WE’RE CELEBRATING EF MAGAZINE’S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2012.
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IN HONOUR OF THE TRADITIONAL ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY GIFT OF PAPER, WE ARE CHANNELING ROBERT MUNSCH AND HIS PAPER BAG PRINCESS. WE INVITE ALL GUESTS TO ATTEND WEARING THEIR BEST PAPER ENSEMBLE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE – YES, PAPIER MACHE WORKS TOO.
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JOIN US AT FRESCO’S GUEST ROOM @ 354 ELGIN STREET BETWEEN 5-9 P.M. FOR DRINKS AND DINNER (NOT COMPLIMENTARY) AND A FEW SURPRISES.
fashion
WE’RE CELEBRATING EF MAGAZINE’S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2012.
.
IN HONOUR OF THE TRADITIONAL ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY GIFT OF PAPER, WE ARE CHANNELING ROBERT MUNSCH AND HIS PAPER BAG PRINCESS. WE INVITE ALL GUESTS TO ATTEND WEARING THEIR BEST PAPER ENSEMBLE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE – YES, PAPIER MACHE WORKS TOO.
.
JOIN US AT FRESCO’S GUEST ROOM @ 354 ELGIN STREET BETWEEN 5-9 P.M. FOR DRINKS AND DINNER (NOT COMPLIMENTARY) AND A FEW SURPRISES.
Workshop turns 6 1/2 tonight!
Workshop Boutique has been a staple on Dalhousie Street for a while – 6.5 years, to be precise. And somehow, during that entire period of time, owners Christina and Bridget never got around to throwing their shop a birthday party. So when Support Local month came around, they figured that now was as good a time as any – and that 6.5 was absolutely worth celebrating! Tonight they kick off their very first un-birthday party down at Workshop with cake, ice cream, raffles and discounts.
Their shop is filled with curious, crafty delights from the likes of fashion designers to jewelers to quirky must-haves. This includes the recognizable puppets from Fish on Fridays, who has generously donated a prize for today’s celebration! Head on down after the jump to find out how you can win a Jean Chretien and Paul Martin puppet set of your very own – just imagine the dramas you could enact with those two.
We’ve always been fans of the boutique (so much so that we made a little video of our visit there two years ago). We sent Christina over at Workshop a few questions to see how things have gone over the past few years, what surprised them the most, and what they’re looking ahead to as they anticipate the teenage years of the shop.
Apt613: Has your original vision for Workshop changed over the past 6.5 years? (And what was that original vision?)
Christina: We’ve mostly stayed true to our original concept- hand made products by ladies and products by small scale independent women designers. Originally we also used the space as our studio space but we moved our studios to our homes a few years ago so we could concentrate on working with our customers…and it means no more tiny fabric scaps, thread and beads all over the place 
. We used to offer classes after hours in the space at Workshop but we’ve since moved them to a more permanent class room space at Flock.
Looking back over the past 6.5 years, what are you most proud of?
That we are still alive and kicking! When we opened we had hoped that it wouldn’t be a flash in the pan. We’re so excited that we’re still here and part of a growing number of lady owned businesses in Ottawa.
Click to continue reading “It’s unbirthday party time: Workshop turns 6.5″
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Post by Eleni Armenakis. Photos courtesy of Duffield Designs.
A new, sustainable fashion line has arrived in Ottawa today, November 14th. Duffield Designs is creator Megan Duffield’s first official label, though she has been involved with local clothing and costume designers since finishing the fashion design program at Fanshawe College in 2005. According to Duffield, her line offers a range of organic, eco-friendly, and natural pieces for women.
“When I started research for Duffield Design in 2010 it soon became clear to me the way in which the fashion world at large designs, manufactures and distributes clothing is far from being sustainable or ethical.[…] I hadn’t realized before the shameful abuse the clothing and textile industry has had on our planets recourses. The poisoning of the earth, animals & people, water systems and air—I didn’t want to contribute to that.”
Her research led to her finding new ways of manufacturing, and rediscovering some more traditional methods.
“I found farmers, manufactures, suppliers and designers starting to take big step in the right direction to create products which were more environmentally responsible, and in the long run much more sustainable. I researched these new, and sometimes very old production methods and textiles and started sourcing suppliers first locally and then branching out to the global stream.”
Duffield offers a surprising range of benefits to using natural and eco-friendly fabrics.
Click to continue reading “Duffield Design: Stitching Sustainability into Fashion”
Photo courtesy of Anne Marie Bouchard of AMBPhoto.
Craft show info compiled by Krista Leben
It’s that time of year again, Ottawans, when the crafters take to the streets and local shops to sell the wares they’ve spent the last year creating. Every year there seems to be another show that pops up, revealing even more talented folk from the Ottawa region. This year is no exception – and, for the first time ever, we have the Ottawa Craft Crawl, part of our Support Local month of activities. Several of the craft shows below have teamed up to let you have the chance to win a big basket of handmade goodies – all you have to do is pick up your Craft Crawl passport at any of the participating shows, collect stamps, and enter to win! More details are at the end of this post.
And now, your comprehensive listing of Ottawa’s 2011 Craft Shows:
Photo courtesy of flauntottawa.com
As events like Ottawa Fashion Week keep reminding us, Ottawa does indeed have a fashionable side. There are a number of clothing, jewelry and accessory designers who call the capital city home. While there are a few specialty shops like Workshop or Victoire, and of course the sea of seasonal craft shows that help local designers reach out to customers, Stacey Bafi-Yeboa felt that there was room for something more. As the organizer of Flaunt Ottawa, a unique trade show for local designers, Bafi-Yeboa wanted to mix fashion with fun.
“I go to a lot of trade shows and they’re great but there’s no music and little atmosphere. I wanted to create something different, somewhere that Ottawa could go to shop amazing Canadian designers and have a party at the same time!”
Bafi-Yeboa, who first organized the event in 2009, hopes that Flaunt will help people step outside their normal routine. “Our tagline is escape to indulgence because we want our guests to feel like they’ve been transported to another place – we want them to walk in and not know where to begin because everything is so amazing! It’s a chance for 800 of Ottawa’s young, fun city dwellers to come out, support local and have a special evening.”
Included in the ticket is a number of giveaways from local businesses, including a hair blowout courtesy of The Loft, makeovers and manicures courtesy of Murale, eyebrow threading from Maria Threading zone and a free ‘Flauntini’ cocktail. Music will be provided by DJs Magnificent and Select.
Click to continue reading “Flaunt! Local trade show mixes fashion and fun”
The second annual Flaunt event will be held in the spectacularly glamourous Trillium Ballroom of the Ottawa Convention Centre, Ottawa’s most magnificent venue! Our goal is to promote independent fashion and to give Ottawa an evening to escape to the hottest fashion boutique imaginable.
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Flaunt is the only event where you can escape Winter’s chill whilst sipping cocktails, shopping the hottest independent designers, sampling new products, scoring an amazing goodie bag all whilst enjoying the beats of our live DJ’s.Flaunt is an opportunity to escape to indulgence. Shop the most fabulous independent Canadian designer fashions & accessories. Enjoy the most delectable sweets. Be pampered from head to toe, all whilst grooving to the beat of the hottest DJ’s. The second annual Flaunt event will be held in the glamorous Trillium Ballroom of the Ottawa Convention Centre. This exclusive event is open to only the most fashionable individuals! Flaunt is the store at which everyone wants to shop, the event at which everyone wants to be, It’s one night to have it all – the ultimate holiday shopping experience! Get ready to Flaunt your stuff!
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Included in your ticket:
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A Flauntini drink
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A hair blowout from The Loft
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Makeup and Manicures from Murale
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Hand Massages from Thann Skincare
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Candy Buffet from HCM works and Sugar Mountain
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Not only is Flaunt an event to have fun, shop, groove and mingle, it is also an opportunity to give back and spread the love. A percentage of all ticket sales will be donated to Ovarian Cancer Canada.
Throughout November, local shop Magpie Jewellery will be displaying the work of Andrea Mueller, an Ottawa-based designer. Her work will be shown down at Magpie’s Westboro location, where they have a lovely little gallery space to show off all sorts of local delights.
And if you are a local jewellery designer hoping to show your work, contact Magpie Jewellery to find out how they can display your pieces.
This event is part of Support Local month in Ottawa. Visit www.apt613.ca/supportlocal for more information on the month’s activities – and get out to support your city!
The Vintage Madness Cocktail party will be held on Nov. 24, 2011 from 6:30-8:30 pm at Gypsy & Co. where the community will have the opportunity to show off their classy digs and enjoy each other’s company over good ol’ fashion conversation, cocktails and the musical talent of Dynamite Motel in store.
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This event is part of Support Local month in Ottawa. Visit www.apt613.ca/supportlocal for more information on the month’s activities – and get out to support your city!
Ef Magazine is proud to host Swapalooza – Clothes Swap
Date: Friday, November 18th, 2011
Time: Drop in between 7-10 p.m.
Location: Bowich – Best Organic Sandwich, 155 Bank Street (between Laurier Ave. west and Slater St.)
Details: Drop in between 7-10 p.m. For men and women of all ages. Bring minimum three, gently used, washed items. Please no holes, rips or stains. Shoes, coats, bags, purses, hats, gloves, scarves, jewelry and other accessories welcome. Food and drink, including alcohol will be available for purchase, courtesy of Bowich.
Details: Drop in between 7-10 p.m. For men and women of all ages. Bring minimum three, gently used, washed items. Please no holes, rips or stains. Shoes, coats, bags, purses, hats, gloves, scarves, jewelry and other accessories welcome. Food and drink, including alcohol will be available for purchase, courtesy of Bowich.
This event is part of Support Local month in Ottawa. Visit www.apt613.ca/supportlocal for more information on the month’s activities – and get out to support your city!
