Two of Hearts GiGi Dress, Stewart and Brown Hilda Cap
Victoria’s annual fund raising fashion show was yet again a big hit for Not Just Pretty and thirteen other local boutiques. Set outside in charismatic Market Square, models strutted down a rectangular shaped runway to show off this seasons hottest looks.
Not Just Pretty exhibited a gorgeous collection of new fall styles from favorite eco-friendly designers Stewart and Brown, Red Jade and Ashley Watson as well as pieces from some soon-to-be-faves: Jennifer Glasgow, Kelly B and Second Jeans.
Loomstate Barbara Dress, Stewart & Brown Ashton Scarf, Nixxi Antique White Leggings
All in all it was a fun filled and beautiful evening – the show even had a circus at intermission! – made even better by the donation it enabled organizers to contribute to the BC Cancer Agency. Be sure to check out our pics from the show as well as the pieces in our online store.. while they’re still around!
“If last week’s Nuit Blanche fashion show is any indication of what’s going to be hot this fall, it must be the weather — or perhaps it’s wishful thinking by Victoria’s most stylish boutiques.”
Stewart & Brown Ina Coat, Nixxi Electric Blue Leggings
Read more about the show in the Times Colonist article by Sarah Petrescu
Happy Fall!
Behind the scenes at Not Just Pretty
Katrina at Not Just Pretty
Since she has the inside scoop, we asked her:
“Who are your favorite sustainable fashion designers?”
Katrina’s absolute favorites?
“I love Ashley Watson for beautiful, unique leather purses. The attention to detail that goes into them is amazing!”
“I’d pick Myco Anna for one-of-a-kind pieces. I love that you’ll never run into someone wearing the same thing. Plus I get about a million compliments whenever I wear one of their pieces.”
“Everything by Stewart & Brown – Their clothes make everyone look great! Their styles are so easy to wear, yet chic at the same time.”
and last but not least: “Thieves …beautiful, beautiful dresses that always get a second look from passersby!”
Katrina also added: “what a hard hard job it is to photograph the clothes for the website because you just end up falling in love with the clothes through the camera lens.“
We can relate! Thanks for the peek behind the scenes, Katrina!
You can click on each piece to see the designer and more information:
Polyvore is great fun! Here is the first Not Just Pretty collage I made in case you missed it!
Ashley Watson Murre Bag
“Not so long ago the words “environmentally friendly bag” referred solely to sacks (usually brown) to carry organic groceries. Today, (these eco-friendly bags) are just one of the coveted fashion items that are planet-friendly. In fact, they started the trend — or at least gave it a big boost.
…
Up-and-coming designers using environmental practices and products found themselves on the profitable edge of a major trend. Especially among those who design bags — a status staple item.
Vancouver’s Ashley Watson, 29, started making her coveted recycled leather bags by fluke a few years ago.
“I was at my parents’, and had this idea for a bag but was really impatient so I cut up one of my dad’s old leather jackets and made it,” says Watson. Her slouchy bright bags — made from leather jackets she finds at charity thrift stores — coincided with the boho and eco trends in fashion.
She started out visiting socially conscious boutiques in person — like Victoria’s Not Just Pretty on Fort Street, which still carries her bags and accessories.
Now her bag design business is a full-time job. Her edgy and fashionable bags — think bright 1980s leather, zippers and pockets — have been featured in Nylon, New York, Flare, Fashion, Lou Lou and Wish magazines, and the Today Show.
“We’ve had our store for four years now and even in that time we’ve seen so many more designers emerge using environmental materials,” says Pam Skelton, owner of Not Just Pretty. She carries several lines of eco-handbags, from those made with recycled materials like billboards and old posters to those made with organic fibres.
Sparrow Handbags Lola Bag
One of the latter is Sparrow Handbags by Victoria designer Marlena Maikranz-Bryce. The 28-year-old started her line last year after a break from the fashion design business to work for her family’s company, Victoria Signs. …” for the whole article, please see Times Colonist : Tuesday, April 22, 2008
