LONDON Entrepreneurs with a Local and Global Focus
Works of art are so much more than creations you mount on your wall or display on a mantel; they can also be the clothes you wear and the accessories you carry. The London region is blessed to have a thriving fashion industry full of artisans who don’t just make and curate beautiful collections, but also care deeply about sustainability in their business models and in their apparel. Their fashions include rescued items, up-cycled and vintage materials, toxin-free fibres and detailing that is exquisite. Some of the entrepreneurs import pieces that have roots in celebrated cultures of fashion. Some are helping to save traditions and continuing family legacies. These business owners have such creativity that they easily re-imagine items that others might toss away and turn them into stunning, one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories. As they weave fabric, they are also weaving stories from the past and creating new ones. Each piece makes a purposeful statement about beauty, timelessness and yes, art. They are all moving fashion forward with a nod to the past and a look to the future, and eschewing fast fashion for durable pieces that won’t go out of style and can be passed down to the next generation. Fair wages, the environment and supporting each other are also important to these artisans.
Boutique Firenze, Bettina Weber
Boutique Firenze
At Boutique Firenze, there’s a story behind all of owner Bettina Weber’s accessories. Her rich storytelling is an important part of her business, and she’s made numerous connections across Canada and abroad. One relationship developed after learning about Spindrift Handknits. An interview on the CBC focused on the company’s colourful, iconic trigger mitts, which were used by seabird hunters. “They were saving a dying folk art,” Weber says. The mitts are part-glove, with a separate thumb and index finger, and made of heavy worsted from Canada’s oldest woollen mill, Briggs & Little. A Western University professor had a hand in another connection. Weber inquired about the beautiful scarf he wore and learned it was handcrafted by the parents of a student. Weber travelled to Tuscany to meet the husband and wife artisans in 2018 and arranged to import their Kemailù knitwear, made from wool, cashmere-wool blends and 100 percent cashmere.
Carmina Design Co., Carmina Young
Carmina Design Co.
With 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, Carmina Young now helps entrepreneurs transform their ideas into successful fashion brands through design development, technical expertise and Canadian manufacturing. “Most of my customers have a dream of creating their own brand,” she says. “We encourage companies to use materials more efficiently while building businesses that can grow responsibly and profitably and can pass savings on to consumers.”
For Young, sustainability extends beyond reducing waste. Through Carmina Design Co.’s Zero Waste Initiative, leftover materials are transformed into value-added products, including outerwear and accessories for Lobtree Outdoor Gear, as well as Young’s own one-of-a-kind cardigans and men’s sweaters that extend the life of premium materials. Young is passionate about helping new entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful products and brands. She’s planning camps for kids who are interested in design and construction. “It’s a mini fashion program where they’ll learn proper cutting and patterns, too.”
Illbury & Goose, Daniel Phillips
Illbury + Goose
Illbury + Goose is committed to socially-conscious lifestyle clothing and accessories. Creator and founder Daniel Phillips ensures his made-in-Canada clothing is manufactured by workers earning a fair wage and with all-natural fibres such as cotton and bamboo. “I have a relationship with the people who are manufacturing our goods,” he says. His signature anchor logo can be found in many area closets. “It’s a patriotic staple,” he says.
With the changing of the seasons, Phillips’ versatile and durable flannel wear will be flying off the shelves. “They are nice to wear — either oversized or buttoned up. We even have a customer who wears them with a suit and tie. I’ve had my original for close to 12 years.” Illbury + Goose products are not fast fashion, he says. “The product is designed here, made here…and it’s something you can hand down to your siblings or grandkids.”
Llama & Home
Threads that Unite Worlds is the motto and driving force of this family business that offers exquisite home decor items blending tradition with modern life. Llama & Home celebrates craftsmanship handed down through generations of families in Peru. Sheep’s wool, alpaca and baby alpaca fibres are dyed using fruits, vegetables, seeds, and other plants before each loom is prepared for weaving. It’s a process that can take up to three weeks and one that values authenticity over mass production.
“In a world where technology produces everything on a massive scale, our homes deserve something truly special,” says owner José Valera. “AI is taking the world in many directions, but we enjoy working with artisanal families who have been creating beautiful items for generations.” Llama & Home is a cultural portal to a heritage that values tradition, quality, authenticity and timeless design and one that can transform the spaces of a home.
Loko Sport, Sandra Maniago
Loko Sport
Owner Sandra Maniago values a healthy, active lifestyle and her made-in-Canada collection reflects that, with its eco-conscious materials and comfort. Maniago does her own pattern making and designs, creating classic styling that won’t go out of fashion. She’s proud to employ local sewers who do most of her work, and the small-batch manufacturing process means the company has a minimal environmental footprint.
Loko Sport’s breathable, waterproof clothing is her bestseller. “It’s stylish, colourful and practical.” The activewear is cut to fit and flatter women generally over 50. “Women love our fit, soft fabrics and colour palette,” she says. “Natural fibres are good for our health, and people are taking interest in them since we are inundated with harmful chemicals.” Loko Sport’s natural fibres are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified and the synthetics are EPA certified non-toxic and chemical free. Quality construction means the clothes wear, wash and keep their shape for years.
The Atelier, Liliana Pardo
Liliano Pardo
Beautiful narratives of wearable art are birthed at Liliano Pardo’s The Atelier. The fashion is inspired by Colombian craftsmanship, sustainability and timeless design. “Every piece is produced in small quantities, with an emphasis on preserving traditional artisan techniques while creating modern, functional accessories for today’s woman,” Pardo says.
Her collections often incorporate molas, which are hand-sewn textiles created by the Guna or Kuna Indigenous people of Colombia and Panama. “We also work extensively with reclaimed materials, giving them a second life through contemporary design.” Pardo sources materials locally at thrift stores and uses donated denim jackets, vintage crochet pieces, leather garments and other reclaimed textiles.
This fall, Pardo will continue to explore renewable art through her limited-edition handbags and accessories that combine reclaimed fabric and items with handcrafted details. “My collection gravitates around the harvest season, especially of wine, grapes and olives.”
Plumage Studio Accessories, Paddy Richardson
Plumage Studio Accessories
With 40-plus years in the textile industry, Paddy Richardson chooses heritage material and fine fabrics to create classic accessories. In sourcing goods and materials, she seeks items that are eco-friendly, durable and of the finest quality. “I get linens printed in Lithuania. The flax is grown, processed and woven there organically,” she says.
Richardson’s hats, caps and handbags are made with Harris Tweed. “It is the only fabric in the world that is protected by a UK Act of Parliament,” she says. Richardson also carries lightweight jackets and kimonos from the Canadian company Market of Stars. “They combine artworks, often masterfully recoloured, in each of their garments.”
This fall, she’s focussing on the idea of tapestry, “linking together different coloured threads and disparate ideas to form a unified finish. The idea is both literal and metaphorical.” She’s also planning a series of lessons in garment construction and embellishment.
The London region is blessed to have a thriving fashion industry full of artisans who don’t just make and curate beautiful collections, but also care deeply about sustainability in their business models and in their apparel.
Second Verse Apparel,
Leigh-Ann Waller
Second Verse Apparel
Owner Leigh-Ann Waller loves to honour the past and look to the future by reclaiming textiles that may have been discarded or forgotten. Using vintage linens, lace, quilts and more, she thoughtfully works with the character and limitations of each textile to create one-of-a-kind clothing.
Waller finds her treasures at thrift stores, estate sales and from folks who want to see cherished family textiles repurposed. “This local sourcing approach not only reduces environmental impact but also helps preserve the stories and craftsmanship embedded in these beautiful textiles,” Waller says.
She loves the fall season as the rich textures and layers of her vintage textiles lend themselves to “creative up-cycling.” Jackets, capes, vests, shawls and hooded scarves are items she is working on for the season. Looking further ahead, she says remnants from her spring and summer collections will be transformed into handcrafted holiday ornaments.
Soft Flirt, Alayna Hryclik
Soft Flirt
Alayna Hryclik fell in love with the artistry of screen printing, and in September is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her business. Soft Flirt has an “overarching theme” of softness, as the name suggests. “It’s about being tender with yourself and others,” she says.
Her designs have evolved from cursive writing to more illustrative work. She is also influenced by tattoo design. Within the past couple of years, Hryclik has worked with unique, up-cycled, thrifted garments. “Each shirt is inherently different because I’ve thrifted it, and each shirt has its own properties that I print around. It’s been a fun way to change up the screen printing.”
She also has tote bags, caps and vintage lingerie style pieces in her collection. Hryclick enjoys using London references and humour in her work, which can be tongue-in-cheek, she says. As her website states, she is always looking for new ways to bring softness to the city.
KATHY RUMLESKI is a journalist and writer based in London for more than 20 years. Her award-winning work has appeared in newspapers, magazines and on media websites across the country and beyond.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
BOUTIQUE FIRENZE
3-189 Adelaide St. S.
519-649-4122
boutiquefirenze.ca
CARMINA DESIGN CO.
370 Saskatoon St.
519-630-0299
carmina.ca
ILLBURY + GOOSE
884 Dundas St. E.
519-601-0884
illburyandgoose.com
LLAMA & HOME
226-386-3730
llamaandhome.com
LOKO SPORT
Located at The Market
at Western Fair,
900 King St.
lokosportactive@gmail.com
lokosport.ca
LILIANA PARDO
519-777-8618
lilianapardo.com
PLUMAGE STUDIO
Located at The Market
at Western Fair
900 King St.
paddy@paddyk.ca
plumagestudio.ca
SECOND VERSE APPAREL
519-520-9185
secondverseapparel.ca
SOFT FLIRT
Located at Spruce Moose
in The Market at Western Fair
900 King St.
softflirting@gmail.com
softflirt.ca
