Tag: fashion
A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to a DIY belt workshop at BRAVE Leather and I made sure to add it to my schedule because it’s not every day you get a chance to make your own leather belt at the Canada’s only leather belt factory.
You probably know BRAVE, the Canadian leather company that’s been in business for 24 years and in that time has produced more than two million pieces right here in Toronto. It actually started as a street stand! Now, you’ll find their gorgeous belts at the stylish shops you go to (take a peek at the labels, maybe you already own one or two BRAVE pieces in your closet).
At their factory, I chose to make their Western-inspired belt (the style name is called Daphne) in the raw washed brown leather (I had Stampede and music fests on the brain so it was calling my name). We started by figuring out my size, then choosing the style on the computer, and I then placed the leather so as to waste as little leather as possible and then click “go” and the digital laser cutter precisely cut my belt. After that, we used a machine that shaves off some leather to make it thinner at the ends, then I went onto the next step where we added the metal pieces and I stepped on the pedal to affix the pieces tightly onto the leather. And within, say, 10 minutes or so, my belt was complete!
While there, we also previewed the BRAVE FW16 collection, and I’ll add pics of a few of my faves to this post shortly!
June 21, 2016
Ikigai: Your reason for waking up in the morning; the passion that drives your life.
When it came to choosing a Speechlust Jewelry tag and selecting what I’m most passionate about, it was tough choice between wanderlust and ikigai. I do love to travel (or lust to wander, as it were), and I’m always dreaming of my next adventure and clamouring to fly or drive to discover places new to me (or even just walking and discovering places within my hometown), but in the end, I went with ikigai (which is the combination of two Japanese words, iki for life and gai meaning “the realization of what one expects and hopes for,” because there are many things I’m passionate about that drive my life.
Some days I’m passionate about running (although some days, I can’t bear the thought of it because I feel drained mentally, nine marathons and 13 halfs and numerous other races will do that to you if you’re not careful). Some days it’s my lovable cats. Often it’s the laughs I have with my friends. And, let’s face it, sometimes what I’m passionate about is the simple deliciousness of homemade granola sprinkled on top of Greek yogurt.
Ever since I’ve been wearing my Speechlust Jewelry, I find myself touching the smooth gold tag hanging around my neck and reminding myself to enjoy the little moments of each day that drive my life. Because it can be all too easy to get caught up in meeting deadline, gossiping and what have you.
For more about the Canadian line Speechlust Jewelry, check my post on Vitamin Daily.
February 29, 2016
It’s back to school and even though I’m not heading into the classroom, I still think this calls for a new bag…We have more things to carry in the fall season, don’t we? OK, just trying to rationalize adding another handbag to the collection.
This fall at Indigo (yes, where you buy your books and more) comes an expanded selection of bags and totes. The pieces are faux leather but the good-enough-you-have-to-check-twice-and-touch-it kind (not super plastic-y and cheap-looking variety). Many people would probably have to fact check via the tag inside to be certain that’s it’s not the real deal.
My pick: the double-zip backpack in burgundy pebble. The richness of the colour makes it stand out more than your basic black, and the size is perfect for the daily essentials of my cell phone, extra phone battery, wallet, lipstick, brush, snacks (hello, I need to avoid getting hangry) and whatever novel I have on the go (I’m currently trying to finish up Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, but I might put it aside so I can read The Martian: A Novel by Andy Weir, which is the September pick for the #IndigoBookClub so that I can take part in the Twitter chat with the author on Wednesday, September 30, 2015). I love that joining this book club has gotten me to start reading again (even though it’s still at a slow rate — I used to devour many books a month, but fell out of the habit).
(Psst…you might want to read The Martian yourself now, too: besides the upcoming Twitter chat, there’s a movie based on the book, starring Matt Damon, that’s coming out in October.)
To check out the entire line of bags and totes available at Indigo, pop in or visit online.
September 9, 2015
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