Hard to decide if the crispy white pieces from Loup Charmant’s collection would be better tie dyed, finger painted, or carefully framed and displayed on the wall. I would say the price tags on these Indian Organic Cotton garments probably makes the latter most appropriate, although the other two options would certainly be fun.
website: http://loupcharmant.com/
scout & catalogue.
toronto based makers of a collection of beautiful things inspired by Mexico’s bohemian beach culture.
“We strive to make pieces that remind you of afternoons at secret beaches, sun kissed skin, and all day siestas.”
I love that. I love the textiles, I love their aesthetic, I love the pickles. I love that their salvage collection (including the navajo tote pictured above) is made from thrifted fabrics, because it’s: “Just a little high-five for the environment by not using new materials and adding to landfill waste.”
website: scoutandcatalogue.com
etsy shop: scoutandcatalogue.etsy.com
I was so excited to receive an email from my friend Lillian last week, letting me know she’d recently opened and online shop.
The clothes are simple and sweet, and mostly made from re-purposed fabrics. I love that her photos are as fun and creative as the clothing.
Sabrina Tach, a Uruguayan designer and craftswoman, gives you a reason to feel good about buying leather again. Her beautiful purses with simple, bohemian designs are made using high quality leather from free-range animals, all bi-products of the meat industry and sourced only from tanneries with strict environmental policies.
Well constructed and limited edition, they start at around $100, which I think is almost too reasonable when you compare to what some of the mass produced and less ethically sourced leather goods usually retail for.
Oh, and we’ve chatted a bit online here and there, and she happens to be incredibly sweet. And she has an Etsy shop. And pretty amazing hair.
For Canada Day, I thought I’d post some things I’m liking lately that have come forth from a few great minds of this great land.
The simple and very wearable unisex pieces by this Toronto based collective are made using natural and sustainable fibers wherever possible. They are also the kind of items you put on and then don’t take off. For a week or two.
I fell in love with the idea of this book after meeting to the author & illustrator Julie Flett, but had to buy a copy from her after flipping through the stunning pages. The text is a collection of words in Michif, the language of the Metis people, a combination of Cree and French. Since it is a language that is predicted to disappear within a generation or so, Julie’s book is not only beautiful, but a way to preserve a piece of her heritage as a member of the Metis Nation. She did a lovely job of selecting words that convey a tradition and lifestyle, yet somehow managed to create fresh looking mixed media images that fit so well.
I think its neat that you can recognize French in many of the words. For example, La Pwii, or la pluie are the Michif and French words for rain.
I also like that the last line of the author’s bio, at the back of the book, reads: ” She enjoys weekly blueberry crepes (lii krep di belwe) and making pies (lii tart).”
Norwegian Wood
Angie Johnson is based out of Montreal, and designs harnesses, fringe accessories and clothing in very bold shapes and colors using a combination of new and vintage materials and, in her words, “other bits that I dig up in strange little stores throughout the mysterious city of Montreal”. Her stuff is incredibly unique, and very much her own. Her Spring 2010 collection is full of bright, West African prints that would provide a little sunshine to anyone who is wondering when summer was planning on showing up (right, Vancouverites?). I also really like the tribal yet retro feel of these three items from her Fall collection.
