SASKATOONEXPRESS - October 12-18, 2015 - Page 17
Fashion designers getting noticed Courtney Bowman for the Saskatoon Express s the Saskatoon half of the design team that comprises the clothing brand Whiskey Teacup, Laura Crossman proves it’s possible to overcome obstacles – such as collaborating long distance with design partner Sharlyn VandenBroek in Vancouver and succeeding in the developing Saskatoon fashion design scene. Prior to the creation of Whiskey Teacup, Crossman and VandenBroek met while interning at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver. Crossman had recently completed a fashion merchandising program, while VandenBroek had taken the Fashion Design Program at the Art Institute of Vancouver. After becoming good friends and bonding over their mutual love of fashion, the two decided to combine Crossman’s business savvy and VandenBroek’s design skills. “I think it was necessary for me to gain experience in a bigger city before trying my hand at fashion here,” Crossman said of her time in Vancouver. “I feel fortunate to be back in Saskatoon. My goals have not really changed as a result of moving back. I have big plans no matter where I live.” Crossman and VandenBroek have successfully managed the difficulties accompanying long-distance creative collaboration, taking advantage of technological innovations such as text and photo messaging on their smartphones. “We plan, design and create our collections together,” Crossman said. “We’re always in touch and somehow on the same page. It also works because we have the freedom to take on our own projects in our respective cities.” Luckily, having access to a few textile and fabric shops in Saskatoon has allowed Crossman to continue her dream of contributing creatively to the Whiskey Teacup brand. She notes that it’s the hand feel of a particular cloth or textile that draws her interest. “I usually buy my fabrics in Saskatoon. I really like to touch fabrics before I buy them, which is why I stray away from (buying) online. “Sometimes Shar or I will find a great fabric and send some excited texts back and forth planning what to create. ... She and I both love unique textiles and send each other photos of new vinyls and unique prints we find. ... One of my favourite things about working with her is how enthusiastic she is; I often feel very inspired after talking with her.” One of the distinctive traits of Whiskey Teacup’s design esthetic is its frequent use of unusual materials such as vinyl. Vinyl experienced a clothing hey-day in the late 1960s, when North American society was preoccupied with the frenzy of space ex-
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Wardrobe: Whiskey Teacup Hair: Kelsie Kitzul / CHEL salonspa Make up: Tracy Truong / CHEL salonspa Models: Tiara Jackle, Mary Catherine McQueen, Kendra Johnson Photography: Kimball V, Derek Elvin, Rick Elvin Studio: Studio CHEL ploration. Textiles in the mod era reflected this fascination with the new space race and its accompanying technology through an emphasis on avant-garde, futuristic silhouettes and reflective surfaces reminiscent of space exploration equipment and plastics. Crossman and VandenBroek transport the textiles of the ’60s into the ever-evolving, present-day era of technology by combining them with other fabrics such as perforated faux leather, nylon mesh, unique prints and an abundance of fringe. Though Whiskey Teacup has been featured in a number of West Coast-based online publications, such as Style By Fire, B | E Collective, Hello Vancity and One1One Magazine, their recent collaboration with the Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival (SFDF) provided some local exposure. “We received excellent exposure with SFDF. I was able to show our collection at two different events that weekend. There were many other perks of being involved, too. I met many talented industry people and have some exciting projects in the works as a result. I was so impressed with the organizers behind the event and the support they gave the designers.” The design team doesn’t plan to stop any time soon. As for long-term plans for the brand, Crossman says despite both VandenBroek and her being involved in other fashion projects in their respective cities, “We both love what we do and couldn’t imagine giving up Whiskey Teacup. We like to keep open-minded about our future. Our plan is to find more outlets to sell our product, both online and in-store. We want to grow our brand and take advantage of as many opportunities as possible.” You can find out more about Whiskey Teacup at www.whiskeyteacupdesign.com or at www.Facebook.com/whiskeyteacupdesigns. A lot of the fabrics used in the Whiskey Teacup line are from Saskatoon
Zoomer IDOL a fundraiser for Saskatoon Council on Aging
“I
(Continued from page 16) still have 75 or 80 in the garage. Every now and then at an event I will give some out. People will say, ‘Do you have a CD?’ and I’ll say, ‘As a matter of fact.’ ” He says music is about the reaction from the audience. “If you can’t have fun doing it, and see the enjoyment in people’s faces or the tapping of their toes or the clapping of
Dawn Bevan & Friends are Marjorie Konecsni, Bruno Konecsni and Dawn Bevan the hands, or just a smile or whatever. If you don’t see that, it’s really tough. I find that’s the best part.” Galambos attended the Zoomer IDOL final last year after winning tickets on CBC Radio. “So we went to it and it was quite well done. There was pretty good enter-
Jean Burke and Doreen Walker
tainment and quite a variety of things. I thought to myself, ‘That’s something I might like doing.’ This year, when we saw it advertised, Terry said, ‘Why don’t you audition for it? What do you have to lose?’ ” Galambos had nothing to lose and is now one of the eight finalists.
Tickets for Zoomer IDOL are $100 and are available through the Saskatoon Council on Aging, 2020 College Dr. (Saskatoon Field House). Tickets can also be purchased online at Eventbrite.ca. For more information, call 306-652-2255 or visit www. scoa.ca.