Amanda Parker

For our first interview session on our blog, we decided to interview our good friend Amanda Parker. She is the owner, artist of Marian and Hazel as well as Amanda Park Design. We chose to interview Amanda because she is not only a very talented artist but she is relatively new to Vancouver; so we can get some insight on what it’s like as an established artist to move across country and start fresh. Plus we get to show off her beautiful work!

What is your background in?

My post-secondary education started out at Sheridan College in the study of Interior Design. I completed my Advanced Diploma and then practiced high end residential interior design at a small firm for five years. Feeling the need for a creative change, I went back to school at the same educational institution for the Crafts and Design Program majoring in glass forming.

How long did you move to Vancouver?

We moved to the Lower Mainland in October 2010, so almost two and a half years ago, from Georgetown, Ontario, a small town Northwest of Toronto.

What has been the most challenging factor in being an artist in a new city?

I think the most challenging thing has been figuring out where my market is. It has been a learning curve figuring out what craft or art shows to participate in and what type of stores are a good fit for carrying my work.

From a design perspective what has been the most noticeable difference between here and out east?

In terms of my artwork, I find that people here always see a natural element in the piece. More commonly they find a connection to the ocean. I think it is so interesting because in Ontario that really didn’t happen that often and I think it is a product of the local environment. Art is all about what you see or feel in a piece and I am always so fascinated with how people respond to my work.

The individual perspective on art is always to interesting. How have you found the Vancouver art community?

I have made some great connections through participating in art and craft shows like Got Craft, Harmony Arts, and the One of a Kind section that was part of the Interior Design Show. I think this is because the other designers and artists are like minded and we have similar goals. As for connecting with galleries and the more fine art sector I have found that the network is much harder to access. I have found this has guided my work to becoming more home accessories and jewellery based and I work on my art practice less frequently.

You're in such a unique position of having a fine art label as well as a jewellery line that is more market accessible. How do you achieve balance between creating for customer vs. yourself?

I generally try to keep my customer avatar in mind when designing and making jewellery. I consider the trends of the season and what people are looking for, not necessarily just following them but rather using these trends as a guide to inform the designs. Keeping all of this in mind while also making sure the pieces always contain my own aesthetic.  In terms of my art practice I generally make work that I want to make or that inspires me and if people respond to that it is a bonus!

What have you found to be the most successful way to position your business in the Vancouver market place? Where have you had to compromise?

I think I have had the most success accessing my clientele through design related avenues. Shows like the Interior Design Show allow me to access a design minded market where my art pieces and my jewellery were both successfully received.  I definitely cater my work to different markets for different shows and keep the customer in mind. I have learned that my work is not received as well in non-urban markets and have had to keep this in mind when being approached by stores to carry my work.

Now that everyone wants to run out and get their hands on your stuff, where can we find your creations?

My jewellery, artwork and home accessories can be found at:

Brick and Mortar Living in New Westminster

www.facebook.com/brickandmortarliving 

Jewellery and artwork:

Favourite at the Lonsdale Quay

www.favouritegifts.ca

Jewellery:

Barefoot Contessa

www.thebarefootcontessa.com

Forsya

http://www.forsyaboutique.com

Frock (Toronto)

www.frock.ca

For all our friends in Toronto that are booking their flight to Van to get their hands on Amanda's work, you can find her for the very first time at the One of a Kind Show from March 27th to 31st.

Thanks Amanda! Need more information, find all you need to know about Amanda's work and upcoming events at http://www.amandaparker.ca

Fair JAKE

For those of you who don't know already, Fair JAKE is an environmentally and socially conscious fashion company that strives for individuality and quality in everything we make.

Both of us met at Ryerson University, while getting our Fashion Design degrees. Being the only two laid back, casually dressed fashion students, we soon realized we were two BC girls in the big TO. It was at this point, that we also found out we shared a love for nature, and had passions rooted in the environment; so not much could keep us from moving back west. Vancouver is the perfect backdrop for us to get inspired and to create, and so, naturally, we decided to set up shop here, for our eco-friendly fashion line. We then started selling our accessories at markets and got involved in the craft fair scene; however, we were eager to expand and so, we are taking a break from the market scene and will be focusing our energy on our new spring/summer women’s wear collection!

We hope you follow along with us through this transition as we grow our brand and explore a new path. But no need to worry, all of our accessories and home décor goodies can still be found on Etsy!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/FairJAKE?ref=pr_shop 

We know so many women that are going through a similar transition in their lives and we want to be there to support our friends! This is why our collection will focus on evolving with your daily life. It will be a work to evening line with pieces you can mix and match for any summer occasion.

Fair Jake’s focus is on balancing our lives so we are happy, fulfilled, and accomplished. We want to be more to you than just a clothing line; we want to be your community, your friend, your confidante.

Part of this balance, for us, is to be both a socially and an environmentally conscious company; we look at everything from what fabric we source, to where we produce our clothes, and how we package them. That is why we use only natural or re-claimed fabrics, we produce locally, and we do whatever we can to reduce our waste!

Inspired by our decision to grow Fair JAKE into a full-blown women's collection, we thought it only suiting to take our inspiration from the constant regrowth of the forest. As a tree grows it creates more and more rings, adding another layer to its core. That is how we see ourselves at Fair JAKE. We are not erasing our past or forgetting about all the beautiful accessories we have made the last 2 years, we are just extending ourselves and expanding on what we love to do.

We are so excited for this next adventure!

- Love Alex and Kim

A little intro to eco-fashion

You can pretty clearly split conscious business practices into two facets. On one hand, you have the environmental considerations. On the other are social practices. In order to have a truly sustainable business, you must have both, but finding this balance is tricky and expensive. For this post I'm going to focus more on the environmental considerations, because there is nowhere close to enough room to write about both.

Environmentally conscious practices will come up in many different areas of running a business, from shipping choices to packaging materials and every step in between. For the fashion industry, one of the largest footprints is left by the materials. Between farming and producing the fibres, dyeing, processing and washing the materials, textiles are one of the most destructive industries for our planet.

As technology moves forward, there are increasingly more choices we can make to lessen our environmental impact. As consumers, knowing what these options look like will allow you to vote with your dollar and show producers the public is interested. A recent study showed the majority of consumers are willing to spend up to 25% more on goods with a lower impact, such as organic cotton fabrics. The most evident aspect in fashion is which fibre the textiles are made of. Linen and cotton are only a couple natural fibres available these days - materials such as tencel, modal and hemp are now available in apparel goods. There are also legislations and certifications in place that improve the conditions in which these goods are produced. Peace silks and natural wools are farmed, spun and woven in better conditions than before using less toxins and softer dyes. With new organic classifications and major companies opting for eco-certified materials, options are opening up.

While these improvements are more accessible, there are still many factories, mills and countries where these certifications are of no concern. It lands on the designers and labels to stay educated and transparent so their customers know where the products they are purchasing are coming from and under what circumstances they are produced. We too want to share the news and developments we come across. So when we read about Ikea increasing their organic cotton usage or China passing legislation to clean up chemical pollution in their textile industry, we're going to let you know. And if you have any questions or comments, please let us know - there is so much to talk about!