Yesterday, the social media network feeds were buzzing with the rumour of the possible collaboration between H&M and Paris design house Lanvin.

This morning the news would turn official as inboxes worldwide are buzzing with the official press release from H&M announcing its next designer collaboration will be with Lanvin, one of the most influential brands of the 21st century. Designed by Lanvin’s artistic director Alber Elbaz and menswear designer Lucas Ossendrijver, the collection will go on sale in around 200 H&M stores.

It will be launched November 20th in North America and on November 23rd elsewhere. The collection will provide both womenswear and menswear and is to be revealed to the world on November 2nd, three weeks before the clothes hit the store.

To date the launch of Lanvin for H&M is one of the most anticipated events of the year.

“H&M approached us to collaborate and see if we could translate the dream we created at Lanvin to a wider audience, not just a dress for less. I have said in the past that I would never do a mass-market collection, but what intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public. This has been an exceptional exercise, where two companies at opposite poles can work together because we share the same philosophy of bringing joy and beauty to men and women around the world.” Alber Elbaz, artistic director of Lanvin.

“We are thrilled about Lanvin’s collection for H&M, it is such an exciting moment. Lanvin will bring to H&M a luxurious French tradition that is also modern and playful. It is very much a Lanvin collection, using their cut and tailoring, with sharp focus on shape and details for both women and men. The launch in November is going to be full of wonderful surprises.” Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M.

In 2001, Elbaz joined Lanvin as the artistic director and has since transformed the Paris-based label, founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, into a fashion powerhouse bursting with ideas and creativity. Alber Elbaz has pioneered some of the biggest trends of the past decade – ribbon, bows, pearls, raw edges, sumptuous colour, and metallic embellishment and many others.

Elbaz’s mastery of cut and instinct for cloth leaves a very personal signature on his work, making all Lanvin clothes instantly recognizable. Alber Elbaz has also transformed the male wardrobe, bringing a relaxed elegance to men’s clothing as special as the womenswear.

Lanvin is the latest brand to collaborate with H&M, with previous collections designed by the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garçons, and Sonia Rykiel.

In a new twist, the Lanvin for H&M collection will be revealed to the world through a special film to be released on November 2nd.

The film will be available for everyone to see online at www.hm.com.

Nonie Rahal Kharey and the House of Nonie, still riding the waves of success and through its recent holiday show, the House of Nonie continues to display no sign of stopping. The JR 2010 Holiday collection  pays tribute to Rahal Kharey’s brother Jassy Rahal.

Once again Rahal Kharey brought her love of glamour to the centre stage. Every women present could not doubt the wearability of House of Nonie garments. A personal favorite, black trousers with an over sized side pocket. Accented shoulders capelets and looser silhouettes were seen with a well tailored and timeless trench.

A matching tweed skirt and suit was shown along with other pieces showcasing Rahal Kharey’s versatility with classic shapes results as the perfect match for the modern woman.

Words by Linda Sui Lem
Photos courtesy of Lina Opera

This Tuesday, August 31, 2010 from 11:30AM – 2PM on 7th Street & 6th Ave SW a celebration can be found as the Cirque du Soleil prepare to showcase their new show KOOZA in Calgary.

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil. KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world. It combines two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

The Innocent’s journey brings him into contact with panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Pickpocket, and the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony. KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement.

The Back To School Special

• Click on the banner below to access the special savings for Calgary Fashion readers.
• The Family 4 Pack
  2 adult and 2 child tickets for as little as $128 on select performance dates.
  (Tuesday 8pm through Friday 4pm)
  Available on Price Level 1, 2 and 3 tickets.
• Students get select tickets for $33 Students
  Available on Price Level 2 tickets for $45 (Regular $70) and Level 3 for $33 (Regular Price $55)!
  A savings of almost 40% for Tuesday 8pm thru Friday 4pm shows.

WIN 4 TICKETS TO KOOZA FROM CALGARY FASHION

We are giving away 4 tickets to the PRIVATE screening of Kooza, September 15, 2010.

For a chance to win, either:

• Follow Calgary Fashion on Twitter (@Calgary_Fashion)
  RT the contest giveaway: Win 4 tickets to see Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza from @Calgary_Fashion and Cirque du Soleil.
• Become a fan of Calgary Fashion on Facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/CalgaryFashion)
  Share the Contest Link and tag yourself in the Kooza photo that can be found in the Photo Album titled KOOZA CONTEST – Cirque du Soleil
• ONE winning name will be drawn at random from all entries received no later than 12AM September 12th, 2010.

Are you an outgoing individual enthusiastic and passionate about working in the fashion industry? Do you have a natural flair for promotion, can you spot style from a mile away? Have you always wanted to be a part of the paparazzi at a fashion show?  Now is your chance to make those dreams a reality.

Calgary Fashion has a number of openings for our CALGARY FASHION STREET TEAM division for the Downtown Style Month festivities of September.

We are looking for enthusiastic, hard working individuals who will be required to perform a series of tasks over Lunch Hour shifts (11AM – 1PM) as well as After Work shifts (3PM – 5PM)

For more information please send an e-mail with a photo of yourself and why you think you would be a good fit for the Calgary Fashion Street Team to INFO@CALGARYFASHION.CA

Please make your e-mail subject Downtown Style Month. Positions are filling up fast so please be sure to send us your application in a timely manner and be sure to spread the word and let others know about being a part of our dynamic Street Team.

CF.

If you haven’t been to Shisomiso Boutique and Gallery in Art Central, you definitely have to check it out. For over five years, owners Irene Rasetti and Victoria Lee have filled their stylish boutique and gallery with clothing, accessories and jewellery you’re not likely to find anywhere else in the city.

The shop is filled with creative and handmade jewellery and clothing lines as well as some really cool accessories. Right now Shisomiso Boutique and Gallery are having a two-for-one sale that’s on until the end of August.

Rasetti and Lee are passionate about supporting fresh Canadian talent and are always looking for new artists and designers to feature. All the lines they carry have a vintage crossed with contemporary appeal that makes Shisomiso stand out from so many of its competitors.

On top of all the fashion and accessories, every two weeks Rasetti and Lee feature a different local artist on the walls adding to the intimate and charming atmosphere of the store.

There are many great finds at Shisomiso but here’s a small list of some of my faves:

Stay Gold Pony Boy Jewellery (Montreal)

Not only is this the best name for a jewellery line I’ve ever heard, it’s also a different and fun collection where the necklaces and earrings are all hand drawn on Shrinky Dink (shrinkable plastics) and then baked. The artist is getting a lot of recognition for the amazing illustrations. Prices range from $40 to $80 per piece.

Flight Path Belt Buckles (Vancouver)

Super unique belt buckles designed and made by hand through a specific process where imagery is fused onto leather creating a distinct surface. The detail is amazing. My favourite one is a silhouette of a black crow on a bright red background. Belt buckles are $45 and the leather belts are $40.

Cinder + Smoke Purses (Edmonton)

Funky bags that are made out of recycled leather jackets and vintage fabric linings. They have adjustable straps and are $108 each. Very hip and a good idea.

Bui Accessories Hair Pieces (Calgary)

These elaborate handmade hair pieces ($48 each) are constructed from feathers, Swarovski crystals and pearls. They’re elegant yet edgy. Perfect for a girl who’s not afraid to stand out at a cocktail party.

Other fashionable clothing and jewellery labels you can find at Shisomiso include Gentle Fawn, Wise and Proper, Nude, Eve Gravel, Amber Leigh, Colleen Cyca, Georgina Baker, Chula and Issabella Moda.

If you are looking for something stylish that’s a little bit different and not mass produced, then you must stop by Shisomiso and take a look. Be sure to stop by before August 31 to enjoy the two-for-one special. It’s definitely worth it. Trust me.

Words by Casey Wagar

Photos courtesy of Shisomiso Boutique

If ever there were a job that seemed unattainable, fashion designer would be it. If ever there were a place where it is desperately difficult to find your feet as a young fashion designer, Calgary would be it. Even still, the last few seasons in local fashion have shown just how enthusiastic and motivated our home-grown designers can be. Despite overwhelming odds, our city of oil companies and cowboys now garners considerable praise for its creative gumption.

Now, picture a student, interested in fashion with fingers in every pot. Ashley Quan is a fibre major entering her last year at ACAD. She is also a model working for local artists conglomerate Artists Within, a blogger, a painter, and a fashion designer with ambitions to become a runway coordinator after getting her masters degree.

So how does one find success in an industry so fickle with so much responsibility? “You have to have the right connections” Quan admits. However, the most valuable connections aren’t necessarily those with the deepest pockets or the widest social network.

Besides her regular, packed schedule, Quan still manages to reflect on the importance of exploring and honouring your heritage, a realization which led her to the creation of Setsugetsuka, a night of fashion and dance taking place on August 26. As a frequent volunteer for events like PARKSHOW and artaWEARness***, Quan has relied on the tight-knit artist community in Calgary for help in putting her first fashion show together.

“Being in the arts student community, I always seem to find people willing to help out.” states Quan. Demonstrating the willingness of our community to nurture art and creativity, the night will also feature a dance performance by local crew Grim Reminder, as well as performances by five other local dancers.

Taking place in the Engineered Air Theatre at the Epcor Centre, the show will pay homage to her Asian heritage, showcasing a textile project that has been two years in the making. Quan specializes in printing silks, and the show will feature silks and silk jackets hand dyed using traditional techniques, showing images inspired by the works of Katsushika Hokusai.

Hokusai was an incredibly talented Japanese painter who successfully portrayed ideas such as movement and atmosphere in the solid and motionless medium of wood.  In addition to the theme of movement celebrated in fashion and dance, the silk jackets Quan will be debuting have been painted to show potentially grotesque Chinese traditions such as foot binding. Through the stylistic beauty of silk dying and painting, the unpropitious themes are seen in a different light.

Quan is excited and looking forward to her debut,  or what she calls, her coming out party. she admits that at times, she has found herself frustrated and discouraged. We can all take heart in the fact that hard work does in fact pay off, and Quan’s upcoming fashion show is a testament to that fact.

She leaves the piece of advice for aspiring designers and fashion lovers of all sorts. “Don’t limit yourself, go as big as you want, and use networking.” Undeniably, it is the spirit of cooperation and generosity that sets Calgary’s fashion community apart, and makes it a wonderful place to grow.

For more information on Setsugetsuka, visit the Facebook Event Page or Visit Ashley Quan’s Blog

Words By Adriana Sveen

Photos By Benjamin Hayden

Walking into Aveda Institute, your surroundings give you a sense of artistry. The floors are polished concrete, softly lit umbrellas line the wall giving the impression of a studio atmosphere. If Aveda were an art gallery, it would be known for its simplicity and its forward thinking attitude. Hair styling requires creativity, passion and artistic flair, so it’s not surprising that a place bursting with so much aesthetic talent would draw parallels to a gallery.

On the bustling strip of Stephen Avenue, Aveda made the transition from Aveda Academy to the Aveda Institute last fall, a change that allowed them to welcome budding hair styling students into a provincially accredited 12 month program.

The main floor serves as the salon, where guests have the chance to have their hair cut, styled, dyed and pampered by “educators” and supervised student staff members. Just below, students spend much of their program in hands on study, benefiting from the instruction of seasoned Aveda educators.

Now, like anybody, the horror stories of a wide-eyed girl or guy looking for a deal, innocent and undeterred by the student stylist’s lack of experience, who leave the salon with, well, a really bad haircut run rampant. As I talk to Aveda Institute educator Leland, he describes the great lengths students must go through in order to become certified hairstylists, and the preventative measures in place to prevent guests from leaving the institute feeling dissatisfied or displeased.

Aveda’s hands on education process fosters an environment of learning catering to an individual student’s learning type, while helping them through every step of the cutting and styling process.

Aveda Benefit One

Guests can opt for a more cost friendly cut if they select a student stylist during the booking process. Though the idea of a student handling your precious hair may sound frightening, every student cut is thoroughly supervised by experienced certified stylists. On the flip side, guests can choose junior or academy level educators for their session, benefiting from the ongoing hands on involvement educators have, keeping their minds and their sheers sharp.

Aveda Benefit Two

Perhaps one of the most relaxing hair treatments I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying, Aveda offers a soothing Botanical Hair and Scalp Therapy. Stylists assess your hair and scalp needs, selecting botanical oils to fight a variety of problems including dry or oily scalp or hair. From there, you may find yourself drifting off into a world of relaxation as your stylist massages the oil into your hair and scalp, then activates the oil with heat, deep treating your scalp and hair while giving you a sense of well-being.

Aveda Benefit Three

Guests can enjoy spa grade hair treatments, repairing “between-cut” damage while putting them in state of deep relaxation.

Famous for its extensive line of certified organic hair products, all packed in 80 to 96 % post consumer recycled packaging. For those of us who aren’t familiar with recycling lingo, basically Aveda helps keep over 300,000 pounds of plastic out of landfills. All Aveda products are made entirely of natural ingredients sourced from suppliers around the world, who they partner with directly to assist in converting their farms to organic standards.

The aim is to reduce waste and protect the world’s water and earth from harmful pesticides and chemicals. Aveda’s earth friendly attitude goes beyond its green products. Every April, the company participates in Earth Month campaigns in twenty-four countries, donating 100% of their proceeds since 2006. The funds go to projects in fifteen countries to help provide clean water to developing communities.

Aveda Benefit Four

Guests can purchase guilt free products that not only help protect our planet from further eco-damage, but the twelve natural ingredients used in Aveda’s products create a distinct and pleasant aroma many people comment on. On top of your own personal part in saving the planet, you can feel good knowing you support a company so heavily invested in protecting and sharing our planet’s clean water supply.

As an Aveda guest you are treated to a plethora of sensory experiences, including complimentary Comforting Tea, an optional Aroma Sensory Journey, a soothing shoulder or hand massage and make-up touch ups when your styling is complete.

The institute offers many benefits above and beyond the “good cut”. Not only can you expect a thorough hair-styling experience, but you can leave laden with hair products feeling like a humanitarian, protecting the planet one shampoo bottle at a time. Finally, you may find yourself becoming an Aveda addict knowing that an international award winning company still prides itself in creating a unique, customer focused experience that will leave you feeling fulfilled and fabulous.

For more information on Aveda Institute Calgary or its products, programs and services visit: http://www.aveda-institutecalgary.com

MARKET COLLECTIVE is an independent market, created to showcase the works of local artists, artisans and musicians and to strengthen the local community in Calgary.
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Market Collective is setting up another photo booth!

Come by to get your photo taken free! The theme will be OUTER SPACE. Photos will be taken by Julien Fornier!
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MC HOURS:

Saturday 10-6
Sunday 11-5

DJ’s outside all day!
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Admission is 2 dollars, or a food bank donation (also now accepting Calgary Dollars).
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ARTISTS

Maddi Matthews

Chad Willsie

Brianna Strong

Comrad Sound Table

Hadija Gabunga

Jolanta Fashions

Liz Durden

Gladys Rojas

Nic Riess

Sylvia

Vicky Moody

Jenny Chan

Jonathan Dueck

Shaun Stander

Brook Fung

Ryan Willert

Natasha Paterson

Sean Sader
http://seansader.com/

Matthew Mark

Amy Wakefield

Mark Kowalchuk

John Maguss

Anthony William

Sarah Slaughter

Tara Put

Andrea Strand

Filling Station
http://fillingstation.ca/

Jeri-Lee Lomond

Marny Jizelle

Caroline Tremblay

Knittles

Alysia Hudema

Lyndsay Houghton

Sara G

Jessica Baker

Madison Taylor

Lina Oprea

Cory Zaradur
http://coryzaradur.com/

Aisa Chin

Blanche Hill

Aviv Fried

Andrea Kelly

Courtney Townsend

Mariella Villalobos

Jennifer Dooley

Karly Thompson

Hannah Patrick-Fox
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GALLERIES/INSTALLATIONS:

Light & Soul Creations
http://lightandsoulcreations.com/

Telus World of Science
http://www.calgaryscience.ca/

Straw Books
http://thestraw.ca/

Go Figure
http://gofiguregroup.blogspot.com/

Jeff Faye
http://jefffaye.com/

Chelsea Pratchett – Political Trivia Contest
http://MyVoiceCalgary.ca/
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MUSICIAN LINE UP!

Saturday

11am Denis Lebel
12pm Prairie of Prax (http://prairieofprax.com/)
1pm Reuben Bullock (http://myspace.com/reubenbullock)
2pm Lorrie Matheson (http://www.lorriematheson.com/)
3pm Savk (http://myspace.com/savksongs)
4pm Katelyn Steinwand (http://www.myspace.com/katelynsteinwand)
5pm Ian logan kilburn

Sunday

11am Distance (aaron) Bullock
12pm Type Monkey Type (http://www.myspace.com/typemonkeytype)
1pm Here On The Sun (http://myspace.com/hereonthesun)
2pm Chris Gheran (http://www.chrisgheran.com/)
3pm Honeybear (http://myspace.com/honeybearmusic)
4pm Heart Failure Research Unit (http://www.myspace.com/metalandrust)