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

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

Spool of Thread has announced their grand opening here in Vancouver this Saturday June 5th! What is Spool of Thread? It’s a one of a kind, modern sewing lounge where you can either take sewing classes or drop in and work on your own projects using their wonderful set of machines. They also offer a great selection of bright and colorful fabric in their shop too!

Owned by the nicest local couple, Lili and Henry – this is sure to be your go-to destination for your next sewing project.

Click here to visit Spool of Thread’s home on the web and for more details on their grand opening party – complete with treats and giveaways.

We’ve also got word that Vancouver’s first modern quilting guild will have their first meeting at Spool of Thread on June 17th! Click here for more details.

~Posted by: Amy

I’ve been going to the opening night of the graduation exhibit at Emily Carr for the past ten years and it’s always been one of my favorite events – Saturday night was no exception. There was a huge crowd in attendance with everyone jockeying for space to see the new graduates work.

If you didn’t make it out last night, you still have plenty of time to catch the show. There’s no entry fee at all and it’s a chance to see brilliant pieces by emerging artists.

I’m excited to share with you a few of my highlights from last night, make sure you don’t miss them!

I loved Jenny Lu’s work “Modern Traditional Blue and White.” I thought the juxtaposition of traditional Chinese design and modern forms was so fresh and innovative.

I enjoyed the detail work on Denver Lynxleg’s installation piece – storefront with Downseys Sandwich board.

I also loved the work of Silje-Marie Salhus. Again, this is only part of her collection at the show- so head down to ECIAD to check out the rest of it and all the other amazingly talented artists for yourself. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

The show is open daily from May 2nd-16th, 10am-6pm: 1399/1400 Johnston Street, Granville Island. For more information about the show and graduating artists, check out the exhibition’s web catalogue here.

~Posted by Christine

Got Craft shows us year after year that Vancouver is home to so many talented artists and creative types. The above is just a sample of the work from a long list of very talented individuals you’ll find at this spring’s show.

Visit Got Craft here to find many more wonderful vendors.

Pictured Above: 1). Lockette 2). Track & Field 3). kove 4). Laura Bucci 5). The Beautiful Project 6). Billy Would

Got Craft’s Spring edition is May 2nd at the Royal Canadian Legion – 2205 Commercial Dr., Vancouver

*Not in Vancouver but want to do some shopping? Not to worry – all the ladies above have their own online shops, click the links to visit.

~Posted by: Amy

On Friday night I was lucky enough to attend the Fall 2010 Lav & Kush show at Vancouver Fashion Week. From my front row seat I saw that Vancouver’s fashion crowd was out in force to preview the beautiful new collection from designer Angela Saxena. Flirty fashion with an eco twist, her designs are made locally and feature eco-friendly fabrics. And if you thought fashion was all about superficiality – Lav & Kush proves you wrong – they donate a percentage of their revenue to non-profits.

The Fall 2010 collection is lush, with lots of beautifully draped jersey fabrics and floral print silks. Everything is wearable, and can be dressed down for the office or spiced up for a dinner date – I loved the soft and smoky colour palette of greys, blues and neutral tones.

~Posted by: Christine

All photos courtesy of Wayne Ma

The fall 2010 collection from Vancouver’s dace is moody, subdued and really beautiful. I know we’ve all got spring and summer on our minds – but hold that thought and take a peek at the video preview of the collection here if you like.

Have you already downloaded the dace app for the ipad and iphone? The store locator is a handy new feature that is exclusive to the app, and you can also watch their Spring 2010 video.

~Posted by: Amy

Vancouver’s Forsya Boutique is turning 1! They’re having a fashion show to celebrate, and launching shop owner Julie Hebb’s in house line too. It’s going to be a great night with spiked punch (hello!), door prizes, cupcakes and 20% off everything in store. We love Forsya Boutique’s selection of local designers – find Allison Wonderland, Cocopunkz, Dotted Loop, Adhesif and many more.

Event Details:
Friday, April 9th: 6:30pm-9:30pm
Forsya Boutique and Gallery
2206 Main St. @ 6th Ave., Vancouver

~Posted by: Amy

Vancouver native Leanne McElroy is behind the stylish line Elroy, which is made from organic, sustainable fabrics. Her new collection is beautifully structured and the prints for this season feature manipulated satellite images of Earth, giving the pieces a natural feel – with a subtle edge. It’s clear that Leanne has a love for fashion – she has been making most of her own clothing since she was 13! In 2007 she took things to the next level, and launched Elroy. I’m happy to see the affordability of this collection – all of the items are retailing for under $120.

Click here to view the Spring 2010 collection.

~Posted by: Amy

I always love receiving emails from Vancouverites who have Etsy shops – but I was especially excited last week when I heard from Kyla of Kove. She’s got a brand new Etsy shop featuring handmade crochet and knit accessories – with cowls, infinity scarves and more. I know what you might be thinking, have you seen the sunshine lately? But you know like I do it’s only a matter of time before it’s rainy and cold and you’ll be happy to have one of these to grab as you head out the door! No doubt we’ll be seeing lots of Kyla and Kove in the months to come – you can visit her Etsy shop here.

~Posted by: Amy