Visiting vancouver is like walking down a giant historial timeline, and retracing every little moment that had me feeling high - high on work, high on food, and high on life. It was nice to be back. I got to see some familiar faces, visit my favourite cafes, and judge for a fashion show. As much as I love Vancouver, I knew it wasn’t time for me to move back. I’m working on a little project here in Edmonton, so patience is definitely what I need right now. Wish me luck!
Photos from my iPhone
2 minute remarks, 200+ guests.. I still can’t believe I did it without choking. Last week I flew into New York City for a few days to meet with some inspiring individuals who put together an amazing 3-day itinerary for me. A welcoming dinner, midnight drinks and conversation, as well as the CVSC awarding event had me leaving the city heavy-hearted. Here’s some iPhone photos I took during the event — just waiting on some better shots from a few people which I will post later on. Anyway, thanks to Sandra, Claude, Victoria, and Lesley for showing me around the city, as well as the entire AI team for hosting the event. Had such a great time!
Photos by yours truly.
I remember my very first Concepts & Trends class during fashion school. We were asked to put together a short-term and long-term goal board - I got sick of messy glue sticks and boring mood boards, so I made a short video! The entire video consisted of photos of New York, design-related photos, and even had Alicia Keys’ song ‘Empire State of Mind’ playing in the background (ha-ha). I was IN love with the city and I promised myself that in two years, I’d be wandering around NYC, doing what I love.
2 years later, I got the opportunity to intern with the talented Victoria Bartlett at VPL studios prior to NYFW, and wow, my heart felt funny the entire time (a good funny). Everything from sketching flats and cutting fabric, to model-casting and showroom preparation - it all excites me. VPL Studio, Soho
Assistant Designer Luise, Myself, & Seena (design intern @VPL)
I also worked with designer Wade Jensen and his intern Heather from San Francisco at his studio in Brooklyn. Specializing in knitwear, Jensen’s signature knit-wrapped necklaces and cuffs and Moire Conroy’s jewelry line combined with their expertise in textile and fine arts background helped establish Jensen-Conroy in spring 2009.
Jensen-Conroy jewelry has been featured in NT Times T Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Vogue Japan, Style.com, Interview Magazine, Lucky, Nylon, D MAG (Argentina) and was even worn on TV’s Gossip Girl… which still kills me today. I was very fortunate to work along-side Wade while he worked on the final knit-wear looks for Victoria Bartlett!
Manhattan’s Garment district was also ahhhmazing. I visited countless manufacturers, factories, fabric stores, sample rooms, etc. etc. etc. (I think I lost 10 pounds running errands!! But I loved every minute of it).
The highlight of my trip was attending NYFW for the first time. I learnt SO much from just helping out backstage at VPL’s FW’12 show. More backstage photos here.
Celebrating VPL’s F/W12’ show. VPL studios, Soho
After all the fashion week craze, I finally got to cross out my “MUST VISIT” list: The Metropolitan Museum, Central Park, Times Square (Theatre District), Art Gallery District, Meatpacking District, & all my favourite retail stores and cafes!
Pink & Red - the Empire State on Valentine’s Day ;)
Alone in NYC - sounds kind of lonely, but believe me.. it was far from that. :) Thanks to Victoria Bartlett and the entire design team, the Humane Society of the United States, the Art Institutes, Hotel Azure & the Latham Hotel for a comfortable stay, and of course my loving family & friends who supported me the entire time. Thank you, thank you, thank you. New York City, I’ll see you in May!
Rainy New York, 1hr sleep, Pier 59 Studios, 44 looks, & stylish people EVERYWHERE - What better way to spend my first time in New York City than to assist VPL’s design team prior to her show, and attend NYFW for F/W12’! (Thank you Luise, Hanna, and of course Victoria Bartlett for having me). Unfortunately, I forgot my dslr at the hotel I was staying at so these photos are coming straight from my iPhone! Hopefully they’re not too too blurry.
PS-Stay tuned for my full New York trip post! :)
First day strolling downtown, Fall of 2009
Interning with Alexandra from Searching for Style — a huge inspiration & still my #1 go-to person for fashion. July 2010-2011
Meeting stylist Leila Bani and Rebecca Tay - Gorgeous photo with Alexandra, BoF/SFS Event @ Opus Hotel, August 2010
Almost fainted before this photo, Imran Amed founder & editor of the Business of Fashion, BoF/SFS Event @ Opus Hotel, August 2010
Creative Sketch, Vancouver Magazine, May 2010
My very first runway show thanks to Frederick Fung, a local designer who told me my sewing was shit. Definitely helped me excel at sewing within a couple months! TASS 2010
Assisting stylist Leila Bani for Nuvo Magazine’s Fall/Winter 2010 Campaign, Oct 16, 2010
Was asked to take apart and sew back a $2,700 D&G lace dress.. my heart-rate peaked x783923748923617.. Zink Magazine, October 2010
My very first photo shoot on my own. It was exciting and I learnt A LOT… but the shots were horrible (ha-ha), October 2010
1 Year @ Aritzia - Thanks to Brian Hill for opening a water bottle for me during boxing day (ha-ha), Aritzia’s Spring/Summer 2011 Show, October 2010
THE best manager I’ve ever worked with, Ann Nguyen & I, Aritzia GM
Converse, converse, converse — thank you Alex! Enjoyed conversations with Solo Lisa, I’m the It Girl, and the Anthology, Converse Holiday 2010
Southgate Mall’s shoot with Leila Bani @ Bloedel Floral Conservatory, February 2011
Shoes, shoes, shoes - @ Bloedel Floral Conservatory, February 2011
Fashion Class Writer for VO, Obakki A/W 2011 Show, St. Andrew’s Wesley Church, April 2011
Style Salons @ the Shangri-La, Searching For Style, May 2011
Style Salons: The panel, Alexandra Suhner Isenberg from SFS, Antonia Iamartino from Lululemon, Dace Moore from DACE, Ryan Wilms from Inventory, and Stephen Bailey from Fluevog — Thank you Alex for another amazing event!
After 2 years.. Portfolio Show, Art Institute of Vancouver, Fall 2011
Big thanks to Sandra, FDM teacher at the Art Institute, who pushed me to design and sew a coat in less than 2 weeks. By the end of it, I was a mess (ha-ha).
Rosemary from TalentCo. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Congrats to my quarter girls from FDM! Wishing you all the best! <3
Gorgeous on the runway, and on print. My final walk with Rosemary.
2012 is going to be good, real good. :)
Pcredits: Blackberry Shots, They Rep, Searching for Style, Obakki, Vancouver Sun
1 week design studios Toronto, ON, One King West Hotel, 7:00AM wake-up call, 8-hour studio classes, industry speakers, working with 80+ year old sewing machines, Designers Farley Chatto, Izzy Camilleri, Art Gallery of Ontario, The Bata Shoe Museum, Sade & John Legend (Thanks B), Rooftop workouts, Shopping (4 levels in H&M!!), Food Food Food (Asparagus wrapped in baked salmon.. GENIUS).
5 Days. Random Street Friends. Gorgeous St. Paul Hotel. Steve Zuckerman Cartwheels. Showrooms. Shopping. Eaton’s Montreal. Overflowing Taxi Receipts. Merlot. Bubble Baths. Styled Models. NAFFEM 2011 Runway. Re-Invented Design. Ming Ling. Jean Crisan. Countless Buyers. Feast @ AYCE Sushi. La Salle College. St. Paul Dinner. NAFFEM After Party @ St.Paul Hotel. Broken Glasses. Mini-bar Invasion. Hotel Charges. NAFA Booths. Hurting Heels. Brit&Chips. La Spa. Oil on Silk. Art of Luxe 2011. Paint on Models. Belle Fare. Blah Blah Blah.
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