as one of your existing hair colours.

Preparation

Once you've both decided on a colour, there are several pre-appointment steps you may take to improve your results before the appointment. First, the day before your significant appointment, shampoo and detangle your hair. Everybody wants clean hair free of heavy oils and other items that could prevent the colour from penetrating. If your curl patterns range from type 2 to 3, you can go to the salon with your curl in its natural state. It's preferable to go in with tight coils extended out for type 4 curls. This makes the application of the product easier and results in less straining on your scalp. 

The Color Theory

At the beginning of the dying procedure, the treatment lifts and expands the hair cuticle, allowing the colour to penetrate more deeply. However, it causes moisture to escape, resulting in dry hair. Consider your hair's cuticle layer as a pine cone. The pine cone is tight and sealed with virgin hair. The developer used in colouring services opens the cuticle layer, allowing the pigment to penetrate, and the cuticle is always lifted. This makes Black hair, which is naturally drier and more fragile, even more, sensitive and prone to breakage. All coloured hair is impacted, mainly when lighteners are used. If you don't follow a treatment scheme, your hair is likely to break, especially when you have type 3 or 4 curls.

Maintaining Your Hair

It is best to avoid hot temperatures to keep the colour in freshly tinted hair. You open your cuticle a little bit every time you pass a pinch over your hair or snuggle it, which will cause the colour to fade. Diffusing is less harmful because hot air does not touch your strands directly, but air drying and squeezing are great for colour-keeping. There is also the minimum heat rule in the shower. Using cooler water can assist keep the cuticle shut, maintaining colour for longer in your strands. What you do to care for your hair has a significant impact on how well your colour-treated curls recover and maintain their brilliance. Investing in a hat or sleeping with a silk or satin pillowcase overnight will help to reduce frizz and keep curls moisturized.

Certainties

Think of the whole procedure running at home? Sadly, hair professionals do not advocate curling at home. Tell a stylist you trust who will help you and give you the best recommendations if your heart is set on Dying. Experts strongly advocate only the type that will fade over several shampoos to use a semi-permanent recipe. Purchase several packs to ensure that you have sufficient products to work through dense curls. When shopping, consider two cases with short to medium hair and four cases with medium to long hair. Before mixing something into your mane, test a patch and strand on your head to ensure you aren't allergic to the formula. Then, experiment with several areas of your head to see what the result will be.

What Sustainable Fashion Actually Looks Like

It’s not just overspending on sustainable brands for that loose and earth-toned aesthetic It’s become clear for our generation that the earth needs our help, and a great place to start is our closet. Most of us have already welcomed thrifting into our shopping routines, and multiple brands from high end to fast fashion, claim to have sustainable collections for us to shop from as well. However, sustainable fashion is much more than sourcing guilt-free clothing to add to your wardrobe. Sometimes, it’s about not adding anything at all.

Re-wearing and taking care of the clothes you already own

Sustainable fashion is oftentimes just minimizing your shopping needs and re-wearing the clothes you already own. This is easier to achieve when you take care and mend your clothing. For instance, washing them in cold water is beneficial to their longevity, which is also cheaper and better for the environment. Denim in particular should be washed inside out and hang dried. Always make sure you read the care labels, ensuring that delicates receive the special treatment needed to make them last. Overall however, do not over-wash clothing since it is one of the quickest ways to wear them down. Invest in care tools like fabric shavers and a hand held or standing steamer, which is much more gentle on your garments than an iron. Steaming can also be an occasional substitute for washing, just to remove slight odours. Reimagining and reworking your clothing as well gives them a second life, especially since patchwork has become a huge trend recently.

Circular fashion cycle

Contribute to a circular cycle of fashion, rather than a linear one. This means renting clothing, especially for rare occasions such as weddings, graduations, galas, etc. It also means donating your own clothing, never throwing it out. Even damaged items can contribute their fabric to other uses, such as homemade rags, pillow cases, bags, dish cloths, and more. An alternative to donating is selling your clothes yourself, since there are many cases where donated clothing will still end up in landfills. To encourage successful reselling, make your clothing look as presentable and possible. Wash them, steam out wrinkles, remove loose threads and pilling, and even spray them with a soft scent. Take extra time and creativity when taking photos of the garment and when coming up with the descriptions, but always make sure to truthfully note any stains, holes, or tears.

Smarter shopping

The focus should be quality over quantity. Shop with a plan and purpose, rather than window shopping or casual shopping, which often leads to unnecessary purchases. The company Eco Age that certifies brands for their sustainability started a campaign called #30Wears, which encourages us to only buy an item that we think we would wear at least 30 times. Closet essentials that fit into this principle would be versatile and trans seasonal clothing, so you can get as much use out of a piece as possible. When shopping second hand, it is beneficial to try vintage stores and sites like depop to relieve traffic from local thrift stores that less fortunate communities might rely on.

The Exciting E-Commerce Era

Since the dawn of the internet, people have been buying and selling used goods online. eBay was launched in September of 1995 as one of the first e-commerce stores on the internet and its platform allowed consumer to consumer sales and communication. Kijiji is another example of the early era of e-commerce, founded in February of 2005 Kijiji is a Canadian based web service, that allows you to buy and sell nearly anything from cars to pets. Since 1995 the space for ecommerce on the internet has grown significantly. There are thousands of portals for consumers to buy and sell their used clothes, electronics, furniture, the list goes on. Here are a few of our favourite modern day ecommerce stores in 2021.

Depop

Depop is at the top of the list for trendiest online marketplaces at the moment. Marketed specifically to youth from ages 15 to 30 you will find some of the most current seasonal trends. You can shop by visiting a specific shop owner like your favourite influencers, or you can search by brand or garment. Depop makes it incredibly easy to set up your listings, all you have to do is provide photos of the products you would like to sell and wait for the highest bidder! The ecommerce will even take care of shipping labels for you. They make it that easy.

Etsy

Etsy has some of the most creative artisans accumulated in one place that you will find on the internet. You can get your hands on rare finds from vintage shop owners or help support small businesses and artists. There is a huge market for upcycled and customized fashion on Esty so if you are interested in buying or selling customized clothing Etsy may be worth taking a peek at. If you do want to open your own Etsy shop, Etsy charges a small fee of $.20 to list an item and has a 3% processing fee.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook really has become a one stop shop over the years, who knew there would be a social media platform where you can like a few of your friends pictures, post a status update, and buy and sell your favourite products all in one visit. Facebook is a more reginal e-commerce service, as you can set your location and only view listings in your area. Most retailers on Facebook Marketplace require the purchaser to pick up the listed item directly, so if you are in the market for larger items, you may need a vehicle. There are no service fees to list items on this platform, so if you are looking for an easy way to sell locally, and don’t want to have to deal with shipping this may be a good resource.

The E-commerce business is booming more then ever in this digital age, and there are so many opportunities for consumers and retailers alike. We know buying and selling goods online can be intimidating but doesn’t have to be, and these are just 3 examples of thousands of options that are there for you that will make the experience easy and efficient.

You might regret it if you miss out on these tips to make your second-hand items look new again!

Are you interested in hunting the unique and vintage items in thrift stores? Have you ever found some lovely clothes but had to give them up regretfully because of some tough stains on them? Here is exactly what you are looking for.

For those who love used fashion, here are 4 tips to dress up an old piece you just picked up from the store with a brand-new cape.

The first way to go, use hot water. Now I know, washing your clothes with hot water is a not very eco-friendly laundry method. But for stains that are not too stubborn and to get rid of the smell of old clothes, use hot water might not be a bad idea. Soak clothes in soap and detergent for about 30 minutes, then wash them thoroughly and rinse with water, you might want to use a fabric softener to initially remove the smell of old clothes. Now before drying it, you can try boiling the clothes in water mixed with sea salt. It will get rid of any remaining stink in the items. Of course, this technique is completely not recommended for the fabrics that are not good with heat, such as vinyl, satin, nylon... synthetic fiber or delicate fabric in general.

Number two, the “panacea” baking soda. We all know at least one cleaning hack that uses baking soda. Indeed, baking soda is a miraculous ingredient that is helpful for deep cleaning with tough stains and effectively deodorizes. First, sprinkle baking soda on the clothes and let them sit for a few hours before washing. You should turn the clothes inside out, place them on a towel on the floor and then sprinkle a little in each spot. Next, you mix about 200 gram of baking soda powder with 4 liters of water, soak the clothes to be washed. Finally, you wash it with detergent and rinse it with clean water or fabric softener.

Vinegar is also a great helper. You never expect a little vinegar to be so effective in refreshing clothing. To increase washing efficiency, you can pour half a cup of vinegar into your clothes before washing. It can help protect clothes from fading and dissolve residues that soaps or detergents can leave on clothes. Your clothes will be lighter as a result. Vinegar not only brightens clothing but also removes odors and softens them naturally without leaving any detergent residue. Use 1 cup of vinegar in the final rinse to deodorize your clothes. This method works great for both stiff and delicate fabrics.

Lastly, use the products that aromatize fabric. When all odors and stains are removed, old clothes will look almost new. But there is still a lack of your mark on them. Therefore, do not forget to add on the signature scents you usually wear to your clothes, whether it is a fragrant essential oil or the type of fabric scent booster you love.

The above is one of the easily applied at-home methods to refresh your second-hand items. I hope you will have fun on your treasure hunt in thrift stores, and these tips will be useful enough so that you will never hesitate anymore when finding out the right pieces.

Locally Sourced: 4 grassroots brands that will heat up your style this winter, all made by local designers

Toronto is a booming city filled with creativity and talent. As fashion continues to be a means of expression and a channel for creativity, many shoppers may start to lean towards more unique and custom pieces, and what better place to shop than locally?

 Target practice

Started originally as a hobby, the creator of Target Practice (@Targetpracticeto) began by using jeans from the thrift store, deconstructing them, and then creating unique one of one designs. This brand takes influence from designers such as Rei Kawakubo, Takahrio Miyashita and Maison Margiela. This designer aims to fuse runway couture with streetwear in order to allow people to truly express themselves and stand out, while keeping it subtle enough for everyday wear. Target Practice, focuses on denim and cargo style jeans but has plans to expand. Each piece is handmade from original patterns and with such distinctive silhouettes, any Target Practice piece will surely have heads turning wherever you choose to wear them. 

SrrySora

SrrySora (@SrrySora) is a designer from Waterloo whose pieces showcase a tactical postmodern take on streetwear. Similar to Target Practice, Sora began his designing endeavours by making customized jeans made from deconstructed garments from the thrift store. With subtle yet complex designs, Sora’s garments have no limitation when it comes to its wearer. Sora focuses on primarily pants but is moving onto outerwear as well as womenswear. Quickly scaling as a brand, Sora has managed to take his designs to the next level, with great improvements seen with every new release, this is a designer you do not want to overlook!

Prescribed Shelter

Prescribed Shelter (@PrescribedShelter) is a Toronto based brand that strives to create retro-futuristic designs to push the boundaries of streetwear. This brand is filled with bright colours and eye-catching graphics that come from collaborations with other local artists. Prescribed Shelter specializes in made to order garments that range from jeans, winter jackets and even customized shoes! Founded by @LonelyLabs on Instagram, Prescribed Shelter is a product of years of hard work and fine tuning in order to deliver the cleanest and most professional handmade garments at a reasonable price point. Prescribed Shelter is also one of the only grassroots brands that has its own official brick and mortar storefront, located at 104 Scollard st, Toronto, stop by and pick up the perfect holiday gift.

Going Ghost In The Suburbs

Going Ghost In The Suburbs (@Ggits) is a more elevated streetwear brand based in toronto. Their designs are very simplistic yet carry an abstract essence that you are unable to get from any other brand. They specialize in merch style garments, such as hoodies, shirts, hats, socks etc. Going Ghost In The Suburbs has amassed its own cult following in toronto, with certain pieces reselling at a higher price than retail due to its limited stock. With connections to Toronto rapper Killy (@killy) and its unique identity, this brand is certainly on the edge of booming in popularity so get yours while you still can!

Rework, Rewrite, Rebirth: A Post-Pandemic Revelation

As Earths doomsday clock counts down, and the world recovers from Covid-19, the stage is set, and all eyes are on the fashion industry. Sustainability may have been blasphemous years ago, but with the rise in internet accountability, it seems to be the only gospel worth singing.

This is not your average DIY! For some present-day designers and labels, the newest quest has been to re-engage the dialogue of sustainability and produce the same quality and craftsmanship of garments with little to no global footprint. Not only have they achieved this previously seemingly impossible reality, but these individuals have set the precedence for what the future of fashion may look like.

Current Reality

Usually, when the conversation of sustainability reaches the realm of luxury labels, the typical response is a seemingly empty statement in the form of a press release or social media post - something along the lines of “we are taking steps being taken to improve waste management” or “our team is working towards utilizing more sustainable materials”, but rarely do we see these statements actioned out.

Luxurious Crafts

However discouraging this may be, there is a luxury label out of Paris that has decided to take up the charge and center one of its philosophies around repurposing excess material waste. Marine Serre established the Paris based label in 2017, following her wining the LVMH Young Designers award. The labels ethos is focused on colliding classic French couture shapes, sportwear fabric and aesthetics, and a strong sense of eco-futurism, as mentioned on the Marine websites mission statement. Few designers have continuously included upcycling as part of every collection quite like Marine. Beautifully crafted denim pieces made from recycled jeans of various washes, masterfully patched together in a small workshop in Portugal, are then scorched with the trademark Marine Serre monogram print. In the more recent FW20 collection the designer features another use of upcycling, this time utilizing a silk scarves, intricately draped and pieced together to create luxurious dresses. As a matter of fact, to this day, at least half of all the garments in each collection have and will continue to be constructed reusing materials from previous collections as well as upcycling discarded materials.

Local Legends

The illustrious world of high fashion is not the only place where new designers and innovators are choosing the high road when it comes down to sustainability. Closer to home, in Montreal, Quebec, a small label is making big waves in the fashion world with its complete dedication to all things eco. With a background in hat making, Issac Larosse made the switch to fashion with the help of his partner Florence Provencher Proulx, the designer, launching their brand, Eden Power Corp, in 2019. The label takes a unique approach in which every step of the design, manufacturing and distribution process has been considered to minimize its global footprint. In their more recent collection titled “MYCELIUM”, the couple focused on the use of certain fungus and mushrooms in the production of some its pieces and lifestyle items including a bucket hat made of amadou mushroom felt among others. To reconcile for waste and energy consumption in the production process, Issac and Florence have also added a feature to their website in which for every item purchased, they are committed to planting 20 new trees thus continuing the cycle and helping the future of the planet.

We may feel like impending doom is an inevitability these days, what with the flow of information on the internet and social media, but when it comes to fashion, there may still be hope. As these designers pave the way to salvation, others will follow into the greener pastures.