Sneak Peek!

My mind has been wandering and I have been so busy lately. Here’s a sneak peek at what I have been up to. My COVEN by Sonia Kang line also got published in the March Issue of Ellements Magazine. But, I have been way too busy to make any posts on it. I also now intern at Jenny Bird. :)

Preview at Quaintrella Spring-Summer 2012

In other news. I have had two new products bought off my head recently. :) They are what I call half-circlets. They also make great hijab clips which is funny because most of my sales have been from Muslim girls lately. They are a new product that I am still testing that vaguely look Elven. There are also a few more pieces that will be hitting boutiques very soon that I have posted pictures of in this post. Thoughts? I’m taking the non-bridal stuff to a different direction at the moment. It looks a lot more modern Bohemian.

COVEN by Sonia Kang

My focus for the time being will be developing my re-branded line, COVEN by Sonia Kang. 

Follow my new brand here: COVEN by Sonia Kang and COVEN by Sonia Kang FB Page

Aside from catching up on University work after being sick with the flu for so long. I will not give up Quaintrella - I’m currently waiting for the seasons to turn into Spring so I can set up an appointment with a prominent stockist (a museum) for my gorgeous Quaintrella goodies. I will be moving into a more bridal direction later on in the year and have tonnnnnssss of new product I haven’t posted about. I will do that in the coming weeks. 

Currently, I will be stocking in by stockist boutiques more so then my Etsy. We’ll see what happens. I have let my creative passions flow both ways but I have always wanted to pursue a high-end market. This will be my chance to see just how strong I can be in proving I can take a cutthroat market and challenge the way I do things. The price points are higher and my business plan is almost done. :)

Wish me luck, guys!

Little Devil Outfit Shot and new COVEN by Sonia Kang Updates!

Outfit: COVEN by Sonia Kang Braided Leather Hairband, XXI asymmetrical collar lace blazer, H&M tanktop, Danier leather studded belt, Le Chateau Short Velvet Pencil Skirt, H&M leg warmers, Aldo wedges, and COVEN by Sonia Kang bird skull clutch.

It is quite rare I ever consistently do outfit shots and this does sadden me a bit. But, it is a New Year’s Resolution of mine to try to take more outfit shots! I had actually just dyed my hair my synthetic red. I actually bought out the stock of this red at Pacific Mall when Palty (Japanese hair dye company) announced they were discontinuing it. So, that is the last of my synthetic red shade until I get another Japanese brand or find more of this color. So sad.

This outfit was for the first day opening of Underworld Awakening. I love nothing more then seeing women in catsuits in movies. Kate Beckinsale in PVC is no exception. I loved the movie and am so happy Michael and Selene have a child together. I hate how so many stereotypical fantasy-horror movie genres make vampires dead soulless sterile beings. Life would be so much more beautiful if they could have children with each other (or so the sappy romantic in me would like to think). Then again, there are probably a few sick vampires out there who would abuse this biological advantage. But, let’s not get into the technicalities. :) I definitely think the plot has been getting better as every movie is made in the Underworld series. I really wish I watched it in 3D now.

Another update with my COVEN by Sonia Kang line is that I have finally sewn chain on to the bird skull clutch. It looks amazing. So far, I have a waiting list of at least 5 orders (1 overseas) for the clutch and I have been recommended a couple boutiques to approach in Yorkville once I start production of it after all the testing and refining. Exciting news! I have also started a sample product that I made from scrap leather from the bird skull clutch. I braided the leather and made a really really cool studded headband (I’m wearing it in my outfit shot) which I want to sell very soon after I make a few more tweaks to it. What do you guys think about my new direction and re-branding?

Also, I feel like since re-branding COVEN by Sonia Kang I feel like I should add more black in my wardrobe. I spent two years removing it from my wardrobe and now I want to go back. The irony. 

NEW Stockist: MADE YOU LOOK and Street Fashion Feature

Image from Moonrox.ca

I have some rather exciting news! I have my 7th Stockist! My two lines, Quaintrella and COVEN by Sonia Kang (I have decided to re-brand and separate my more gothic and taxidermy lines to this brand) are now carried at MADE YOU LOOK a boutique on Queen West. It’s actually a few minutes from my condo - which I find quite convenient. This boutique is fabulous and was voted the TOP Jewellery boutique by NOW Magazine and BlogTO for 2011. It has a ridiculous amount of variety and is total eye-candy for the accessories aficionado. 

http://www.torontoverve.org/2012/01/sonia-veruca-all-bundled-up.html

In other news, this is myself and designer buddy, Veruca Cyn had our outfit shots taken by a street fashion photographer, Nigel of Toronto Verve while we were out with the Fashion Tribe and supply shopping. 

Funny, we are polar opposites when it comes to our typical personal fashion choices until I don my leather. ;) Only then, do we have the same tastes. I only wear my leather at night - like a vampire. A fashion vampire. Hahahaha. 

Aside from being polar opposites in our personal fashion choices we do however share an insanely similar taste for positivity. Funny enough, it has reaped us so many small successes and a ‘Never Give Up on Yourself’ outlook on life. 

Mori Girl: NEW Ofelia Ljuv SS2012 pieces!

New Ofelia Ljuv Collection SS 2012 pieces!

One of the things I always like to ask my stockists (boutiques I sell at) is for feedback. If you strive to improve upon product, services, and yourself - feedback is essential unless you want to be stuck in a habit of simply doing everything the same. I do not care if it’s hurtful, blunt, or even minor. Anything helps because if I am going to change AND succeed I will take the hits early and get over my ego. 

One of my stockists, Nathalie, had told me months ago certain things I should look into for my Ofelia Ljuv Collection. My Ofelia Ljuv Collection is all about Mori Girl aesthetics - bringing in the natural world, upcycling scrap fabrics and laces, and using bits and pieces of found objects. She had told me that I should consider silk and linens for backings of my pendant necklaces and brooches because some people are allergic to wool. That, wool was also a material limited to seasonality. She said that I should explore other color options since my palette was limited to beiges, creams, and browns. There was also positive feedback received on the versatility of certain pieces - combinations where a headpiece could be a brooch and necklace.  At the same time she said my aesthetic was very romantic and feminine which means I should attempt to test the bridal market. 

Photo Shoot for Men’s Bird Skull Necklace

I recently helped my photographer friend the brilliant, Gabe Toth, with a photo shoot he was doing. We were friends when we worked together in the same company but we are closer now that we are heading in the same direction. The fashion industry. He has done photography for some time but now it is a full-time job. His work is so crisp, professional, and I can always pick out a sort of balance in his pictures. It is a little hard to explain - but it is a feeling, an aesthetic, a touch that is really just his own. Steamy topless photos are enclosed in the link below…

Birds of Prey Photo Shoot with Dandy Boy - my Men’s taxidermy accessories line!

Art Direction and Model - Wesley Burness
Photography - Naomi Peters
Wearing: Dandy Boy - Sparrow Skull Cuff Link

Art Direction and Model - Wesley Burness
Photography - Naomi Peters
Wearing: Dandy Boy - Dual Chain Bird Skull Necklace

Right now, I am consumed by total fear of really messing up on the first final I did. I just finished everything but I’m just petrified of the first one I did because I really should have NEVER set a foot into the room to do that exam. I spent those excruciating 3 hours fighting my body because I felt so sick. Which, most likely resulted in really sub-par essay skills. So upsetting!

However, one to better things in life. My friend, Wesley Burness who studies Fashion Communication at Ryerson University borrowed a few of my Dandy Boy pieces for a photo shoot assignment. Posted here are some of the results and my most favourite. I never told him what I wanted and he had complete creative freedom with his assignment but the first two pictures that used my pieces WERE EXACTLY HOW I WOULD PHOTOGRAPH THEM HAD I THE SKILL. The dreamy nostalgia, the slight play on androgyny, the black, the natural light, the brands… I was so surprised it was so spot on to what I liked. 

As you can see I have (if you do not follow my TWITTER and FACEBOOK then you are missing out on what I have) been secretly working on my other aesthetic. A mixture of androgyny, chains, death, leather, and natural history. It’s for Men and Women and I’d like to somehow make it more interchangeable then what I normally do. I’m definitely drifting away from what normal taxidermy jewelry would look like. I’m currently working on a clutch, too! Keep you guys updated.

What do you guys think? He’s goregeous - right? Any feedback on the photo shoot?

Some travel and a new headpiece

I couldn’t resist buying a toadstool decoration and a Yellow Owl Workshop Ink Pad (which I recommend highly because it sets pretty fast and doesn’t smudge under the fingertips).

I recently had a chance to visit the Wellington County which covers Kitchener, Waterloo, Elora, and St. Jacobs of Ontario - the province I lived it. It was quite a dreary day but it was well worth the trip to see a scenery that makes a City Girl with a Wild Heart like myself feel so wholesome. I would like to thank my friend, D. for taking me. I love learning about the countryside outside of my Metropolitan city of Toronto. There were such quaint little stores in Elora and St. Jacobs that were so pretty. So many unique things I wanted to buy! Including this 3D leather acorn coin holder-pouch which was well beyond my budget but I found it online at a much more affordable price.

New Headpiece

Detailing

Lately, I have been inspired to make some new pieces. I’m really loving patterned feathers and flowers. Evident in my latest work I’m striving to meld bohemian with romance as themes. Texture and softness. Airy to earthy. 

What do you guys think? Would you wear it?

Future Goals and Plans for Quaintrella

I’m a very lucky girl.

I am immensely thankful for all the opportunities presented to me to pursue my dreams. I have always believed that I will get whatever I want if I work hard for it. So far this has proved to be quite apt. I’m thankful that I know at this moment who I am, what I truly want, what I am worth, how I am going to achieve it, and who will be there with me in the very end.

I’m keeping my eye out for potential store locations when I open my own boutique in hopefully a few years. I’d prefer a Queen Street storefront but there is a lot of potential and growth in some nearby neighbourhoods that are worth keeping an eye on (one reason why I fastidiously will stalk neighbourhood statistics).

I have to go to 3 stores in Northern Ontario in the latter of this month and introduce potential Christmas stock to the owners. Yesterday, I approached an local boutique about selling with them and I have a few more in mind to approach in the coming weeks.

I am also re-connecting with my German contact to see if I can begin selling my Taxidermy lines within the country despite the double-dip recession parts of Europe is experiencing. I expect France may come next if my friend there is comfortable approaching stores on my behalf. Japan seems a little more tricky - I already have a lot of friends willing to translate communications for me but it’s a matter or which boutiques to approach as I don’t have many friends IN the country right now. If all goes well by early 2012 I’ll most likely be accompanying a friend to Miami and New York - I’ll see if my aesthetic fits somewhere. :)

Wish me luck on the playing on the global market!