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…

Happy New Year and Holidays Catch-Up Post

This will mostly be a belated catch-up post of my holidays. I hope everyone had a awesome holidays like I did! Wishing all my readers, clients, stockists and friends the best for the New Year!

 I really took advantage of my Christmas holidays in 2011. It feels strange saying last year because it seems like it was so long ago yet I still remember it. I made a list of what I wanted to do and accomplished most of it. To top it off my University grades were awesome - very awesome for a person who balances a PT job, full-time university, and a fashion business. I was surprised. 

But, I know my perseverance has been very high since the whole debacle with my former business partner. I almost have to thank her for giving me a better view of my priorities - because without the bullshit and drama I wouldn’t have been this successful. Sometimes, I wonder what she took from the experience. I certainly learned I was stronger than I thought I was. That I can conquer my fears. :)

It makes me so proud to say that my brand has been carried by six local boutiques. 

Even prouder is the fact I did it by myself mostly in under 7 months as soon as I launched Quaintrella. There has to be something said about that and not letting people tell me: ‘You can’t do this..’, ‘You can’t sell better then this person..’, ‘You need this…’. If I faced an obstacle I just told myself to take it as an experience and learn from it. I don’t let anyone bring me down in the process. Yes, it’s been difficult and testing at times. But, I did it. 

I was recently told my unwavering attitude is what makes me different. It came up in a discussion with a co-worker about a mutual friend who was unable to find a job in her field. I told my co-worker this:

“If I can’t find a job in my field then I’d make my own. I don’t believe in being told I am not good enough.”

H&M’s Dragon Tattoo Launch

I recently attended an event that I found out from the F-list which apparently according to many of my friends was not a publicly advertised event. I shared it with the ‘Fashion Tribe’ and most of us ended up going. It’s been a while since we have all seen each other - half of us are still in school which puts constraints on certain months. But, I had one more exam after the event and I had promised myself I would go because the stress of finals was killing me slowly on the inside. I’m glad I did - H&M provided free finger foods (the mini slider hamburgers were a piece of heaven) and free alcohol. We also looked at the clothes (not shown because the pictures turned out terrible with the crowding). Click below for pictures of the fun. :)