Fashion Takes Action

We all know that bottled water is bad for the environment along with other forms of plastic or wasteful material. Aside from items that we consume, did you ever stop to think about how items that we wear can be detrimental to our surroundings?

Fashion Takes Action, ("FTA") is a Toronto based company with a mandate to inform the public about where clothing comes from, how it's made and the environmental cost associated with its production.

To coincide with Earth Day, FTA will be launching tonight with a HUGE party targeting hip, style conscience Torontonians at the legendary Burroughes Building penthouse lofts, known for housing trendy, cultural and often late night parties.

Several of Toronto's most buzzed about DJ's will be providing the soundtrack for the night, including ANDY CAPP, DIRTY DALE, and BRENDAN CANNING.

Andy Capp is the founder of "Bang The Party" one of Toronto's most loved party nights and is also the co-creator of the popular MOTOWN night. Check out one of his mixes here if you want to feel good and dance dance dance!

Dirty Dale is one of Toronto's most eminent DJ's who has been busting out the deep house sound for over 15 years - mmm gotta love good house music! Thanks DD!

Brendan Canning is the co-founder of what is arguably Toronto's most influential indie rock band of the last decade, Broken Social Scene. Aside from being a talented musician, he also has an impeccable record collection and will be sure to play some funky gems tonight!

There will also be a fashion show from Ryerson students featuring clothing made out of recyclable material and an OPEN BAR featuring organic beer from Mill Street and other delicious, good for you and good for the environment beverages.

Tickets are $40 ($30 if you're a student) and can be purchased at the FTA website. Limited $50 tickets will be available at the door.

I'll be wearing GREEN and look forward to seeing you tonight!!

Spin, Booze or Draw

I recently chaired a fantastic event at The Edward Day Gallery called Spin, Booze or Draw. The fundraising art lottery featured the works of 18 up and coming Toronto artists. With the help and support of our enthusiastic guests, combined with the curatorial brilliance of gallery owner Jamie Angell, the event turned out to be a huge success!


Below are some of my favourite photos from the party:




This is the entrance to the Edward Day Gallery, located right beside the Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art, just west of Queen & Shaw.









Here's a shot from the inside of the gallery, as the party was getting started.









My handsome co-chairs of the event, Jamie & Laurence.









Guest Karelle Steiner, winner of the Min Hyung painting behind her, flanked beside Media sponsors, Anna Von Francis of Pink Mafia and Jen McNeely from She Does the City.






Rina & I standing in front of Danielle Hession's artwork. Guests stuffed their raffle tickets into the pig that Rina is holding, in order to win art by the corresponding artist. My Mom ended up winning Danielle Hession's painting of the boy on the horse which she absolutely adores, as she used to ride horses as a child.






We called up the artists who were in attendance to smash their pigs and give away their art. Here's a picture of artist Mike Hammer in action - gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "Hammer Time!"






Laurence, Jamie or myself would then pull a ticket out from the crushed pig and call out the lucky winner.






I really wanted to win some art by James Olley, who is represented at Angell Gallery. Here is one of his pieces that I love. It's called Bands of Light.






Instead I won two prints and four books that were donated from Studio Gallery. Vanessa Gronowski, also known as DJ Vaneska, is the owner of Studio and also provided us with amazing music all night! If you missed the event, stay tuned for a possible Spin, Booze or Draw in 2010...

Fashion Week in Toronto

This week is Fashion Week in Toronto where the big names of the Canadian fashion industry get to strut their stuff on the catwalk while locals wearing gloves and mittens skate next door on a giant rink; gotta love Canada!

I was invited to the opening night festivities which featured the fall collection of David Dixon (featured in the photo below) as well as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the quintessential fashion icon, Barbie.

Dixon's clothes were stylish and sophisticated with a throwback to the 80's power woman. I noticed lots of cinched waists, one shoulder tops, colourful belts, wrist warmers and patterns galore!

Notice the pink stilletos that appear in Dixon's Barbie collection; courtesy of Town Shoes.

I love the hat & wrist warmer combo. It gives some practicality and edginess to this feminine fall outfit.

A special thanks goes out to Cameron McLellan for the fabulous photos which appear in this posting.

It'd be fun to check out more of LG Fashion Week, but I am busy planning a huge art lottery charity party which I'll blog about soon. So stay tuned for that as well as a wrap up of Canadian Music Week!

Nature Calls

Imagine being in the great outdoors on a camping trip and stumbling upon this modern day sanctuary of an outhouse. Such was my delight when I found this unexpected environment in a predictable space, during The Gladstone Hotel's "Come up to my Room" design exhibit in Toronto this past weekend.

Canadian artists Laura McKibbon & Jasna Sokolovic have created a visually stunning restroom which plays on our conceptions of sharing private space with nature. Just watch out for the bird poo.

February Haiku

down the hill we go

twirling backwards spinning fast

soft snowy landing