July 29, 2010

Lily + Jae is indie fashion at it’s finest – and I think their fall 2010 collection is gorgeous. Designed and manufactured in Vancouver, Lily + Jae has found a large fan base far beyond our city. While it’s tough to imagine bundling up now, fall will be upon us soon enough! Trends I’m noticing for fall – and am personally very excited about: a definite return to a more tailored shape, plaid, minimalism, and classic silhouettes with a twist. The message in the bottle above, from the Lily + Jae lookbook, “Less is more” really sums up the collection nicely for me – and I think it’s a great approach to life and fashion. There is a definite beauty in keeping things simple.

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Indie Fashion, Vancouver | Comments Off
Tags: fall 2010, lily + jae, Vancouver

July 20, 2010

Even before the term handmade and the ethos of shopping locally had become somewhat mainstream – there was Dream Apparel and Articles for People here in Vancouver. Launched in 1993, this mainstay of Vancouver’s Gastown also has a sister store on Granville Island, Little Dream. This is a mecca for lovers of indie fashion, handmade jewellery and accessories.

To say this shop is special would be an understatement – it’s actually pretty wonderful. I hadn’t visited in awhile but was wandering around my neighborhood on the weekend and thought I’d pop in. The range of handmade and local goods currently available is outstanding. I also spotted Allison Wonderland’s lovely designs on sale too! I’ve featured some of the brands that caught my eye above: Glam Vintage Remix, Flightpath Designs, and Bywa Bags. It was my first time spotting a Bywa bag and I was happy to learn that their bags are all made from recycled leather and repurposed materials.

If you haven’t stopped by Gastown lately, I think now’s the time as the summer sales start to kick into high gear! If you’re not a Vancouver local do check the links above as these lines also offer online shopping.

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Handmade Finds, Handmade Jewellery, Indie Fashion, Vancouver | 2 Comments »
Tags: dream vancouver

July 8, 2010

She Bible is indie fashion at it’s best as far as I’m concerned! And on a day like today, these dresses are perfect for staying cool. I love the sweet details incorporated into each dress and that they come in a variety of colors. Indie fashion designers Deirdre Nagayama and Stacy Rodgers have been best friends since their junior year of high school and started the line with a screen printer set up in their own kitchen. Fast forward a couple years and they’ve launched a brick and mortar shop in San Francisco and have a product line consisting of everything from clothing, to jewelry, fragrances and more. Better still? They continue to manufacture their line in San Francisco – both supporting their local economy and ensuring their clothing is ethically made.

Click here to visit their site.

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Indie Fashion | 2 Comments »
Tags: san francisco, she bible

July 2, 2010

Nixxi Fall Preview

It’s pretty clear I’m falling for Nixxi’s autumn collection! I had one look at their fall preview and knew I needed to post about it. Nixxi is a Vancouver line and you’ll find that their collections are always sleek, wearable, and great for the environment too. This season’s collection is constructed from soft fabrics like organic cotton, organic wool, and hemp jersey. You’ll find the collection in stores and online here in mid-August!

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Eco Friendly, Indie Fashion, Vancouver | 4 Comments »
Tags: Eco Friendly, Indie Fashion, Nixxi, Vancouver

June 22, 2010

Allison Wonderland – Fall 2010 Preview

You say summer – I say Fall! With the weather we’ve been having around here, perhaps it’s not too tough to get the seasons confused. Either way – I’m pretty thrilled to share a preview of Vancouver designer Allison Wonderland’s Fall 2010 collection with you today. All of the fun pieces from Allison’s fall collection have been cleverly named after films from the 1970’s, such as the plaid Annie Hall blouse and the Kramer turtleneck. You’ll be able to purchase the collection online and in stores beginning mid-August!

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Indie Fashion, Vancouver | 3 Comments »
Tags: allison wonderland, fall 2010, preview, Vancouver fashion

June 21, 2010

Vancouver Events

Swap-o-rama-rama Vancouver is here! What is swap-o-rama-rama you ask? Well, it’s a super fun opportunity to swap your gently used clothing and crafts with other locals this Saturday, June 26th. Not only will you get to trade for fun, new to you items – they’ll also have a station set up if you’d like to do some upcycling right on the spot – with screenprinting and sewing machines available. Admission is just $5 if you pay in advance, $6 if you pay at the door.

Click here for all the details.

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Events, Indie Fashion, Vancouver, crafts | 1 Comment »
Tags: swap-o-rama-rama, upcycle, vancouver events

June 18, 2010

We’ve got a doubleshot of goodness for you today from Vancouver’s own Adhesif Clothing. Not only has Adhesif just opened up their own brick and mortar shop, they’ve also shared a sneak peek of their 2010 Fall Collection with us, which will be in stores mid-August or so!

Why do we love Adhesif clothing so much? Not only is each piece gorgeous and unique – we’re also impressed that designer Melissa Ferreira takes great pains to upcycle vintage clothing into all new creations.

Melissa’s new boutique not only stocks her own line, but also other local favorites such as Little Houses, Dru’s Designs and Bronsino amongst many others.

For you out of towners you can also visit Adhesif’s online shop – and Little Houses has a wonderful Etsy shop here too.

Visit Adhesif Clothing’s Boutique at:
2202 Main Street (corner of E 6th Ave), Vancouver
Tuesday-Saturday: 11 to 7 – Sunday 11 to 5 – Monday: Closed

~Posted by: Amy

Store pics courtesy of: Roger Mahler of Union Photographers

Category: Indie Fashion, Vancouver | 1 Comment »
Tags: adhesif clothing, upcycled

June 17, 2010

Crywolf is a sweet little company based out of Toronto after my very heart. Stephanie and Rose have stocked the Crywolf shop with a plethora of great products all featuring their own quirky characters and illustrations. You’ll find everything from t’s and totes to magnets and mousepads. They’re even giving all Handmade Evolution readers free shipping now until the end of July with the code: “handmadeevolution”. Click here to visit their shop.

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Handmade Finds, Indie Fashion, Toronto | Comments Off
Tags: crywolf

June 14, 2010

There is no end to the vintage goodness that can be found on Etsy – my most recent discovery: Lollycrisp Vintage. In one week, summer will be officially here – so it seems like the perfect time to pick up a pretty new dress or purse for all the long summer days ahead! I’m especially fond of the plaid vintage dress pictured on the left above.

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Indie Fashion, vintage | Comments Off
Tags: dress, lollycrisp vintage