Oh, George! 19:1 Winter 2022-2023

 Our latest issue launched December 5, 2023. Click to view the flipbook version!

Potential Feature Articles December 2022

• Coverlines & Table of Contents:  Camille Humphries & Kaiysa Rattray
• Letter from the Editors: Nidhi Shah & Kaylee Gaines
• The Crystal Business: A Look Into Rebekah Price by Camille Humphries
• Technology helps the fashion industry grow... by Leah Fikre
• The Freedom of Being Yourself (Kingi Carpenter) by Camila Torres Diaz
• More is more: How Vintage Clothing Has Elevated... by Kaiysa Rattray
• Max - Eat Up: Discover how maximalism influences... by Nidhi Shah

• George in the City: Sustainable or Maximal: Fashion's biggest conundrum by Keely Mackenzie
• Back Page: The Post-Human Extension: How two designers from Montreal... by Camille Humphries
• Where to find back issues note: Editorial co-ordinator

Maximizing Opportunity with Daria Ghairat

Being a George Brown Fashion student, I get the chance to meet a lot of people, hear the stories of their journey and career, and the opinions they share on the world of fashion.

Daria Ghairat is a particular student that peeked my interest in a the way of how she integrated herself into the fashion world, and how quickly she acted on it. She started off her career in a non profit organization centering a tech company where she taught kids from the ages 8-10 how to make websites, and basics of coding. This then lead her interest to graphic design, which she did until grade 12. After graudtaing high school, she steered into psychology, but a special field of psychology that focuses on fashion, per example colour theory and how people react to colour.

After realizing she did not want to be a psychology major, she took the fashion aspect and carried it to George Brown College, where she took the Fashion Management program to pursue her interest and get her foot in the door to bigger things, and started doing fashion full time in January 2022.

Her first job in the fashion industry was a 5 day fashion show in richmond hill, hosted by the brand KH Luxury Boutique, in March 2022. This is where she learned the wants and don’t wants from her career. She wanted to be a leader rather than a follower, she wanted to host her own fashion shows rather than work in them, but she took this opportunity to make connections and start networking with people in the fashion industry, and expanding her knowledge.

After networking and putting together a client list based on her connections from her previous position at the fashion show, she began freelance styling and gaining more insight on the fashion industry. Daria worked with people like the Fairview director and the team of the event coordinator for Saks 5th Avenue. She also ventured into the music world and did styling for some music videos. With these connections, she continued her networking at the events she was invited to, where she met the creative director of Sacri.

Sacri is her guarantee in the fashion industry. With her insight on non profit organizations and marketing skills, she will become a shareholder of the company after graduation. She currently holds a position at Sacri on probation until she can devot her time to growing the company and becoming a large part of the brand. Taking everything shes learned so far in her past experiences, and applying it to a new career in her preferred field.

If we look back at her career records and schooling choices, Daria has integrated maximalism into the way she has moved forward and pursued her interests. Building up all her separate skills to maximalize and excel at her soon to be position at Sacri, and then up and onward with new companies in the future if she so chooses.

Maximalism is not only a concept that derives from fashion, but also applies to everyday life. It means everything coming together to make a cohesive piece by layering, adding, and complimenting pieces and colours with each other, or in this case with jobs and opportunites.

A Fashion Lover to a Boutique Owner in Toronto

Not being a celebrity or a well-known person, Borislava Marinov, just an ordinary person, who loves fashion, has finally succeeded in setting up her own clothing store in Toronto despite the Covid pandemic.

Being an employee for 18 years at “Your Clothes Friend" clothing store in North York, Borislava marked one of her greatest milestones in her life when she received the ownership of the boutique transferred by its old owner - Ms. Wendy, especially during the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic. That was when Borislava officially started owning a retail clothing store for women, which suits her passion: being in the fashion industry and the opportunities to meet new people every day.

She has since then managed the store with her partner - Sally, who's in charge of the store manager position now. Even though there are very few people running the store, they have done a really good job by bringing exclusive international brands, most of which are from Europe - also her homeland, to the Canadian market.

One of the key reasons why their imported products have always been on the best-seller list is that they are 100% made of authentic cashmere, which is known for being one of the softest and most luxurious fibers in the world. Furthermore, the prices of those high-quality items are quite reasonable for a handmade and unique progress item. Most of their customers have felt that they have been getting their money’s worth from their purchases so far. She proudly said, “I have been trying to offer Canadian people the opportunity to use high-end product with more affordable prices”.

When asked about her favorite brand, she answered without hesitation: ‘Marc Cain’. It is quite obvious that ‘Your Clothes Friend’ has also distributed Marc Cain’s products from Germany, which was launched over 45 years ago. This German company provides special knitwear designs, extraordinary prints and radiant colours, and creates high-quality garments. It has been Borislava’s understanding of the local market ranging from consumer preferences to local households’ income and her intensive experiences in the fashion retailing business that has helped her secure the deal with the reputable German brand for the past years.

To be a trusted and long-term partner with Marc Cain and other international brands, she’s gone through a great deal of difficulties and challenges. One of the challenges this female entrepreneur has faced during her day-to-day management is how to provide consultancy to some kind of specific customers about what will work best for them. “The challenges I have to face sometimes is to serve more specific customers which really don't know what exactly they are looking for, to find the right way which works for them and our store”, Borislava said. For customers, her boutique is not only the support team, but they're also their stylists. She grasps their likes or dislikes to help them discover more about themself and their sense of style.

However, like every owner of other businesses in the fashion industry worldwide in general and in Canada in particular, she’s had to deal with the most severe obstacle, the Covid 19 pandemic, which she also called one of her most important lessons till now. Although most stores in the fashion industry had to be closed due to Covid, she still tried her best, along with Sally, to manage the store well at that time with a positive mindset: “When you have a belief and work hard, you will succeed” she said. And indeed, Borislava succeeded in making people feel good about themselves through her knowledgeable advice and also through her extensive experience of almost 20 years. Along with her favorite quote: “Clothes aren't going to change the world, the women who wear them will".

Lastly, in the interview with her, she pointed out two important pieces of advice for those who have a dream about being a retail owner like her: “You have to love fashion and people - and “love” here is not just a simple “love", it requires your commitment and means how much effort and responsibility in which you need to put in. Hopefully, these inspirational and helpful messages may motivate certain young students studying fáhion business, who might not be unsure about their chosen career path, to continue to have faith and move forwards to achieve their goals.

To conclude we can say that almost everything related to fashion has played an important role in parts of Borislava's journey so far, and it is still gradually bringing her joy and success so that's why she still decided to attach to it. With all of her effort since she first being in the industry, we can believe now that she is already willing to input everything she could for her store and bring it closer to people, especially middle-aged women, like her store name: "Your Clothes Friend".

How Fashion Goes during the Pandemic and After the Pandemic? Fashion Designer Manish Malhotra

Manish Malhotra is one of the successful Indian fashion designers, costume stylist, couturier in Mumbai, India. Since childhood, he shows interest in sketching and painting and was fond of colours. First, he met with a renowned photographer, Rakesh Sreshtha in India the way to fashion industry. He designed the first outfit for Juhi chawla but the response was not good.

Then, the Rakesh Sreshtha gave the work for his modeling shoots. In between this, Manish Malhotra met with Sunny deol, a bollywood actor and many other celebrities and gained knowledge and work. He started design outfits for bollywood actor and actress such as Priyanka Chopra, Pretty Zinta, Sonam Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, and Kareena Kapoor, Imran khan, Sharukh Khan and many more. Moreover, he is also created outfits for Hollywood celebrities such as Demi Moore, Reese wither spoon, Kate Moss. Finally, he got the success and become a wanted designer when he designed the costume for the heroine of the film ‘Rangeela’. He is such an amiable and hard work person ,as, he was spending his time in understanding the script, the characters ,roles and thinking about the outfits which suits them according to play then discuss with actors and then he designed the costumes for them.

The eminent designer Manish malhotra already completed his thirty years in the industry and that was the fifteen year of his label. He was running around the starting of the year because he loves to work in films, fashion shows and for brides. He wants to show his ravishing collections worn by models on a big platform by doing modelling sections and take a pause which attracts the audience and judges. But the COVID-19 came which affects his work because he had to pay a huge salaries to his workers like tailors and embroiderers. The Pandemic changed everyone’s life at a global level which was burgeoning rapidly. Due to this, the changes occurred in the creative designing of the designer Manish Malhotra which turns to E-commerce. As, in this fast paced life, technology has been advanced. So, he started online fashion shows viewed by millions of people from anywhere through devices like mobile phone, laptop and so on. 

Moreover, at the same time, audience gave reviews through like, share or comment on videos which is a conducive way to know the reactions of viewers. From worldwide, He got the good response in his work. Furthermore, he got the chance to launch his collections ‘Ruhaaniyat’ in fashion films during different fashion shows like Lakme Fashion week, couture fashion week via online. Then, he started design the clothes and directed his collection by himself. His experience was so good and he enjoyed the new style of digitalizing their designs so much that he planned to do like this with his upcoming collections. 

In addition to this, minimalism takes place in fashion world instead of Maximalism during the wave of pandemic which changed everyone’s lifestyle to simplicity and, not spending too much money on luxurious outfits. As, this brought the numerous changes in the ways he designed, showcase or market his clothes because brides did not prefer to wore heavy lehenga choli in an intimate wedding during pandemic time. So, Manish Malhotra started design ornate and embroidered lehenga for the weddings which are not heavy as it. Moreover, he came out with an idea of sustainable Ruhaaniyat collection which is reasonable and wonderful colour combination. He did everything from designing to showcasing his collections by his own in such a brilliant way. He is using his skills of designing in a hard time with an excellent way.

After the end of Corona virus, Maximalism plays a crucial role in each and every generation outfits which changes everyone’s lifestyle in a new normal that is playing with full of bright colour apparels, bold silhouettes, intricate patterns and motifs is one of the considerable factors to happiness. After the long time, we all are excited to fill our wardrobe with prints, colourful dresses which are in trends and want to wear latest vogue trends which looks pretty to us because spending a huge time in home clothes has made everyone board. As, everyone is going back to their work with the good looking outfits to feel confidence as well as comfort. This is the way to overcome from pandemic.

Nowadays, new style and variations was designed by many designers in such an innovative way in which people enjoys and express their fashion freely. In addition to this, adding more layers, lush colours, prints and accessories like hats, scarves, jewellery, gloves to outfit gives a ravishing look with the taste of Maximalism.

As fashion goes like a river, it never stops. Each and every generation try plenty of colours and unique style variations for an outstanding look which suits them. So that you feel confidence and comfort every time.

The Crystal Business: A Look Into Rebekah Price, The Swavorski Crystal Shop And The Woman Behind It All.

I had a phone interview with Rebekah Price about her jewelry business and how it all came to fruition. Rebekah Price sells crystal jewelry in all forms. Her successful collection "Rivoli" takes a maximalist approach with many colour options. She coined "Rivoli Revolution" regarding this beautiful collection. Price and I discussed fashion in her upbringing, the beginning stages of her career, her creative process with the brand and designing her jewelry. "Rebekah Price" can be seen in Neiman Marcus, Indigo stores and many boutique shops. Price's jewelry has been featured in magazines and publications like Refinery 29, Vogue Italy, Vogue UK, FASHION Canada, Who What Wear, The Oprah Magazine, Weddingbells, WedLuxe, and NYFW.

Making "Rebekah Price."

Rebekah Price grew up in Los Angeles, California. When I asked about her professional background, she explained, "I think I was born a professional in the industry. It was in my veins. I was always a very hard worker. Growing up in LA, you're allowed to work at 15 years old. I had a worker's permit. I remember my first job was at the Gap. It was actually when the Gap just introduced their jewelry line.".

After High school, Price took a year abroad in Isreal and participated in a fashion event that then led to her attending "Yeshiva University" and after taking a course in New York at the "Fashion Institute of Technology" (FIT). She then dove into why she decided to start a jewelry business and spoke about her childhood growing up with her grandmother and said, "Going way back to my childhood, my grandmother was really a fashion icon in my eyes, and she was in the fine jewelry business, and so when I was a little girl I used to go to her house everything from feather hats to oversized emerald cocktail rings, trying on her heels.". Price continued by saying jewelry always intrigued her even though she was primarily interested in pursuing a career in bridal couture. What inspired her were vintage stones she was enamoured by, and she decided she was destined to start a jewelry business.

The Start Of It All

Rebekah started her business at 26, 9 months pregnant with her third child and a single mom. To say the least, she hustled to start "Rebekah Price," like everyone else would ask, "how did you succeed?". Rebekah told me, "3 months after my son was born, I got on a plane to a factory in the Middle East. They would not service me unless I was in person, and I crazily took my newborn and developed a relationship with the factory for years". Rebekah then had the gems and other parts to make the jewelry sent to her and made the pieces overnight with a few other women she hired.

The first piece that came to fruition was a single-strand light azure necklace, which she described as light blue with her signature red stone near the clasp. Price had a fantastic idea with this necklace. She said, "When I made it, people would ask me about it on a regular basis, and I kept a piece of paper in my purse of names of the woman and their phone numbers. When I got to 26 women, I decided that I was going to go forward with this, and I remember calling each of them and letting them know I had jewelry for sale. I then asked her how she came up with the concept for "Rebekah Price."

She explained, "The name Is my name, and I felt it was indicative of the brand because the mission statement of my company is to empower women and I wanted to represent that because I myself was in a situation where I had to empower myself, I was a single mom shortly after I started the business and I wanted our jewelry to be an inspiration for woman all over the world." Rebekah then proceeded with her aesthetic. She gave me the best Rebekah Price answer "I remember very distinctly sitting in an office nursing my child with a pair of light peach Ferragamo heels on and I made that the colour of my brand.".

Price's Creative Mind

Rebekah Price designs her jewelry and has many ways of finding creative inspiration. She told me, "It can go down to the old lady walking down the street." She finds inspiration in every aspect of her life, mainly travel, she explained. Price creates mood boards when designing her line to keep a consistent theme with her collection. I asked Rebekah what advice she would give others wanting to start a business; she explained, "I never really thought things through, and maybe that's a good thing. If I really knew how hard it is to be a business owner, maybe I wouldn't be where I am today. If you believe in what you're doing and have a purpose, then you just have to keep going, and there will be a ton of obstacles in the way, and you just have to stay laser-focused.". Rebekah Price was incredible to meet, and it was great getting to know how she ended up with this beautiful crystal jewellery business.

Fashion's biggest conundrum: Can you be sustainable and maximal at the same time?

There has always been talk about fashion’s harsh impact to sustainable and ethical production, however in recent years there has been a bright spotlight on the production issues of fashion and its impact on the environment especially by the young generation of consumers. At the same time, fashion is reaching new heights in terms of design, trends and how much of it is being produced. As of right now, maximalism fashion is huge trend seen in every magazine and while walking down the streets of an urban jungle such as Toronto. While sustainability promotes the idea on cutting down on buying and maximalism focuses on excess, can the maximalism trend be sustainable? In short, yes! Riley Walsh, a 26-year-old fashion designer who co-owns the streetwear brand “Everything’s Fine” weighed in on the sustainable maximalism conversation as he believes in sustainable/ethical fashion while being a participant in the maximalism trend.

While the term maximalism is usually associated with excess of items, maximalism fashion is the trend of having an aesthetic of excess, not necessarily having actual excess. Unofficially, maximalism fashion is all about putting your own unique style on display for the world to see. Mixing and layering bold prints, colours, fabrics and accessories at any time, regardless of what trends are currently taking place. Riley emphasizes that he loves dressing in the maximalist style because it gives him the opportunity to really showcase his personality through his outfits. Undoubtedly, anyone can be a maximalist fashion dresser while caring about how their clothes are made and who made them. 

While the term sustainability has been said and heard many times over the past decade, what does sustainable fashion mean? Sustainability in fashion means producing products with the least amount of damage to the environment as possible. Another part of sustainable fashion is ethical fashion, meaning the clothes are made in safe work conditions by labours who are getting paid a fair wage and who are being treated well by employers. It’s no secret that the fashion industry as a whole, has ignored issues of sustainability and ethically manufacturing for decades. In fact, McKinsey & company, a global consultancy firm reported “the global fashion industry produced around 2.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases emissions in 2018, equalling 4% of the global total”. Unethical and sustainable production is changing with consumers being more aware of where their clothes are coming from and companies are responding by changing their production methods. With the rise in sustainability, came the trend of minimalism fashion, having very basic timeless pieces such as a white t-shirt or blue jeans that are always in style and can be worn, in other words a “capsule collection”. While minimalism fashion is the preferred way to dress for some, for others it’s too boring and does not allow for any uniqueness. Thus, there are fashion conscious consumers who think they are caught between having to be sustainable or dress the way they would like. The answer to this dilemma is sustainable maximalism. 

The benefit of maximalism fashion is that it’s not about following trends and having to buy new clothes every month to keep up with the current trends, rather showcasing your own personal unique style even if it’s not what everyone else is wearing. Therefore, there’s no need for an over consumption of clothing, a common feature of fast fashion. Instead, focusing on investing in more statement pieces is the way to go, for example instead of buying 5 different jackets, buying 2 unique standout jackets that will make everyone stop and stare when you wear them. Another part of maximalism is working with what you already have access to, shopping in your parents or grandparents’ closet is a good place to start! I went on a shopping spree in my grandmas closet and now I have beautiful vintage pieces that were not created by fast fashion and would have gone to the donation box. I also have a friend who started wearing a childhood skirt she loved into a top which she proudly wears now as a 22 year old. Upcycling clothing is great way to practice sustainable maximalism as well. Riley upcycles his own clothing to fit is eccentric style, he’s taken a pair of jeans and adding rhinestones and studs instead of buying new jeans for himself. 

Second-hand shopping is the easiest and most effective way be a sustainable maximalist. According to Riley “vintage shopping is great because your saving clothing from eventually getting thrown out and sitting in landfills and it’s a great way to explore your style preferences because there is such a broad spectrum of clothing at thrift stores”. Giving old clothes a new home as opposed to them being thrown out is helping the environment. Furthermore, Riley believes Vintage shopping is the best way to find one-of-a-kind pieces and recommends it regardless of anyone’s style.

Ultimately, maximalism and sustainability can co-exist for the fashionable and sustainable conscious consumer. Investing in clothing that reflects your personal style while thinking about where it came from and how it was made is essential to being a sustainable maximalist. Upcycling and shopping second hand are both easy and affordable methods to dress maximally while staying sustainable

Is sustainable fashion the only future for the fashion industry?

 The Oscars red carpet has always been a barometer of fashion trends and a showground for top stars. Strangely, this year, unlike in previous years, there were six stars wearing hand-me-downs, something that would have been unthinkable in the past.

One of the primary concerns of the world in the twenty-first century is climate change and environmental degradation and pollution. These problems are rooted in the insatiable needs of billions of people on Earth for food, clothing, shelter and transportation during the more than 200 years since industrialization.

Of these, "clothing" never elicits the same kind of reflection as energy, transportation and construction, yet fashion is a vast global industry that, like other value chains, affects the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants at every turn, from environmental impacts to labor standards.

Do you think sustainable fashion is the only future for the fashion industry?

My idea is that in the current fashion system, the rules of sustainability are already naturally built into the design. The role of schools is fundamental: to train conscious designers, who are naturally inclined to design beautiful and interesting products, in which sustainability should not be an added value but an intrinsic feature.

Have you ever bought cheap clothes? Whether after wearing it a few times to find its quality problems, and in the angry regret because of their covet to buy cheap clothes in quality brought to their unhappy mood. Have you ever bought expensive clothes? When I see it again after two years, it's still hanging in my closet like new clothes, and I think it was worth the money.

Fast fashion: Monsters in our closets

Fast fashion constantly emphasizes the illusion of expression and aesthetics. We're stuck in a vicious cycle of overindulgence, quick gratification, constant discarding, and re-spending. Greed has become a symptom of The Times and has completely changed the emotional connection between people and things.

Wearing the same thing more than five times has become a challenge. Why is that?

The quality of clothing deteriorates every year. So our clothes quickly become faded, distorted or worn.

Fashion trends are changing so fast now that we can't keep up. But we continue to buy new clothes in order to keep up with The Times.

This is fast fashion! Mass-produce cheap, disposable clothing. Countless new collections each year make us feel constantly out of date and encourage us to keep buying more.

The environmental impact of fast fashion.

In most clothing producing countries, untreated toxic waste from textile mills is dumped directly into rivers. Waste water contains harmful substances such as lead, mercury and arsenic. These substances are extremely harmful to aquatic life and the health of millions of people living along the river banks. Wastewater also makes its way into the oceans and eventually spreads around the globe.

Another major source of water pollution is the use of fertilizers in cotton production, which severely contaminated runoff and evaporating water.

What can we do about it?

Choose clothes made in countries with strict factory environmental regulations (e.g. Eu, Canada, USA, etc.).

Choose organic and natural fibers that do not require chemical production.

Support Slow fashion.

As opposed to shoddy, low-price, low-quality fast fashion. Slow fashion is the pursuit of classic lasting, quality and design of clothing, slightly higher price but value for money.

We all have this feeling, many cheap clothing, relatively poor quality, wear a few times frequently, problems, can only be discarded fate. The so-called buy cheap, throw away easily. Rather than blindly follow the trend and buy countless fast fashion items at low prices, only to end up in the trash or in the closet.

Choose a few slow fashion pieces that are of exceptional quality, unique in design, elegant in taste, and will stand the test of time, giving you unique style, confidence and enjoyment in no time.

Sustainable design must be the only future of fashion, if even the basic living environment is lost, how can fashion?

Nowadays, more and more clothing brands have begun to really pay attention to the impact of fashion on the environment and create a new fashion that combines beauty and social responsibility.

For example, SHOKAY, the world's first yak cashmere clothing brand, has designed and produced a series of fine yak cashmere clothing, transforming the local industrial chain and directly driving the sustainable development of Tibetan areas.

For example, Stella McCartney, founded in 2001, takes sustainable fashion as the tone of its brand, perfectly combining high-quality fashion with environmental protection. All knitwear is made of biodegradable materials, bringing sustainable fashion to the end In conclusion, following the trend will not give you true style, and abandoning it after the season will only give you an infinite burden. When you get rid of blind consumption and so-called fashion, you will find your true charm from the inside out.

Want to start second hand fashion? Fashion flipping, sustainability, is the future trend

When it comes to fashion, a major concern of people in the industry in today’s day and age is sustainability. With the climate crisis in full swing and a leading cause of the rising CO2 levels being mass consumption, it is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate the ever-changing industry while the guilt of over-consumption and the undoubtable blame the industry has on the state of the world. For many, upcycling and recycling clothing has become one of the many ways people are utilizing to cope with the detriments of the industry while still being able to explore their personal style and express themselves through fashion. Be that "one of a kind" in the fashion industry.

In Canada you will find many second-hand clothing stores. The ladies of Shopcoat, a vintage retailer located in the heart of Dundas West, have made a name for themselves in the Toronto vintage market. After countless weekends of selling out of their upcycled and curated stock at the Toronto Vintage Crawl, the Shopcoat ladies - Camilla Marler, Amanda Julian, and Sandra Wiseman - made the move to open their own brick-and-more store just steps away from the market that put their name on the map. Showcasing their latest and greatest finds on a weekly Instagram story drop, Shopcoat offer a handpicked, curated collection of wardrobe staples from 90s basics, to reworked denim for all body types, to intricate and unique vintage finds - covering all bases when it comes to wardrobe staples. Combining Julian’s expertise in photography, with Wiseman’s design skills, and Marler’s hands-on experience in the fashion industry, the ladies have come together to create the vintage powerhouse that we now know as Shopcoat.

The used clothing market is becoming a global phenomenon, not just in Canada, and it is set to grow more than twice as fast as the global apparel market. According to research by the consignment company thredUP, 41% of consumers say that when they buy clothing, they look at used items first. 61% of Gen Z and Millennials say they look for used items before buying new. Another 46% of Gen Z and Millennials consider the resale value of clothing before making a purchase. This indicates that the secondhand clothing market is growing and has become a future trend, and that its boom is helping to address the sustainability crisis in the fashion industry.

There are two main categories that make up the used clothing market, vintage stores and resale platforms, and these two main categories have driven the boom in the used clothing market. For a long time, used clothing was perceived as old and tainted, mainly by bargain hunters or treasure hunters looking for it. However, with time and a shift in consumer attitudes, this perception has changed and many consumers now consider used clothes to be the same or even higher quality worn out clothes. A trend of "fashion flipping", especially among young consumers and its popularity.

This trend has led to a particularly hot market for second-hand clothing for children. Many parents will have this distress, children grow up day by day, leaving a lot of things that can not be used, such as cribs, fences, strollers, some even brand new, throw away and very unfortunate, because the purchase also spent a lot of money. In response to this problem, there are a number of second-hand clothing markets for children, where you can buy not only good second-hand clothing, but also books and toys. Canadian winters are cold and long, and skiing is a great outdoor sport, but every year parents need to buy new ski equipment and ski clothing, here you can not only buy good quality ski products at low prices, but also solve the problem of waste.

Tina is a floor manager working at OAK+FORT. She came to the brand on the recommendation of a friend and was promoted from sales assistant to floor manager in a short period of time. She loves her job because it allows her to talk to different customers about fashion trends and learn more about fashion from conversations. She says that for a fashion company, retail is the first line of communication between the customer, the company and the merchandise. So in my opinion, being a floor manager is a good position to understand how retail works and organize people in different positions. The brand has not only apparel, but also jewelry and home products. For the products, more and more customers are considering the useful life of that product, because more and more people are becoming concerned about fashion sustainability.

In the store, you often see customers coming in wearing products they bought three or even five years ago, and they choose to match it with some decorations or other clothing to reflect their fashion style. This is a very good trend. At the same time, as a floor manager, I need to pay more attention to some fashion trend information to provide better assistance to the guests. In my opinion, I support sustainability because there are many people on the planet. We need to find the best and greenest fashion for the environment, and there are many companies that recycle used fashion items, such as H&M. There are also some recycled brands that are sold at Nordstrom. In the business view, sustainability brings us more attention, people think it's new and interesting, and they're willing to pay some money for it. Companies also get more money and a better reputation.

Technology helps the fashion industry grow at lightning speed, but can we keep up with the consequences of the outcomes?

The fashion industry relies on technology to enhance design, manufacturing, and customer experiences. The results have propelled the industry into greater profits, precision, and convenience, but some of the unintended consequences can be hard to identify.

Fashion is a language of creativity and serves as a reflection of the times we live in. The newest trends, technology, and ideas constantly feed the fashion industry, which is ever evolving. As is the case with many industries, technology has changed many aspects of the fashion industry for the better – and in some cases for worse. The industry has used tech to roll out robots that sew and cut fabric with increased precision, artificially intelligent (AI) algorithms that predict style trends, augmented reality (AR) dressing rooms for convenient at home shopping experience, or to gain more insights into customers and increase repeat business. However, thanks to advances in tech, fast fashion brands have taken over the market with their low prices and constant new arrival, pushing out many small and independent brands. Underrepresented groups, particularly people of color, struggle to gain entry into the industry, and those who do frequently don't feel welcomed. Robots are replacing humans in the workforce, negatively affecting employment opportunities for people hoping to work in the industry. The increased reliance on technology poses an important question – how can ensure the positives that technology brings to the fashion industry will outweigh the negative consequences?

The fast fashion industry

Technology has made manufacturing and production processes in fashion more efficient. With advances in technology, companies can produce products faster and at a lower cost. However, fast fashion has its drawbacks, it is not environmentally friendly, it creates a culture of immediate gratification, and it pushes small and independent brands to close. In the search for speed and efficiency, companies use a lot of cheap labor and environmentally damaging materials. A lot of waste is produced by the ongoing manufacture of products to keep up with new fashion trends which is in part fueled by impulse buying – often leading to the purchase of lower-quality products that don’t last long and end up being thrown out.

Diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry – appropriation vs. admiration

The world is a melting pot of people and ideas. With increased globalization, propped up by the onset of increased connectivity through advancements in media and technology, comes and increased flow of information across geographies and cultures, bridging the gap of understanding and openness. However, western fashion often borrows very heavily from eastern cultures in the ongoing quest to spot the latest fashionable trend. This inspiration has brought eastern influences into the mainstream, but there is a fine line between admiration and cultural appropriation.

Women’s Wear Daily puts things into prospective in their column on cultural appropriation in fashion, “cultural appropriation, on the one hand, can be a celebration of that cultural exchange when done respectfully and tastefully. But it can also take from cultures and people’s heritage, often leaving them out of the story entirely.” For the increase in eastern influence brought by technology and globalization, there should be an increased presence of designers and creatives from underrepresented cultures brought into the fashion industry spotlight.

Customer data for an enhanced customer experience

In this day in age, data, customer data in particular, is at the heart of most modern businesses. In an interview for a business case study done on rue21’s customer loyalty software, Lauren Pearson, Senior Manager, CRM and Loyalty at rue21, said that the company has a “customer-obsessed culture, and Oracle CrowdTwist enables us to strengthen new and existing customer relationships.” The Oracle CrowdTwist tool grants rue21 access to real-time data, allowing them to reward loyal customers. It provides an enhanced customer experience through personalization and real-time engagement, all of which is meant to lead to repeat purchases.

According to a 2020 Mckinsey & Co. article, the insights gathered from customer data “can help to develop new products and services, as well as to personalize advertising and marketing.” On the flipside, there’s a spike in consumer worry about data privacy and the collection of personal data. The Mckinsey article goes on to share that “consumers are becoming increasingly intentional about what types of data they share—and with whom.” On one hand companies collect customer data to provide a personalized experiences for consumers, on the other hand there are some concerns about how much information companies are collecting and how they are gaining access. The issue of customer data is not unique to the fashion industry, but its increasingly important for companies to prove to customers that they are handling our information with care.

Technology in fashion design and production

You’ve probably heard about the mind-blowing AI generated art created by groups like DALL-E. AI and other technology have the potential to drastically change the fashion landscape. For example, there is the invention of vegan leather which is meant as an alternative to leather produced from the slaughter of animals. Unfortunately, as highlighted in The Good Trade article from March 2021, “the most common leather alternative is petroleum-based plastic, called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It’s made with fossil fuels, can be harmful to human health, and is not biodegradable.” This is a classic case of a noble and novel idea that results in unintended negative consequence. Most innovative tech like these are meant to solve challenges around efficiency and sustainability, designed with a greener future in mind and preventing the harm of animals. Then there’s the case of AI and robots taking over the creation of designs and other process in the fashion industry. Technology is mostly great, but we need to make sure that we are asking the right questions and getting input from all the right stakeholders. What will be the consequences of losing the human element in fashion and art? How can the industry ensure that negative unintended consequences can be mitigated with the introduction of new technology? The answers to these questions are complicated but we need to dwell on them and invest in the unbiased search for answers.

The future of technology and fashion

Many of the advances made in technology have led to creative innovation that address challenges in the fashion industry. As with any new technology, there are always some unintended consequences – some negative and some positive. Business and consumer behavior will become increasingly responsible for shaping the use of technology. Consumers have an increased responsibility to keep brands and companies accountable on how they use technology, and in return brands need to continually invest not only in technology, but in research around the sustainable and ethical use of technology to prevent unintended negative consequences.

A new perspective on the second-hand market: Is the second - hand fashion market different from the regular retail?

The question that has always been in my mind is, are the means of sales in a second-hand fashion store the same as in a basic retail store? When I walk into a second-hand fashion store, I can feel the difference. The sales of second-hand stores are very relaxed, and they do not take the initiative to introduce their products to customers, while the sales of conventional retail stores will take the initiative to talk to customers and introduce their products. Although the attitudes of both parties are very friendly and enthusiastic, for customers, second-hand stores seem to be more relaxed and casual. I met a Nordstrom salesperson whose name is Harrison during a job opportunity. We discussed a lot about fast fashion and second-hand fashion.

When I asked him what do you think is the most important ability in nordstrom? And he said : “ The basic skills of sales in addition to you have to have good sales skills, at the same time you have to understand the latest trends, because you are the pioneer to lead the trend, part of the customer is from the network to understand the latest trends, and part of the customer is from the sales to learn.” When I asked Harrison what he thought of the second-hand market, he said : “ Second hand now occupies a large part of the market. There is a growing concern for the environment, and sustainability, and we can see that many brands are starting to use recycled materials to make their clothing, thus reducing the environmental pollution from the fashion industry.” So far, second-hand seems to be a new trend and popular. Lots of people are following second-hand fashion, because they think the second-hand is more green, cheaper, and more unique.

For the current fashion environment and market, second-hand and even recycling are big money-making gimmicks, so when I went to Yorkdale last week, I found a new vintage store. When I walked into Nordstrom's At the same time, I also saw that many brands started to have recyclable clothing labels on their clothing labels, such as vero moda. This is enough to prove that the current mainstream is the sustainable development of fashion. Harrison also expressed that Nordstrom is introducing more sustainable brands, especially local Canadian brands, that are committed to fashion sustainability and reducing pollution to the planet.

For example, Mackage is using recycled materials for all of its products this season, making them stylish and functional at the same time. Sustainability is important for the used market. They need to ensure quality, adjust prices, and at the same time cater to market trends. But the focus right now for me is how do customers know what they really want? Customers are increasingly considering the practicality of the products they buy, and during the sales process, we find that customers are very interested in products made from recycled materials. Not only that, consumers are also increasingly interested in second-hand products, and the price of some second-hand clothes is even higher than that of a brand-new product. In the process of chatting with customers, we learned that consumers will redesign some old clothes and add some of their own style in it to make themselves more unique. When it comes to sustainable fashion, Harrison agrees. Because he thinks that the recycling of used clothes program is a good trend, it helps consumers to solve the problem of disposing of used clothes to some extent. At the same time, the environmental impact of the fashion industry can be reduced through this program. Finally, for the second-hand market, sustainable development is very important. After all, fashion is a cycle. If you can ensure the quality and control the price, the development of the second-hand market will be very good. Of course, I think the rise of the second-hand market has also made a good indicator for fast fashion.

Recently, on the advertising screen of the h&m store in yorkdale, I saw that they began to recycle, recycle second-hand clothes, and start secondary use. After all, the harm of fast fashion to the environment is irreversible. When a greener and more environmentally friendly fashion becomes the mainstream, human beings will be the first beneficiaries. When I talked to Harrison about it, he was shocked, he thought it was a good start, he hated the h&m brand, but he said if they could do it well, He is willing to start buying h&m again. because he feels the recyclable used clothing program is a very good trend that somehow helps consumers solve the problem of getting rid of their old clothes. At the same time, the environmental impact of the fashion industry can be reduced through this program.

The Freedom of Being Yourself (Kingi Carpenter)

Maximalism was never meant to be about having a lot of stuff, it’s all about being yourself and forgetting what everyone else tells you you should be. Peach Berserk’s renowned maximalist Kingi Carpenter gives a peek into what the world looks like through her eyes.

There have been many times when I’ve heard people of all ages tell me how much they wish they had been more true to themselves. There has always been this stigma of following trends and blending in with the crowd. We are only human and wish for acceptance from other humans, it’s a natural survival need but let’s not think about surviving and focus on thriving. Whether you genuinely like the minimal sleek look or find yourself growing a collection, what truly matters is how happy you feel from the things you surround yourself with and the paths you lead. You might think those two don’t intertwine but Kingi Carpenter gives some great insights on how the maximalist mindset makes for a more creative life.

During our long awaited reading week I hopped into a pickup truck Uber and listened to a chill country music playlist the whole ride over to Peach Berserk on Queen Street West. When I got there I met with the famous Kingi Carpenter while she finished printing some designs for her next project. Having already seen some photos online I was ready to see her full collection but the photos do not do it justice, in person it’s so much more extravagant! Every wall is a different theme covered in paint by numbers all collected and found in thrift stores by Kingi herself. It was really interesting to see the duplicates and to realize everything is made by different unknown people. The ceiling even has a big mural and vintage velvet couches, chairs, and display hair dryer seat all were printed with silk screens. Kingi’s gallery/studio was a complete representation of herself and what inspires her.

Kingi says that “no one becomes a maximalist, you are born one and it just shows more as you grow”. She was always someone who enjoyed making things and began by making dresses from pillowcases. Being able to make things has no limit and can extend to making a business, making a family, making friends, or making a home. In a maximalist mindset you always see every part of your life as something to create. While studying art at OCAD she had her A-HA! moment of becoming a silk screen clothing designer. When she became a silk screen teacher she got the idea to start her own classes.

She started her brand Peach Berserk in April of 1987, the year she turned 25. From there it grew to having her own store in the fashion district on Queen Street W. After 20 years of having the landmark store she wanted a change and moved to a new home where she still taught and sold pieces until a horrible fire in October of 2019 destroyed everything. She had to start over again and opened her current studio/gallery a month before the pandemic began in 2020. Now Peach Berserk is open to silkscreen classes and parties. Kingi is a representation of never giving up on your dreams. To always be true to yourself and never let someone tell you what “normal” is or what measures success.

Being yourself does not mean you have to be either a maximalist or a minimalist; you are free to be something in between. Minimalists are seen to be more calm and serene but boring with no personality while maximalists are thought to be loud and extravagant but materialistic. There’s a big misconception that maximalism is just a fancy word for a hoarder. Kingi clears that idea by stating “the difference between a hoarder and a maximalist is you collect with intention and only keep the things you actually like”. A maximalist enjoys being surrounded by the things that reflect their inner world. Whichever you feel gives you more power is up to you but when you physically live among everything that represents you it's easier to find your brand.

Maybe while reading this you’ve had this lingering thought in the back of your head that you’re tired of white on white. You want something more… YOU, but how do you do it without a big budget or without falling into over consumerism. Kingi talks about how “maximalism can co-exist with sustainability when you buy used things, most maximalists don't buy new and appreciate things”

Appreciating things because people made them is different from appreciating it for simply existing. You can breathe life into anything and make it your own. You can even upcycle old pieces that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill.

Fashion today is very much inspired by the past but it doesn’t mean we need to buy new pieces that look like old pieces. Kingi mentions how we live in a time where we have the freedom to wear ANYTHING. There may be Instagram trends that tell you what you should be wearing, but if we were to cut that out and you choose what to wear the choices are limitless. “You can easily wear something made in the 1970’s and no one would know. The only way they could tell is if they paid very close attention to the stitching of the piece”.

In a maximalist mindset you can see the creativity that this life has to offer. I know not everyone will love an extremely decorative life but no matter what path you take, remember you are free to be who you wish and practice appreciating what already exists. Take time to reflect on who you are and who you want to become.

As Kingi said to me on my way out of her maximized world “Be yourself, everyone else is taken”.

More is more: How Vintage Clothing Has Elevated the Maximalism Fashion Trend?

Maximalism has always made its way through the decades, in the 80s there were bright bold colours that dominated fashion, statement pieces like big chunky earrings, women's suits, acid wash jeans and so many more. The Y2K era was all about accessories, purses, belts, earrings, and sparkles. COVID had such an enormous impact on people, despite all the loneliness and irritability that the pandemic caused, it really brought everyone to turn to maximalism. People have started to look for different ways to express themselves and of course, the best way to do that is through fashion. 

Maximalism has been a way of coping through challenging times, it makes its way back to people when things get hard. Starting in 2020 people have made their styles more adventurous and feel as though they could dress any way they would like in the comfort of their own homes and from there it just became the new normal. People that consider themselves maximalists create their own styles using vintage or second-hand clothing, pieces that can be utilized in many ways. Vintage clothing is such a big part of fashion right now and has created an ultimate style for everyone to love. 

As maximalist fashion has taken over social media many people have decided to take on this extravagant fashion head-on. 31-year-old Anna Golka-Yepez is one of those people, Anna is very well known on Tik Tok with 129,000 followers. She loves creating new and fun outfits with vintage fashion, she shows you how to maximize your outfits by mixing and matching fun patterns and layers and like most influencers, she has inspired many people to be themselves and embrace who they are. 

“More is more transcends all aspects of my life.” Anna is looking at the main idea of maximalist fashion it just “being surrounded by things I love, things that bring me joy and make me smile. And I think there can never be too much joy or too many smiles.” How she finds her muse is all about looking for that perfect place.

Anna considers herself a maximalist, she says “[Vintage] can make an outfit more unique! But the perfect outfit is the one you are most comfortable in. The one that makes you feel most like yourself.” Vintage clothing has transcended the feeling of maximalism. That is why Anna has chosen to base most of her outfits on vintage clothing “I think vintage is a great way to build a unique, vibrant closet.” she says. Vintage clothing really is timeless and will always be a place where people find comfort.

Fashion on social media, especially during COVID, was really taken by storm. As the economic questioning comes during the pandemic more people were buying old, including thrifting and online shopping through Esty and Depop. Anna has really curated her style since the pandemic “it was a time where we couldn't do what we wanted in terms of going out or things like that”. One of the many things we could really do while in the comfort of our home was play with clothes and really develop our personal styles “as I started playing, I realize that outfits, pieces, shapes, and combinations make me feel good and made me feel like me.” 

Looking at Annas Tik Tok page you are overwhelmed with many different patterns and layers. “It is about mentality! I am always like ‘I need one more thing’” Anna really believes that more is the key to maximizing even if that means one solid colour or pattern after pattern. People are adapting to buying secondhand or vintage clothing, people see maximalism as so extravagant and enormous amounts of clothing areneeded, but it is a slow accumulation of pieces. Using what you have and going out to stores. “I love going to thrift stores! Especially when looking for those unique items. There is nothing quite like finding the perfect vintage piece that speaks to your soul!” 

Not only does vintage fashion create a way for maximalists to come out of their shell and be themselves, but it also saves the environment. As I said before, the economy has gone downhill since 2020 and most of the maximalist influencers, today are creating their outfits based on sustainable clothing. . Almost 2 million tons of donated clothes end up on racks in thrift stores, this creates the perfect opportunity for many people to style their own clothing based on sustainability.

During this time, I think the best and most positive way to put yourself out there is to find that perfect vintage piece and create an outfit that makes you go “wow.” So, how has vintage elevated fashion? As it has made a comeback over the years it all comes down to confidence. As a teen who has had difficulties with looks vintage/secondhand fashion has really made me find my true self.

Max - Eat Up: Discover how maximalism influences the cake industry with Toronto based baker, Purva Bhavsar.

When was the last time that you ate something that was not good-looking? I bet you cannot think of such a time; at least in the current scenario where aesthetics is everything. It is a known fact that food which is not sanctioned by our visual senses is not going to be eaten. 

Hence, how your food looks are as important as human appearance, that is fashion. One major sector of the food industry that is highly inspired by fashion now more than ever is the baking industry. Having said that, currently taking over in the baking industry is a maximalist cake-decorating fiesta and Purva Bhavsar has been nailing it when it comes to decorating her cakes. 

Purva, the founder of Devri’s cakery, is a passion-fuelled young baker from Toronto who believes that “cakes are more of an emotion than something to fill your stomach”. Purva started baking at the age of 14 after having the most beautiful red velvet cupcakes for the first time. The baker mentioned being so intrigued by the unique flavour and the colours of the cupcake that she could not keep herself from pulling out the recipe from the internet to bake a similar one. Since then, she has never stopped. Purva is a Baking and Pastry management graduate from Centennial college and worked at the European patisserie- Rahier in Toronto itself for three years before she decided to launch her cakery- Devri’s. For Purva, baking cakes “serves as an outlet for her emotions, be it happiness or anger”, it all reflects in her maximal style of décor. The Toronto-based baker specializes in buttercream and fondant cakes and speaks of them as the “easiest textures to experiment with”. 

The unique selling point for Devri’s is that she not only provides a cake, but her décor also comprises sweet surprises like macaroons, doughnuts, cookies or even liquor bottles. It is a full package of celebratory treats being delivered to you as a part of the cake!

Purva mentions that although maximalism is her style of cake décor, it is also something that people have been asking for. Food has become more of a part of our social lifestyle than a necessity. Restaurants, cafes and patisseries are focused on offering unique experiences through the food they serve. At this pace, connecting culinary arts with fashion and aesthetics is very important. “My clients always seem keener about the aesthetics than the flavour itself. They want the colours and design elements of the cake to match their outfits and the event décor as well. Everybody just wants MORE!”. She finds herself closely tied to the fashion industry and its trends while pushing cake-topping boundaries to meet the demand. Not only are the colour trends important, but she also has to have an understanding of what textures, silhouettes and styles are trending. 

With the current vibe being maximalism, Purva focuses on adding the elements of “excess” to her cake by using bright – often- contrasting colour schemes to get the viewer’s attention. In addition to that, she usually adds either a marble texture or a print and pattern to the base layer of the cake The last and the most crucial part of the process is adding the sweet treats or the chocolate shards to the cake. This is where the design part comes in. “I usually add the elements that are demanded by the client, but it is very important to maintain the balance in the structure and design of the cake.

Apart from the aesthetical balance, I have to also consider the price point, servings and value of the elements that are being added”. A major cake décor trend inspired by the fashion industry is addinga sense of movement and animation by creating organic shapes using chocolate sails. Another popular trend is the shift from smooth creamy cakes to textured or patterned finishes. Purva usually ornaments her cakes by carving detailed prints on a single side of the cake. In addition to these, Purva’s favourite trend is the idea of a personalized themed cake that is unique to each customer. 

What her clients love the most about her cakes is how every element of the décor comes together to narrate a story. Be it a Tim Hortons-themed cake for a coffee lover ornamented with Timbiebs, doughnuts and the classic red cup or a Froot Loops cake for a cereal lover, Purva has done it all. 

Last but not the least, is a mention of the most maximalist emerging trend in the cake industry of “messy cakes” which emphasizes freeing people to form the perfection of “Instagram food”. “This is very new, and most people might not have come across a lot of such cakes, but it is something that is going to bring about a revolution in the whole industry,” says Purva. At the same time, she also mentions this trend being “very tough to practice” for professional bakers as it is being adopted more by hobbyist bakers. So be ready for this revolutionary trend of experimental cakes as it is going to be something really ugly and yummy at the same time

Service articles for Oh, George Winter 2022-2023

The Maximum Mode by Keely Mackenzie

Creators to the MAX by Kaylee Gaines

Want to Start Second Hand Fashion? by Duannuo Li

Hold My Purse! by Camila Torres Diaz

Maximalize Your Comfort! by Nidhi Shah

The Ultimate Guide to Maximalism

You may have heard of the phrase “less is more,” well, that certainly isn’t the case when it comes to maximalism. Maximalism is the “aesthetic of excess.” From a fashion perspective, it is about bright colours, clashing patterns, extreme and eccentric designs, and the philosophy that “more is more”; this trend has no limit. Contrary to what others may think, maximalism is more than just putting together the most extreme outfit; it’s about experimenting with different textures, accessories, and colors to an outfit to implement these elements into your everyday life.

Maximalism fashion isn’t anything new; this has significantly influenced fashion as early as the 1950s. In today’s society, the maximalism trend has resurfaced thanks to social media apps- especially TikTok. To many users, it shocks them because of the stark contrast to minimalism which has dominated the fashion industry for many decades. Although this trend isn’t for everyone, it is still insightful to see how fashion trends closely reflect society. During the pandemic, the world was in a state of crisis and fear- similarly to the 2008 economic recession, many businesses were being shut down, and the economy was suffering because of that; people were forced to work and study at home, hence why fashion brands that were known for flashy and bold designs were declining, and minimalism fashion became popular. Loungewear and activewear were dominating styles during the pandemic. In 2022, the world emerges from life after the lockdown and has a more optimistic and joyful approach to the new normal. Since quarantine has lifted, people are more willing to dress up and be more experimental with their fashion, hence the return of maximalism. In a post-pandemic world, experimentation with fashion and other art forms is being embraced.

The Post-Human Extension: How two designers from Montreal brought us otherworldly fashion

It is safe to say nobody ever thought fecal matter could be fashionable. Now it is. The design duo “Fecal Matter” or “Matières Fécales,” also known as Steven Raj Bhaskaran and Hannah Rose Dalton, has sent shock waves thru the fashion industry. Their extravagant fashion statements have brought them to internet fame. Fecal matter has over 700,000 followers on Instagram alone. The couple studied fashion design and attended LaSalle college in Montreal. When the couple met, they looked like ordinary people and slowly started amping up their fashion choices. Any words can describe fecal Matter’s style. The first coming to mind is alternative.

The Story Behind The “Look”

Personal style is to be taken seriously with this duo. Most of the time, they can be seen wearing extravagant makeup and black eye contacts. According to Fecale Matter, the point of their style is to create an illusion using the human body essentially and that it is meant to be an extension of their skin. Fecale Matter’s mantra is “provoke society,” they say this mantra to challenge themselves and others in a consumer-driven society. Their goal is for people to think twice and make them less “numb and boring .”The duo told Kati Weissmann at Coeval Magazine, “The media feeds us whatever they want, and for so many, they passively consume. Go ahead and walk downtown of whatever city or place you live in, and you will notice how similar people look and act. People are in uniforms at this point”. The duo wants to stand out in a crowd on purpose and love the stares they get walking down the street. The public either love’s it or hates it. Either way, it always gets people talking.

Designing The “Skin Heel”

This Duo went viral when people saw their thigh-high heels made from silicone, making them appear like human skin. This shoe created the illusion of a foot being shaped as a heel. They said this piece was meant to represent an extension of their skin, just like everything else they do. This shoe was created by Sarah Silkin, entirely made of silicone and moulded to Dalton’s leg. The heel was up for sale starting at 10,000 dollars, and although they mentioned making a cheaper version, it has not come to fruition yet. This thigh-high heel incorporates hair and moles replicated from Dalton’s leg. The shoe represents how Fecal Matter believes body modification will someday develop due to social media. The skin heel is not the only extravagant design they sell. The duo has multiple outlandish garments on their e-commerce website. Fecale Matter’s design process is true to their style and encourages others to try something different and bold.

THE MAXIMUM MODE: Fashion’s latest trend involves wearing anything and everything

Maximalism first came on the scene in the 1950’s and has recently had a resurgence trend in fashion today, but what is maximalism exactly? And how do we as fashion aficionados incorporate maximalism into our everyday fashion choices? Maximalism in fashion describes the fashion aesthetic of excess pilling on layers of colours, fabrics, accessories and more! It allows the wears to express their fashion creativity to the extreme and because maximalism encourages unique stylings, everyone can practically wear whatever they want while still being considered fashionable. Now, let’s learn how we are going to rule the fashion world of maximalism.

Triple Threat 

Maximalisms tends to involve a mix of colours, patterns and textures and the best part is that none of them really have to match perfectly. Mixing and matching bold colours and unique patterns is a very effective way to give an outfit a striking look, (pro tip: mixing smaller patterns with larger ones will give you more balance but if you prefer a more chaotic look ignore this). Experimenting with different types of textures is a fantastic way to give a maximalism effect to a look for example, pairing a bight lime green shaggy coat with dark brown faux crocodile trousers will not only be eye-catching but interesting to look at as well. By mixing the 3 elements of colour, pattern and texture you are on your way to being a maximalist guru. 

AccessorSIZE

Do you remember that song by Nelly Furtado with the chorus “the bigger the better”? Well, when being a maximalism fashionista Nelly was right! Start tripling the size of your current accessories, if you’re daring enough start supersizing them! You also want to start wearing more accessories in general, only wearing jewelry is something a minimalist would do, a maximalist however would add an oversize faux fur bucket hat and a western style rhinestone belt as well as jewelry (obviously). 

Layered Up 

 Another large element of maximalism is layering Adding an extra layer or two can really give your outfit that extra oomph us fashionista’s love. For example, before putting a coat over your top, add a vest or wearing a sheer turtleneck with a button down on top followed by a duster. Layering isn’t just for clothing, why not layer accessories? Necklaces on top of necklaces, or maybe a smaller belt on top of a wide belt? Nothing is off limits in a maximalist fashion world.

The story behind Chanel. "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." Coco Chanel.

Coco Chanel's life was full of many good and bad experiences, but in the end it all led to her legendary life. Looking back on Coco Chanel's humble beginnings, it would never have occurred to us that such a successful career blossomed in such depressing times. Twelve-year-old Coco Chanel was sent to an orphanage by her father, a peddler. Even in bad circumstances, Coco Chanel always saw something unique. Gabrielle Chanel learned to use a sewing machine when she was 18, and in the years that followed, she began making her own hats and clothes. Seven years in the orphanage did not limit her ability to create fashion. Living daily in the Romanesque monastery of Obazian, Coco Chanel found her own sense of simplicity and came to love its paradoxical yet compatible combination of black and white.

She is the symbol of French chic.

The creation of Chanel's first series was marked by the background of two world wars. She tried to liberate women. She wanted to let women move freely and gracefully. Coco Chanel insisted that plain black and white didn't mean stripping. She came across ornate religious dresses and Baroque ceremonial objects encrusted with dazzling gold and colored gems, and she began to use jewelry to embellish her designs. In response to the constraints of women's fashion at the time, she said: "This is not what modern women should look like," so she created shorter skirts to expose the ankles and freed up the waist by eliminating the corset.

The Legendary French Woman CHANEL COCO

"Either I die too, or I finish what we started together." Coco Chanel.

In 1918, Coco opened her own couture house. Boy Capel, who helped finance her first hat shop in Paris, admires her liberation from women's tights. Unfortunately, Boy Capel later died in a car accident. In spite of her grief, she knew she should not hold back. Her 1921 encounter with Ernest Beaux led to one of her most iconic masterpieces to date: Chanel No. 5 perfume. Coco was the first designer to put her name to a perfume. However, attacks started raining down on her head, and it was World War II. She had to close the studio. She decided that now was not the time to think about fashion, so she retreated to the safety of Switzerland. Even at the age of 70, Coco couldn't give up her passion for fashion. So she gathered her loyal team and reopened her haute couture house. On February 5, 1954, she held a fashion show in her studio to show the world her triumphant return. She sat quietly at the steps of her studio, watching the models walk in her designs. While the French press mocked her designs, Life, the most-read magazine in the United States, said, "At 71, Gabrielle Chanel brings more than a style, it's a revolution!"

"If I wanted to go to heaven and dress angels, I'd want to leave."

On Sunday, January 10, 1971, the world lost the genius of Coco Chanel. But Coco Chanel's spirit and legacy live on. To this day, many of the staples of women's wardrobes owe much to her ingenuity. By going from nothing to building an empire, Coco Chanel liberated not only herself from the darkness of her childhood, but also the women of her time

Creators to the MAX: Maximalist creators to inspire your style

After the decline of the pandemic, style was formed into something that everyone could enjoy. It is a mix of many different styles and generations all in one. A popular influencer by the name of Wisdom Kaye, said in a recent Tik Tok, “trends have become accelerated to the point where they all exist in the same time”. Thus making the maximalism concept become more popular, and more people being able to express their fashion freely, without using trends as a guideline. These are some influencers you could follow to help find your maximalist style.

Wisdom Kaye (@wisdm)

Wisdom Kaye is an instagram influencer, tik toker, and now model for IMG Modeling Agency. His journey started in 2020 with his Tik Tok platform, focusing his content on men’s fashion and elevating his own style. His social media platforms have grown tremendously and now in 2022, he focuses more on “looks”, and showing off new, detailed, designer pieces in his closet along, with how to style them. Including working with brands like Coach, Dior, and American Eagle. His style, starting off early in his career with being more tame and wearable looks, has gone a more maximalist direction since the everevolving trends and fashion influence on tik tok during the pandemic.

His style is heavily inspired by Rick Owen’s, designer statement pieces, streetwear, and mainly black or darker coloured garments.

Lexson Miller (@lexsonator)

Based in Toronto, Lexson Miller is a Canadian social media influencer, who thrives on his version of maximalist fashion. His style is heavily inspired by the 70’s and 80’s time period, along with bright colours and layered pieces. His content is focused on GRWM’s (get ready with me) through his Tik Tok platform, and his thrifting challenges, which include finding outfits in thrift stores in a set amounts of time, usually at Toronto thrift locations. It is apparent that Lexson is very big on second hand shopping, and believes in giving old pieces a new life.

He has even created a second account (@_lbros) with his roommate Liam (@liamgotmail), who is featured in his thrifting videos often, to continue showing off their style expression, and show off their finds and the potential of thrift stores in Toronto.

Amy Roiland (@afashionnerd)

Fashion blogger Amy Roiland, who is known for her blog “A Fashion Nerd” which was started back in 2013, and more recently, her Tik Tok account which is focused more on GRWM’s and styling videos, which all tie back to her fashion blog. She is a mother of a little girl, who follows the same style as she does and is featured in quite a few photos and videos on her social media platforms.

Her style is centered around vintage styled articles from the 50’s and 60’s. The fun patterns and bright colours which are paired with big accessories, conveying her LA location and outgoing personality.

Michaela Hedderman (@mjhedderman)

A firm believer of “wearing whatever you want”, Michaela Hedderman is another social media star who expresses herself through her funky fashion and self confidence. Her rise to fame was her viral videos of solo self timer instgram photos. Getting dressed up in whatever she wanted, finding a location in her hometown, and taking pictures by herself with her tripod and self timer feature.

Her style follows more colourful, trendy, statement pieces, and portrays a very LA personality to go along with those outfits and her social appearance. While her Tik Tok presence used to consist of GRWM’s and self timer instgram pictures, her contant has moved towards daily vlogs and yearly Halloween costume inspiration. Her maximalism is portrayed both in her daily style, and daily life like her home decoration.

Want to start second hand fashion? Here are some benefits and tips you should know

Recycle, eco, reused with trends is key

In the past two years, more and more young people have begun to pay attention to vintage, especially fashion practitioners. As a loyal lover of second-hand clothes, I found: "When we walk into the mall, I find that every item is catching up with the fashion. Everyone wears the same clothes, and they always bump into other people's shirts when they go out. There are also many stores around our community that recycle used clothes, like thrift value.” That's when I realized that I needed something different, and it would be best if I was the only one who had it.

In Toronto, we have a huge second-hand fashion community. For example, courtage has no love, a shopcoat, and House of vintage Toronto and so on. Once when I went to a second-hand fashion store called Courage my love, the owner said to me: "I like my job very much, and I also like the influence my points have on young people. When I see young people find me here I'm happy when they're their own, and proud when they come back to my shop wearing second-hand clothes. But for now, the big problem is that it is so hard to recycle the old clothes. More and more companies and businessmen know the second hand fashion market has potential profits. So they started to buy items from the low cost fashion factory. I know a store which is located in Chinatown. They got the merchadises from 1688 in China. And resold them as a uncredible prices and named them “ VINTAGE.” So choosing a reliable store is a very correct choice.

As a generation z, I like that my style is different from others. When we use social media, we can also produce unique and high-quality content. And when I don't like it or want to change the look, I can also put them up on my second-hand website for resale, or send them to a store that recycles second-hand clothes, or consign them. So in my opinion, It is a really good deal. The rise of second-hand fashion will make our living environment better, because for things we don't want, the government can only help us burn them, which will emit a lot of carbon dioxide and pollute the environment.

So when I know that buying used clothing can reduce the environmental impact of incineration. Of course, diy can also become a daily life. When I was in middle school, my mom bought me a pair of jeans, but I thought it was too ordinary, then I took my scissors and cut the bottom edge of my pants, and I ended up with the one I wanted. Taking fashion choices into my own hands instead of leaving them to the market is my new inspiration for the second-hand fashion market. As for your clothing, you can wear whatever you want. So in my view, I felt the benefits and tips that second hand fashion marketing brought to me. It really affected and changed my life.

The Hidden Junk: 4 ways to maximize your style with things in your closet

During covid, everyone did some online shopping that was not needed for their closet, and you probably think half of the items in your closet have no use or aren't in style anymore. Think again, there are so many pieces that are timeless and can be worn repeatedly just by sprucing them up with a fun sweater, or some jewelry. The so-called “junk” in your closet is nothing but perfect pieces to maximize your style.

1. Layers:

There are many pieces of clothing that can make your style stand out. Firstly, to start layering you need a base, like anything that you start this is the most important as it helps create the full look you are going for. Base starters are plain blue jeans and a white tee, or an oversized tee with cargo pants. These are all basic clothing items that you may already have lying around. To layer, a good start is playing with jackets, a good leather coat or button-down is always a good go-to. It's all right to stop here but we always want to go beyond when we are going for a maximized look. Next, you can add some jewelry, a necklace or some hoop earrings that can stand out in a good outfit. The most important thing about layering is being able to play with many different textures, patterns and colour's. There are endless possibilities just with things you have in your closet 

2. Statement pieces: 

Starting with statement pieces. If you have something from years ago that you do not wear anymore it can be used as a statement piece. For example, when looking through my closet for this article I put together some statement pieces that add some flare to my look. A purse with lots of colours or even a jacket. Statement pieces are supposed to be eye-catching which is why they would be a perfect way to maximize your everyday wear. 

3. Try new things:

This can be a fantastic way to have the same clothes but not have to feel like you are wearing the same things repeatedly. if you feel like you're running out of clothes it's probably because you keep wearing the same outfits, most of the time if you switch things up like wearing a sweater with a t shirt to adding a button-up over top of a dress can make it feel like a whole fresh look. 

4. Wear what makes you feel good: 

To have the perfect maximized style, you need to feel good about what you wear. Confidence is the key to having great style and looking your best when wearing it. Pick colours you know you look good in they can make you look good instantly. For most people fashion is a way to express who you are. So, make sure when you are picking out an outfit you pick something that's yours! A maximized style can be overwhelming at first since it's bold and put there but having the right confidence and attitude will make you more eye-catching.

Hold My Purse! Step-out of your comfort zone with these unique purses

To all my fashion lovers, can we all agree accessories can either make or break your outfit? Everyone has heard of the famous Birkin bag or the classic quilted Chanel purse. Let me show you the world of novelty purses, they are sure to turn heads and cause a second look… third, probably a fourth look too. I introduce to you 4 brands with some of the most noteworthy purses on the market.

Studio Cult

Studio Cult prides themselves on making accessories that are out of the ordinary but all inspired by everyday objects. Presenting the Binder Clip Bag, described by Studio Cult as “Office Supply Chic”. Designed in New York City, this bag is made of 100% vegan leather and features a loose leaf interior lining with a zipper pocket! The inner lining looks like it's ripped straight out of a notebook with its lined paper print. This bag retails at $162 USD and is available online at Studiocult.co. Make sure to also check out their “Let’s Get This Bread” Giant Bread Tag Bag.

Betsey Johnson

Betsey Johnson has always been known for her wacky and unique designs. Why not have a little fun and make some prank calls with your new phone bag! The “Kitsch Million Stars Phone Bag” retailing at $148 USD, can actually make and receive calls. This retro 80’s inspired rotary phone bag uses wireless Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone. You can answer the receiver by unbuttoning it from the top handle. Available in different colours and prints on betseyjohnson.com.

Mary Frances

Mary Frances’ designer bags are anything but simple. These handcrafted wearable art pieces are heavily embellished with extravagant natural stones, studs, rhinestones, crystals, beads, and trims. Every purse tells a different story and is highly detailed with care. Strut the streets as an off-duty Cupid with the “Fall in Love Top-Handle Bag”, retailing at $330 USD. The entire bag is hand beaded and has enough space to fill it with all the things you love. You might just fall in love with the teddy bear purse or the carousel purse both available on her website at maryfrances.com.

JUdith Leiber Couture

Judith Leiber, the original leader of novelty purses for the wealthy, might just top your trophy purse list. Back in 1967 JL made their first Italian metal purse but ran into the slight hiccup of a dreaded stain. As any material girl would, the stain was covered with Swarovski Crystals and has ever since made a tradition of dazzling oddly shaped bags.

Let everyone know how you’re feeling in-style with the “Silver Hand War and Peace” bag, retailing at $8,703.47 USD. This bag features a retractable index finger and a metallic leather interior. Take a look at their stack of cash purse or the Hello Kitty chocolate bar purse online at judithleiber.com

MAXIMALIZE your comfort!

Level up your style game with these exciting mood-boosting pieces and find comfort in fashion as you step out of the pandemic. Get inspired by some of our favourite local designers and their merchandise to add comfort to your daily dose of poppin’ colours, prints and textures!

Upon coming out of the times where there was little to rejoice about, people are now focussing more on wearing something that can reveal their personality and make them feel free as well as confident. When we think of maximalism we tend to assume something that would be hard to pull off and uncomfortable. But in recent times, dressing up has become all about feeling great in your body and looking great in your clothes. Practise the maximalist art of layering by either stacking up prints and colours in absurdity or by layering the patterns and colours of similar hues to curate an outfit. Here are a few local designers who will help you stay ahead in the game with their unique merchandise.

You make my Dopamine levels go all silly!

Kate Austin Designs from Toronto creates art that can be worn in everyday life. Being a textile print designer and a bright and fun-loving personality herself, Kate’s outfits are usually styled with a lot of print-on-print layering. The best part about her clothing is that it is made one size fits many so there is no fussing with the fit, can be styled and layered in thousands of ways and is just easy and adorable. Add a touch of maximalism to your wardrobe with Kate’s vibrant prints and stack them up into the most fun outfits! Read along to learn more about how you could style Kate’s clothing with coats and accessories as the cold weather rolls in.

A knotty affair

The Knot You Knot Me, a small business owned by a Toronto-based creative, focuses on crafting handmade lightweight statement jewellery made from 100% recycled cotton rope. Dafna’s solid-coloured rope necklaces are perfect for layering to get a bolder statement piece and are as light as a feather for your everyday wear. This brand impresses its customers with unique one of a kind fibre jewellery that goes with almost every look whether it is summer, fall or winter.

Winter in coming

With the cold weather coming in, a statement coat to wear over Kate’s vibrant dresses and some fun jewellery or accessories would be an amazing hit among your friends and colleagues. Toronto-based brand, Shaghayegh Tafreshi’s designs explore the art of abstract storytelling and are for creative individuals who want to express themselves freely. These coats are one size as well and provide the coolest oversized look. The body is made of a sweet velvet fabric perfect for the colder weather. Layer multiple necklaces from Knot-you-knot-me over your coat to get a more quirky look. Wear these striking maximal art pieces to feel closely connected to art, nature and its organic forms.

Happy feet

HOTELMOTEL is a Montreal-based start-up, established by two passionate artisans- Niki Jessup and Corinne Bourget. This small business offers its customers groovy colour-blocked footwear that is exciting and comfortable at the same time. Invest in this rainbow-coloured footwear to brighten up your life and the streets that you walk on. Pair them up with an effortless dress from Kate or with a bold statement coat from Shaghayegh to complete the look. Add more colour to a colour-blocked look or add a pop to your monochrome outfit! Last but not least: they are ALL UNISEX!

Untitled: Sustainable production

In today's society, people are thinking more about environmental issues while making fashionable clothes. Recyclable fabrics are appearing more and more in the products of various brands. Recyclable fabrics are a new type of environmentally friendly fabric. The raw material of recycled nonwoven fabric is extracted from waste mineral water bottles and Coke bottles, also known as RPET fabric. Because this nonwoven is a reuse of waste, it is becoming increasingly popular. 2021 reports that 62% of lululemon's products are currently nylon and polyester, but only 6% of them are recycled. lululemon plans to replace all of its products with renewable materials by 2030. lululemon says this is a very important commitment, and that this transition will require a lot of energy and resources, so it will take time to complete gradually.

There’s no denying that the fashion industry plays a part in today’s climate crisis. It’s essential that we adopt new industry practices that stress the planet less, from reducing energy use, emissions and waste, to taking a smarter, more responsible approach to water use and conservation. Not only do we tackle these issues head-on, we share our innovations with the entire industry. This innovation will not only reduce pollution but also protect the environment. At the same time achieving fashion sustainability. We hope that more and more brands will join this innovative program.

Almost everyone has one or two pairs in their closet, but not many people understand the production and making behind jeans. A pair of jeans is created from the process of dyeing, weaving (adding white yarn to add shine), sewing, pre-wash process (ageing and sanding), and washing. However, the process of making them involves thousands of chemicals (many harmful to humans), consuming and polluting large amounts of water, and hours of processing time. We refuse to accept the fact that "to wear jeans is to pollute the environment", but you have to admit that the cheaper the jeans are, the less environmental protection measures are taken in the production process.

The over-consumption of crude fast fashion brands by low consumption groups is especially obvious compared to the excessive waste caused by chasing luxury goods. While you pursue the old, washed process of jeans, your and my endless pursuit of material is the greatest source of pollution to the environment. In the past, workers needed to spend hours in front of a pair of jeans, just to create different old and worn processes by hand, followed by throwing the jeans into a large washing machine to be aged. The latest Levi's PROJECT F.L.X. replaces all the manual aging processes with lasers. With efficient laser polishing, a pair of jeans can be made in just 90 seconds. Not only that, Levi's has introduced a new sustainable jean made from organic cotton and Circulose, a breakthrough material made from worn-out jeans. Each pair of jeans is made from 20 percent recycled denim, 20 percent sustainably sourced viscose fiber and 60 percent organic cotton, in addition to reducing water, chemical and CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process.

 

Oh, George! Visioning: Vol 19 No 1

Words describing the personality of the magazine:

• Bold
• Bright
• Chic
• Colourful (x 2)
• Emerging
• Enlightening
• Fresh
• Fun
• Funky
• Futuristic
• Informative (x 2)
• Insightful
• Social
• Trendy
• Vintage

Potential theme ideas:

• Bold/Staples
• Branding Yourself
• Creative Designs
• DIY for everyday life
• Everyone's a fashionista
• Forced Change
• handmade
• Maximalism
• Nostalgia
• Permanent accessories
• Re-purpose
• Revive
• The Fashion Time Machine
• The New Normal
• The new world of fashion (for real this time)

Chosen theme:

• Maximalism: The New Normal