The life of a mover and shaker fashionista is one that a vast majority of the female population envies. Much credit goes to media phenomena such as The Hills and America’s Next Top Model, for glamorizing the increasingly competitive and nitty-gritty world of fashion. Meet Miss Ashley Rowe – someone who has managed to snag internships at FLARE and FASHION Magazine, as well as a role at Holt Renfrew as a Style Assistant, and has been living a fashionable life for four years. Jealous yet? There’s still more.

No one brings it like the French do - noujica noujica is a shining example of up and coming innovation and style, with their take on fashion and accessories. I encountered this charismatic pair (Catherine and Jinny) at The Clothing Show early May, and was smitten with their image-rich and stunning lookbook showcasing their items. With creations such as hand-blown glass jewelry, original screen-printed neck wraps (adorned with buttons and sophisticated design), noujica noujica mixes the craft with character. Check out the Q&A with these designers after the jump.

As an emerging force in the Toronto fashion industry, Adrienne Butikofer has proven herself a designer to watch for. With ‘TFI New Label’s Competition Finalist’ and ‘NOW Magazine Designer Grand Prize Winner’ titles under her belt, her sense of fashion design is tremendously original and fine in styling. With focus on vintage-gone-modern and blending menswear into her feminine clothing line, Butikofer is a highly wearable and lively brand to embrace. Check out the Q&A after the jump.

Japan has always been a major player in fashion ever since the trio of Yohji Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo, and Issey Miyake made tidal waves with their avant-garde aesthetic in the 80’s. The big 3 broke conventional norms and introduced a new type of creativity that put Japan on the fashion map. In the early 2000’s we saw the uprising of Undercover and Number (N)ine, two street wear oriented labels who have cultivated a unique presence on the runway. Now, most recently, two menswear labels will soon join …

The bag shelves in every major bag, shoe, and hip retailer out there these days are carrying this brand. While it isn’t created by matt&nat (wouldn’t it be lovely if there was some story behind it about how two art students came across each other frolicking in a courtyard…), visionary Inder Bedi from Montreal brings a unique collection of bags on a very specific premise.
“Products are entirely cruelty-free, giving back to the community, and spreading the positivity to as many possible”
Source: “Little Burgandy Spring/Summer Collection Magazine”
What does this mean for …

Wow… I never thought I’d see this day. Rei Kawakubo of Comme Des Garcons (CDG) fame will be turning over to the mainstream come next November when she releases a menswear and womenswear collection for H&M. CDG has always been known for its avant garde roots and its uncompromising dedication to quality and design. I’ve always put CDG and Kawakubo on a pedestal for not putting business first and cutting corners so I was quite surprised when I heard about this collaboration.
“I have always been interested in the balance between …

Ever since Uniqlo opened up retail outlets in New York, I’ve desperately wanted the mainstream Japanese chain to come to Canada. Unlike H&M however, I find Uniqlo’s range of clothing to be better made and of higher quality. For example, Uniqlo’s infamous S-00X series jean is made with premium selvedge denim – a type of material known for its tighter weave and historical roots. Although Uniqlo’s offerings may not be as funky and runway driven as H&M’s is, they do offer some really neat items and also tend …

Gorgeous clothing for a cause - does it get any better when fashion aims to better the world? If you answered yes, get off right now (cheese).
Designer Laundry is one of the most unique concepts that I’ve come across since starting this blog. I love the concept of
Online boutique DesignerLaundry.com is like a having a 24/7 sample sale at your fingertips. We add new items to their site everyday from cool designers like Catherine Malandrino, Dolce & Gabbana, Marni and Prada. The majority of our merchandise is made up of …

It seems these days great things come in smaller sizes and more compact packages. Through swapping business cards, I received a couple of these teenytiny contact cards (they’re less than half the size of a standard one). I glimpsed moo.com through the Facebook application. The premise of the printing company is to produce high quality, adorable hardstock cards with high customization capabilities and low cost. They even come with leather mini-carrying cases, leading to an even larger gush factor. The only downside is that they remind me of litmus …

Mathieu Missiaen epitomizes urban art, and doodling talent in his brand NDEUR. First gaining international recognition out of Toronto, the Parisian originally teamed up with THE RAGE in Kensington Market (blogged about earlier) to create something genuine and new with his keen artistic eye. His creations include intricate street-style drawings on vintage women’s heels, sneakers, and virtually any flat surface. Rather than read the buzzwords that I’m throwing around, hear and see from himself after the jump.