Fashion

Hi! I’m Chantal. Thanks for visiting. For over a decade I’ve worked in the fashion and beauty industries in a variety of ways - as a fashion editor, wardrobe stylist, and product developer. Motivated by the glaring absence and misrepresentation of everyday products for women of colour, I developed the brand Love & Nudes with love for my melanin sisters. My team and I have developed a collection of modern intimates to compliment every woman's uniqueness - her skin tone! I want women of colour to explore and wear fashion anyway we choose to. Whether we want our undergarments to be discreet under sheer, lace and white clothing, or if we want to rock it out as an accessory to an outfit, the choice should be ours! The brand, however, is not simply about underwear, but rather a means to create a global community designed to connect and share one another's individuality. We also work with conscious women in Colombia who are also all about empowering their communities by providing fair wages and working with factories that employ single mothers, giving them a chance to support their families in just working conditions. It is with great excitement I bring you this brand Love & Nudes to celebrate diversity, women of colour and what makes them beautiful. I look forward to collaborating with influencers in the fashion, beauty and education industries to share stories, tips, and inspiration.

Petits Genoux / puh-tee . jUH-nu was created for the littlest ones in our lives. Minimalist, gender-neutral baby clothing for all of your baby's 'firsts'. We are mindful of sourcing the most natural materials for all of our pieces so that parents can shop with ease. Our sizes range from 0 - 24 months. We use a variety of sustainable, Oeko-tek certified fabrics. Petits Genoux... for your baby's 'firsts'.

POVRICH c/o AHNIEL LEE is a street wear label using the body as a canvas to display art through streetwear. "A piece of art worn on the body of a walking canvas" Specialty garments offered tell a story of exclusivity with the intent in mind of being inspired in the spur of the moment to create a garment or art piece with limited raw materials. All products are based on a concept that adapts from season to season. Manufacturing is based in Toronto with the core value of the brand in mind to reflect quality, fit and inventive thinking. The result is to be a canvas, painted with current times displaying art on the body through streetwear.

Inspired by the Modern Woman. Precious Threads by Abiola is an award winning (2017 and 2018 African Fashion Industry Awards) brand that stands for modernity, luxury, femininity, integrity and quality. Each garment is designed with a woman's silhouette in mind and is crafted with materials hand picked by the Head Designer who pays particular attention to quality, pattern and vibrancy of colours. The collections exude a fashion forward vision. Each piece allows one's personal style and confidence to shine through. The garments speak for themselves but not for the wearer. When the Precious Threads woman enters a room, she commands attention and is noticed. The Vision. The Head Designer and Creative Director of Precious Threads by Abiola, Abiola Akinsiku has a deep passion and love for children, young girls and women that are escaping abusive situations. She has first hand knowledge and experience (as a two time domestic violence survivor) of the challenging and debilitating pain that comes with being in such circumstances and knows that it is vitally important to support the growth and development of children, young girls and women in order for them to feel safe in reaching their potential. It is in this light that Precious Threads by Abiola aims to employ women in their area of passion and skills. Women with a heart for and skills in the arts, public relations, photography, sewing, drafting, pattern making, website development and maintenance, accounting as well as in an array of other areas. Precious Threads by Abiola aims to not simply provide an income with which the women can survive, but rather an income with which they and their families can thrive.

RE ONA is a women's ready to wear label offering transitional, functional and clean designs. We believe clothing should be effortless, minimal and comfortable. We wanted to create quality-made garments using soft fabrics that can easily transition from morning to night, that transcends from season to season. Our design process encompasses minimal silhouettes ensuring comfort and quality at the forefront. We keep in mind how our clothing will make you feel and believe when you feel good with what you are wearing, you ultimately feel confident inside and out. OUR PROCESS + FABRICS. RE ONA pieces are designed in Toronto, Canada, and ethically made in Bangladesh and China. We consciously produce in small batches to avoid over mass-production and to eliminate waste. Our core collection is a luxurious blend of viscose and spandex, which is super soft, stretchy, and feels comfortable on the body. This collection is knitted by a sewing machine using a unique double-layered process, resulting in a supportive, compression-like, and seamless finish. We stand behind our garments and want your clothing to last.

Rhowan James, a Toronto native-born to Jamaican parents who immigrated to Canada, showed him the meaning of hard work and how to never give up on his dreams. At a young age, he developed a passion for fashion and a desire to customize and accessorize clothing, to fit his own taste. Rhowan grew up watching his father getting ready for church every Sunday morning. Intrigued by his father’s sense of style, it taught him how to take pride in his own personal appearance when presenting himself to the world. Without any formal training in fashion, he knew that teaching himself this artistic craft would be a challenge. However, with sheer determination, pure passion, and drive, he learned everything about the process of designing clothes by reverse engineering them. He taught himself how to design, construct, cut and sew his own patterns and fabrics. He started creating his own designs that reflected his own personal interests, as inspired by various trips taken abroad, he soon envisioned what he wanted in a menswear brand. In 2017, he knew that it was time to launch his self-entitled menswear brand, Rhowan James. His endeavour is to give a fresh point of view for menswear. His goal is to become a leading international fashion brand. In 2018 Rhowan was nominated for Toronto Men’s Fashion Week (*TOM) Emerging Menswear Designer Award. Showing his first black and gold collection with 10 looks, he won the award and was the last winner of this award in *TOM history.

Rosemarie Sutherland is Canadian made. The brand Rosemarie Sutherland is Canadian based company, that is manufactured in Brampton Ontario, the fabrics and notions are all made in North America, The fabrics are hand picked yearly to ensure style and superior quality 100% preshrunk cotton designer prints. After construction each piece is hand checked, for quality and durability.

Inspired by some of the world's most recognized fitness brands, Saint Lyon aims to disrupt the fitness apparel industry by creating quality, affordable products you will want to wear. From conception in our Montreal & Ottawa studios to your wardrobe, each product goes through a series of detailed steps including feedback-driven design and stress testing. The outcome is a fit that is crafted for performance, comfort and confidence - in and out of the gym. Our Story. Hello and welcome to Saint Lyon. My name is Abby, the co-founder of Saint Lyon. As someone who has always been passionate about the fitness space and apparel, I've always been big about style and performance of apparel without jeopardizing comfort or breaking the bank. This led me on the journey to start Saint Lyon - to not only offer the best possible clothes, but to foster an environment for women to feel confident in their bodies and feel encouraged. Our Mission. Here at Saint Lyon, we aim to break the paradigm of having to break the bank for comfort and style with fitness apparel and to foster an environment for women to feel confident in their bodies and encourage each other. Our Core Values. Confidence: We want our products to exude the inner confidence in everyone who dons them - regardless of body shape, ethnicity or size. Performance: The fabrics, design and engineering of our clothes allows you to be give off your very best in your workouts and stay comfortable in and out of the gym. Community: Our community is the core of who we are. We are a family of like-minded individuals who uplift and support each other.

Designer and founder of SELFISH swimwear, Naomie Caron, always thought there was a better way of doing fashion. Repulsed by the fast fashion industry, profiting from the exploitation of the environment and workforce, Naomie knew that she needed to be part of the solution. Torn between the overconsumption of the fashion industry and the vocation for social justice, she decided to keep that passion close to her heart by making things differently. Sustainability is one of the primary concerns of the brand; “it needs to last a minimum of 5 years”. So firstly, by producing high-quality swimwear using nylon imported from Italy, lining every model, and guaranteeing the stitches for a year, the products will certainly pass the test of time. Further, Naomie offers a repair service which extends beyond the first-year warranty, so you can continue to wear your favourite bathing suit for many years to come. Secondly, SELFISH swimwear has used recycled fibres fabric, since the introduction of the brand. Recycled fibres fabric reduces the impact on the environment, and it sources the composition of the nylon through existing products like rubber commercial carpets, fish nets and many more objects. Thirdly, It is also essential for Naomie to keep the production process local, to ensure the quality and the rights of workers. Currently, still in its start-up phase, Naomie must undertake most of the tasks in the enterprise but still hires local seamstresses and subcontractors when needed. Graduated in 2011 from Montreal’s leading fashion school, Naomie designs and makes all patterns and sews all collections. However, before the ethical shaping of the company and products, Naomie has one ultimate goal, "To change women’s perceptions of their self-image. Women have been ashamed of their bodies for way too long and searching for a bathing suit has been a painful experience for many of them". This is just one of the reasons why she creates swimwear that flatters women’s curves, of every age, by giving more fabric where it is needed. It is sexier to leave a little to the imagination! Beauty comes from your inner confidence and not the amount of skin you show. SELFISH swimwear is only here to dress that confidence with elegant and comfortable styles.

Shernett Swaby is a Fashion Artist who was born in Jamaica, grew up in Canada and is now based in Chicago. She started sewing at age eight, making clothing for her dolls and mending her own. She learned to sew by watching her mother who was a local seamstress. Since then she has been professionally perfecting her craft. Her mission is to use a detailed oriented collection to promote and celebrate individualism in the fashion industry. Swaby’s work is edgy with a wearable artistic flair. Her work has been featured in local and international magazines and she was a top 5 finalist on PROJECT RUNWAY, the television series. Shernett’s Chicago boutique opened in 2009 and it continues to cater to fashion forward customers who are open to pushing the creative limits of their individual style. By booking an appointment at the Swaby showroom you have automatically bought into free alterations for the life of each garment you purchase. This shopping experience is unparalleled to any other, because not only is it an efficient way to shop, it’s also cost effective and environmentally friendly. This way of shopping keeps you enjoying your favorite pieces for as long as you would like, because with Swaby’s free alteration policy you can change your pants into a skirt, replace the lining of any garment, shorten or lengthen, or resize a garment to change with your body over time. This style of shopping also allows you to update older pieces that you would normally discard. Swaby will help you to give them a new fresh look to go with any style you are trying to portray and emulate. All the garments and accessories that are sold at the Swaby showroom are designed and manufactured on the premises which allows for a very fast turn around time. Shernett’s vertical business operation allows her to offer her customers complete authenticity and ensures that all their unique wardrobe needs are being met in a timely manner. The most amazing thing about a shopping experience with Shernett is her extensive tailoring abilities, you are guaranteed to leave your appointment feeling well fitted and looking fabulous no matter what body type you are. The Swaby showroom is a place of endless possibilities when it comes to packaging fit with style and individuality. Shernett has created a new shopping experience for the modern woman.