June 10, 2020 at 07:32PM Anti-racism reading lists have been doing the rounds over the last couple of weeks. But rather than just a performative display of allyship, we hope this movement brings about real change, which will only be possible if people make the genuine effort to seek out Black voices, read more about systemic and structural racism, and do the work to unpack the implicit bias and racial disparities that have led us to this moment. We recently shared a roundup of 72 books, movies, podcasts and resources to educate yourself on anti-Black racism, but if audiobooks are more your thing, these 20 titles—some narrated by the authors themselves—are a good place to start. You can find audiobooks at Audible, Google Play, Scribd, Apple Books, Overdrive, Libro and various other iOS and Android apps. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates Hailed by Toni Morrison as “required reading,” this book addresses questions about American history, the idea of “race,” and the Black experience in the form of an intimate and urgent letter written by the author to his adolescent son. The audiobook is narrated by the author, Ta-Nehisi Coates, adding to the personal weight of the book. Length: 3 hours and 35 minutes The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole In a 2015 cover story for Toronto Life, Desmond Cole exposed the racist actions of the Toronto police force, detailing the dozens of times he had been stopped and interrogated under the controversial practice of carding. His
Category: Fashionmagazine
10 Pieces to Buy in Honour of National Indigenous History Month
June 10, 2020 at 02:17PM We’re ten days into the month of June, also known as National Indigenous History Month. It’s a period for reflection on and actions towards the treatment of communities across Canada. Living on their land, it’s especially crucial for non-Indigenous Canadians to invest in the craft and creativity of Indigenous designers; here are 10 pieces to purchase now and show your support. <div class="sjm-attachment-carousel–header gallery-container–default" data-slick='{"speed":400,"adaptiveHeight":true,"variableWidth":false,"centerMode":true,"centerPadding":"0","slidesToShow":1,"lazyLoad":"ondemand","prevArrow":"Previous”,”nextArrow”:”Next”}’ data-simplemodal=’false’ > 1/10 Chloe Angus This Vancouver-based label is co-owned by Angus and her Métis husband, Gabe. The couple work with Indigenous artists across Canada for its designs, and this bold unisex shirt’s motif was created by Haida artist, Clarence Mills. Buy Now 2/10 Blu Hummingbird Haudenosaunee beadwork artist Brit Ellis merges pop culture iconography with Indigenous craft in her labour-intensive pieces, like this cheerful Pomeranian pin. Buy Now 3/10 Anne Mulaire Winnipeg-based French-Métis designer Andréanne Mulaire Dandeneau designs a selection of elevated casual wear, jewellery and decor. These leggings, which feature a Haida style design created by Aboriginal Métis artist David Albert, are made from lightweight bamboo lycra. Buy Now 4/10 Evan Ducharme This twill bag, which is able to hold some styles of laptop, has a print that replicates a 1916 Census which lists Métis designer Ducharme’s maternal great-grandfather first as “French”; his origin was then changed to “Indian”. The symbolism behind the bag speaks to the struggle of identity within the Métis Nation. Buy Now 5/10 Warren Steven Scott Originally from the Nlaka’pamux Nation in what is
My Story: Brand Founder Témi Shobowale on Beauty Standards, Authenticity and the Power of Diversity Behind the Scenes
June 09, 2020 at 10:45PM Meet Témi Shobowale, a Nigerian-born, Toronto-based professional makeup artist and entrepreneur, who is also the founder of skincare line Essentials by Temi and HerDay, a series of local meet-up events geared towards bringing together and uplifting women. Here, she shares, in her own words, her beauty brand’s story, biggest inspirations and what she hopes transpires from the large outpouring of support for the Black Lives Matter movement. On where she grew up: “I was born in Nigeria and my family immigrated to the United States when I was about eight. I’ve always grown up in and around predominantly Black neighbourhoods. Like, when we first moved to the States, we lived in the hood in Detroit, Michigan. Then we moved to Maryland, which was definitely a step up from Detroit. I eventually came out to Toronto in 2008.” On what sparked her love for beauty: “My love for beauty started with my mom, and it’s a double edged sword that goes deep. My mom was really into beauty, and anyone in my family would tell you that, when I was younger, I used to always run around in my mom’s Christian Dior red lipstick. I would sneak into her room and into her makeup kit. She always had fancy stuff that she would get when she travelled, all these different perfumes. Dior’s J’Adore is her favourite scent. She’s just a Dior person. Red lipstick and Dior Beauty is something I just noticed about her my entire
Rocky Barnes on Her New Collaboration with ALDO
June 09, 2020 at 08:53PM Late last month, Canadian footwear giant ALDO unveiled its newest collaboration with global style icon, Rocky Barnes. The collection is comprised of four footwear styles, each of which appear to have been designed for stylish summer sojourns in far-flung locales – but the good news is that each style will work equally as well for your next socially distanced BBQ or walk to the grocery. “When designing this collection, I wanted to not only make amazing shoes, I also wanted them to be comfortable,” Barnes tells us of one of her key drivers during the design process, adding that quarantine has reaffirmed her commitment to comfortable pieces. “I think comfort has always been important and post-quarantine [will be] even more so. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to start dressing up again, but even then comfort will be key.” Barnes worked closely with the team at its Montreal HQ (pre-COVID) to create her “dream summer capsule collection.” As for the jumping off point, Barnes said she “pulled ideas for the collection from styles I find myself wearing over and over again. I then added unique details to each to make them my own – from the silk rope ties to the gold shell details, marbled acrylic square heel and lizard embossing.” Thanks to the collaborative nature of the design process with the ALDO team, Barnes says her vision was brought to life. <div class="sjm-attachment-carousel–header gallery-container–default" data-slick='{"speed":400,"adaptiveHeight":true,"variableWidth":false,"centerMode":true,"centerPadding":"0","slidesToShow":1,"lazyLoad":"ondemand","prevArrow":"Previous”,”nextArrow”:”Next”}’ data-simplemodal=’false’ > 1/13 Capri High Heel Sandal ($80,
This Virtual Drag Show is Raising Funds for Toronto’s LGBTQ Community
June 09, 2020 at 05:50PM Friendly Stranger, a cannabis retailer and culture shop in Toronto, has joined forces with Brock McGillis and Brooke Lynn Hytes to host a virtual drag show to raise funds for the city’s Church Street Village community, home to many LGBTQ2S folk and businesses. Brock McGillis, LGBTQ2IA+ activist and the first openly gay male professional hockey player, and Brooke Lynn Hytes, finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 and judge on Canada’s Drag Race, are set to host the show, which will feature performances from them as well as from 12 of Toronto’s top drag queens. View this post on Instagram Friendly Stranger presents Digital Drag Show Fundraiser hosted by Brooke Lynn Hytes and Brock McGillis and featuring 12 dragalicious performances from some of Canada's most talented Drag Queens! Tuesday June 16th @ 8pm EST We are asking for your support by way of donation of $10 or more to help us reach our goal of $10,000. All proceeds go toward the performers, production costs, and Glad Day Lit Emergency Survival Fund. Your support is greatly appreciated and will help the historic Village community, home to Toronto's LGBTQ2S+ community, survive the economic struggles caused by Covid-19. Head to friendlystranger.com for more details • Link in bio #FriendlyStranger #Pride #pride2020 #torontopride #VillageLoveTO #dragshow #dragqueen A post shared by Friendly Stranger (@the_friendly_stranger) on Jun 7, 2020 at 11:02am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Viewers are recommended to pay $10 or more via GoFundMe to watch the event
Footwear Entrepreneur George Sully is Creating an Index of Black Canadian Designers
June 09, 2020 at 02:51PM Yesterday it was announced that Toronto-based fashion entrepreneur and footwear designer George Sully is developing a digital index of Black Canadian fashion creatives, which he’s hoping to launch later next month. Sully, who is known for his brands Sully Wong—which he co-founded with Henry Wong, and House of Hayla—which he runs with partner Hayla Amini, says he was motivated to create the list because “for far too long the Black community has been marginalized when it comes to fashion and our contribution to it,” he says, adding, “I thought it best to create a platform to take away the excuses rooted in ignorance to justify exclusion.” View this post on Instagram One of our all time favs @elisabethmossofficial on set, looking sweet in her SW Salmon Lows, part of her June flashback look for season 2 of the @handmaidsonhulu #thehandmaidstale #sullywong A post shared by sully wong (@sullywongpremium) on Mar 29, 2018 at 1:04pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Right now designers can submit their names for inclusion in the project at the website Sully has launched, and he says that eventually their presence on the index will be amplified through video content. “I hope visitors, including but not limited to buyers, distributors, retailers, stylists, et cetera, come away with more of a complete picture of what black designers have to offer and how brilliant we truly are,” Sully notes. Sully initially entered the fashion world after being involved in the local music industry. “I was doing rap
14 Fashion Brands Using Recycled Ocean Plastic in Their Pieces
June 08, 2020 at 10:25PM According to Plastic Oceans, more than eight million tons of plastic is dumped into the ocean every year. In honour of #WorldOceansDay, we are highlighting fashion brands that are using recycled ocean plastic throughout their collections. These 14 brands are making an effort to reduce the amount of marine waste by upcycling discarded plastics into new technical fabrics like ECONYL® and SEAQUAL™. Check out 14 fashion brands using recycled ocean plastic in their collections in the gallery below: <div class="sjm-attachment-carousel–header gallery-container–default" data-slick='{"speed":400,"adaptiveHeight":true,"variableWidth":false,"centerMode":true,"centerPadding":"0","slidesToShow":1,"lazyLoad":"ondemand","prevArrow":"Previous”,”nextArrow”:”Next”}’ data-simplemodal=’false’ > 1/14 The Skipper Sneaker ($129, Frank and Oak) The Skipper is made with a SEAQUAL™ nylon upper comprised of recycled marine litter. Buy Now 2/14 The Asymmetrical Top ($89, Londre) 90,000 plastic bottles from beaches in Taiwan have been recycled in the making of Londre’s sustainable swim collection. Buy Now 3/14 W.N.D. Primeblue Jacket ($140, Adidas) Made with at least 75% recycled marine plastic, the Adidas x Parley collection is fighting for cleaner oceans. Buy Now 4/14 Smoke High-Rise Bike Short ($48, Girlfriend) “Because old water bottles and fishing nets look better on you than they do clogging landfills and polluting oceans,” says activewear brand Girlfriend. Its simple styles and focus on sustainability make the brand an editor favourite. Buy Now 5/14 The Tide II ($89, Norton Point) Norton Point turns ocean plastic into stylish sunglass frames and donates 5% of net profit back to research, development and education surrounding marine pollution. Buy Now 6/14 Kia One Piece ($317, Mara Hoffman) Solid
Exclusive: Chanel Unveils Cruise 2021 Collection Virtually for the First Time Ever
June 08, 2020 at 03:03PM Each year in May, some of the world’s most renowned fashion houses host elaborate shows in far-flung destinations to fête the launch of their newest Cruise collections. For Chanel, this year’s locale was going to be Capri – however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the brand decided earlier this year to cancel plans for an in-person show for its Cruise 2021 collection. In a statement at the time, the house said it was “examining alternative ways of presenting its collection in Capri at a later date and in a different format.” Today, that format has been revealed. In a brand first, Chanel has this morning unveiled its new collection to the world via its social media channels and its website. Called Balade en Méditerranée (which means “a trip around the Mediterranean), the show notes explain that the collection was inspired by the allure of “the legendary actresses of the 1960s when they would holiday on the Italian and the French Riviera.” As such, the pieces were designed with transformational ease and cohesiveness in mind – midi skirts can be worn as dresses, whilst chiffon jackets are both beach club-ready (when worn over a bikini) and evening appropriate (when paired with jeans and jewelled accessories). It’s “a wardrobe that can be carried in a little suitcase on wheels, a shopper and an embroidered handbag,” says the brand. <div class="sjm-attachment-carousel–header gallery-container–default" data-slick='{"speed":400,"adaptiveHeight":true,"variableWidth":false,"centerMode":true,"centerPadding":"0","slidesToShow":1,"lazyLoad":"ondemand","prevArrow":"Previous”,”nextArrow”:”Next”}’ data-simplemodal=’false’ > Photograph courtesy of Chanel/Julien Martinez Leclerc Photograph courtesy of Chanel/Julien Martinez Leclerc Photograph courtesy
This Week’s Need-to-Know Beauty News
June 07, 2020 at 01:00PM Sharon Chuter launched a new campaign to encourage beauty brands to share how many Black executives they have on staff View this post on Instagram Dear Brands – Thank you for the public statements of support for the black community. Whereas we understand and appreciate the support, be conscious that to piggy back off a trending hashtag when you have been and continue to be a part of the problem is once again appropriating and exploiting the black community. So we ask all brands who have released a statement of support, to publicly release within the next 72hrs the number of black employees they have in their organisations at corporate level. We also need to know the number of black people you have in leadership roles. You all have statements and policies about being equal opportunity employers, so show us the proof! PULL UP or SHUT UP! #pulluporshutup @pullupforchange A post shared by PULL UP OR SHUT UP! (@pullupforchange) on Jun 2, 2020 at 11:32pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Uoma Beauty founder Sharon Chuter began the #PullUpOrShutUp campaign on social media this week in the wake of #blackouttuesday. After seeing beauty brands across the United States (and further afield) pledge donations to various Black Lives Matter causes, Chuter wanted to hold brands accountable by asking them to publicly announce how many Black executives they employ in their corporate offices. “You can’t say Black lives matter publicly when you don’t show us Black lives matter within your homes
This Week’s Need-to-Know Fashion News
June 06, 2020 at 02:00PM We compiled a list of 51 Black-run fashion businesses in Canada and around the world that you need to know View this post on Instagram staying hydrated or whateva // spent some time styling some archive pieces in preparation for a special collaborative project with @fashionarttoronto + their incredible team. A post shared by L'UOMO STRANO (@luomostrano) on Jan 7, 2020 at 8:17am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Fashion News Director Odessa Paloma Parker compiled a list of 51 black-run fashion businesses to shop from Canada and across the globe. The list includes creative stars that deserve your attention whether you’re in the market for an evening gown or swimsuit – discover your next loungewear set with Cherry Gardens or a love for vintage lingerie at Bum-Cake. Click here to shop these 51 Black-run fashion businesses in Canada and beyond. Meet Stephanie Thomas, an adaptive fashion trailblazer View this post on Instagram It’s a Wrap!! @zapposadaptive another fun shoot! Day 2 Models: @dgstyle @chauntallewis @itslololove #models #disabilities #wheelchairs #inclusive #amputee #fashion #customers #photoshoot A post shared by Stephanie Thomas (@disabilityfashionstylist) on May 3, 2019 at 10:23pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Stephanie Thomas is an advocate and trailblazer for inclusion in fashion. As a stylist, speaker and consultant, she has dedicated her work to making fashion more accessible as a disability stylist. Thomas is the founder of Cur8able, a platform that features content that addresses the fashion needs of people living with disabilities and raises awareness for this underserved market. Thomas,