I met Mikayla in the halls of LaSalle College, I standing in the elevator when this gorgeous 5’8″ girl came in and complimented me on my outfit and asked where my boots were from. I felt extremely flattered as she was wearing an amazing outfit herself. We ended up chit chatting about and have been friends ever since. Mikayla always had her eye set on SSense and it is truly inspiring to see her working there full time as a Stylist. Keep reading to see how Mikayla go to be in her dream Job at the Young age of 23.

fff: So How did you end up at SSense?

M: aha! Man what a process that was. It took me doing two unpaid internships there for six months each before I actually landed a job there. people told me I was crazy to spend a year unpaid somewhere and if they didnt see my talent I should just move on… but I was dead set on working there and am so pleased and proud that I stuck it out.

fff: Has working at SSense been everything you thought it would be?

M: oh my god, yes and more! I know that is the most cheesy answer but the people I have met and have the pleasure of working with everyday are a complete dream. My coworkers have taught me so much about styling and clothing that I feel forever grateful. I feel like I’m back in school learning everyday and developing my craft. It is so satisfying.

fff: Wow, that’s amazing to hear! what has been the best piece of advise you’ve gotten so far?

M: hmm… I think it would have to be from one of the head stylists Maxime, he always says when it comes to styling for editorials fear is your worst enemy. People are often afraid to play with colours, or mix certain brands with each other… He says this fear is what keeps fashion from changing so to never be afraid. I love this piece of advice because it was exactly what I was doing and it was getting me nowhere.

fff: What inspires you to work so hard and continue to develop your craft?

M: You know I’m not quite sure… it’s just something that feels innate, like I have to work and continue to grow… i feel like i would die if I didn’t. This is my passion and truly when I feel most like myself. I come alive in the studio and get a High for creating that I can;t seem to find elsewhere.

fff: Where do you see the future of fashion going?

M: I see the future of fashion becoming much more playful and way less limiting of what one can and cannot do. Our new and up incoming designers and stylist in Montreal are so fun and fearless with what they create and put together. It really feels so new and fresh. I also think that for the first time people are much less driven by money which may sound like a surprise, but all the young individuals I’ve met are proud of living that poor artists lifestyle… this in itself has changed things for styling and design. It’s exciting.

Sitting down with Mikayla was so fun and natural. Her fearlessness when it comes to her style shows through in everything she wears and creates and can’t help but rub off onto those around her. I hope you guys are inspired to get a little more fearless with your styling.

Thank you for reading.

Dearly,

fff.

I met Claudia three years ago at a job training, we were both the newbies at Aritzia that fall and had to undergo multiple brutal 6:00am trainings before school. Lucky for Claudia and I we clicked immediately and decided to be car pool buddies making the 6:00am trainings a little less awful… you know what they say about misery loving company. Claudia was so easy to get along with, probably one of the most relatable people I have ever met. I think this is due to her insane understanding towards people, it is made very clear within minutes of meeting her that she is an empathetic soul trying to connect to others. I believe it is this aspect of Claudia that makes her such an incredible writer, and now editor. Claudia quickly got an amazing job as editor for Piper&Jane right after graduation and has been taking the fashion world by storm. It was a true pleasure to have a phone call interview with the ever wise Claudia Barbiero.

fff: So, How does it feel to be the youngest editor at Piper&Jane?

C: Oh Gosh! I’m not to going to lie it feels quite good, I knew it was something when I got hired right right after graduation but at the time I really didn’t realize how big of a deal it was until those around me put it into perspective. It has all been quite surreal.

fff: Working at Piper&Jane has given you the opportunity to interview some of Montreal’s top talent as well as some of the world’s leading forecasters within the industry. What has been one of your favourite interviews to date?

C: Ou, good question… I think I’d I have to say Interviewing the head Men’s buyer at SSense, Alix. She is a total girl boss with the most calm and poised energy, It was really nice to see someone in her position be so passionate yet relaxed. Alix is really so young and carrying so much influence on the industry yet really is so humble and isn’t caught up in the hype of it all. You can tell when speaking to her she really values the artistry within Fashion and much less about the elitism… I really admire that.

fff: Do you find it has been difficult not to get caught up in the industries social elitism ?

C: When I first got this position at P&J and began going to all the showing events and parties I found myself getting sucked into the competitiveness of who’s wearing the latest and trying to be the trendsetter, but that quickly became very unimpressive to me. I have learnt that the people within the industry that push elitism and really care about all that tend to be the people everyone avoids and don’t truly want to work with or be around.

fff: In your opinion is fashion taking a step away from elitism and becoming more inclusive?

C: In my opinion yes, I really do feel like fashion has become much more inclusive as an industry socially but also when it comes to clothing. I know a lot of people don’t like to admit this but, Kanye West has had a huge influence on this. Kanye creatine Yeezy and the simplistic street wear designs for a relatively affordable price has shifted things. High end brands have picked up on this and have began to collaborate with affordable streetwear brands such as dickies, North Face, Supreme… these collaborations really shifted the industry and broke down the elitism a bit.

fff: What is an aspect of the industry you’d like to change and will use your position to do so?

C: Oh, easy! I’d like to change how people view fast fashion and how they shop within these multi-billion dollar brands that are destroying the environment. The fashion industry is the second leading polluter of the world after the Oil industry, and the majority of the public really has no idea. It is so truly appalling to me and I am doing everything in my power to bring attention to this.

fff: How are you going about bringing attention to this awful issue?

C: Well I have started a column within the magazine that is in every issue published that focuses solely on the environmental issues of the industry. I have made sure that it shows the harshness of the state of the environment and all of the ugly issues people tend to shy away from publishing. I think it’s very important to show our readers the reality of the situation. We have also created an organization when our readers can join and volunteer around Montreal to help clean up the mess we’ve made through helping to distribution and recycling of disregarded clothing.

fff: Wow, that’s great Claudia! Now for our final question, where do you see the Future of Fashion heading?

C: I see the future of fashion becoming a lot greener, I think industry leaders are now beginning to see the causes our industries actions and greed has had on the environment. So I do see a lot of green changes in the future… I also see a lot of environmentally conscious designers emerging from Montreal and I believe this will become more and more common within the next five years. It has given me a lot of hope.

Chatting with Claudia was a true joy and seeing her passion for the environment was truly inspiring. It has definitely left me feeling more motivated and conscious to change any negative behaviour in my fashion habits and I hope it motivates you to do the same.

See you next weeks for our Interview with Montreal Stylist Mikayla.

Dearly,

fff.

• 

I met Noah about 6 months ago as we were both recruited to work on a fashion editorial together. Noah and I were casted as the two producers on the production. We were two of a team of six, a project manager, a photographer, a stylist, and a hairstylist/make-up artist. Noah and I clicked immediately professionally, it was a creative synergy, and his outside of the box thinking was creatively pushing and developing. I wasn’t too surprised to find out Noah was a designer as he has a real gift for storytelling through fashion, its almost like he has the ability to see what everyone is seeing and turn it upside down and create something completely different but in the most natural and simplistic way. Noah’s designs are heavily influenced by his home city in Vancouver, the young 21-year-old Tsawwassen native is known for his simple designs with natural earth tone colouring inspired by the fog, forests, and ocean back home. I was very excited to interview the young artist and get a glimpse inside his ever changing design process.

fff: What was it that drew you to Montreal Originally?

N: I was in my final year of university and had planned on going to UBC to study medicine, when I had gone to New York to visit my brother who was following his dreams and studying music. I saw how much he had grown in such a short period of time and how he really came into his own, it was inspiring… and I wanted that for myself. I was always really interested in design and had been drawing for years, but really had no portfolio; LaSalle College is one of the only schools offering design without a portfolio needed. I got in and then 5 months later was living in Montreal. I feel very grateful though, I truly love Montreal, and the City inspires me everyday.

fff: What was that like, moving to a new city so young? You must have been what, 19?

N: I was actually 17; I skipped a grade 6 so I was actually younger graduating high school in BC. It was nerve wracking for sure, but I had this deep feeling within that it was something I had to do. I have always been a little more mature for my age, and this caused me to really have this need to grow up a little faster… not in an age sense but in a challenge sense more so. So moving was something that challenged me and forced me to development in ways I wouldn’t have if I were still in BC.

fff: Do you find the two cities have influenced your Design style at all?

N: Oh yes, definitely! I’d say my design style is a mix of three cities, Vancouver in the sense that each design has a sense of comfort and laidback-ness, Montreal in the sense that my designs are quite eclectic and unique… just as the city and people are, and finally Shinjuku, in Japan in the way that I drape the fabric. But Vancouver and Montreal have made me who I am and I feel that you really see those two influences in every piece I design.

fff: What would you say is the driving force behind your desire to design?

N: hmm… well, first off I’m someone that needs to work with my hands, whether it was to become a surgeon or a designer, both would involve me working with my hands… that is something I always knew I needed to do. Aside from that I would say my main driving force is communication, I can sometimes have a hard time communicating what’s in my mind with others. Design lets me do that in a way that feels natural, I can show people how I’m feeling or how I’d like to appear through what I chose to wear and design. Its really a selfish form of expression before anything else.

fff: Where do you see Montreal Fashion heading?

N: oh man, the Montreal scene is moving… and fast. We are so quickly moving past major cities and making a real name for ourselves as a major fashion city. It’s so incredible because the industry can be so competitive but the majority of Montreal is so supportive of one another, and pushes one another to be the best they can. There is really a mentality that there is room for everyone at the top, I mean of course there are artist that don’t share this mentality… but those are the artist that end up missing out on the amazing collaborations happening between designers in the city.

fff: What are you goals for the upcoming year, as a Designer and Individual?

N: Hmm… as a designer to create a full and proper catalogue of my designs up to date, and to archive them while I continue to work as Head Designer at stone rose. My second goal as a designer is to make my first ever full collection, I’m really inspired by writers and that emotional relief I hear they feel after completing a piece. I would life to find that emotional relief through designing and creating a story through a series of garments. As for myself as an individual, I would like to expand my horizons; I plan on doing a lot of travelling this year in hopes of seeing things through ‘new’ eyes. That and maintaining the relationships in my life, I feel really fortunate to have a great group of people around me.

Sitting down and talking with Noah was so refreshing, his simplicity is inspiring and his need to collaborate with others in order to grow is admirable. I personally always feel that two heads are better than one, and to meet other individuals that view life that way is so exciting. We live in such a competitive society that can often separate us from one another but we really are at our best when helping and working with one another. It makes me hopefully for society and the industry when I meet up and chat with other gen y’s and learn that the majority of us share this mentality. I hope you guys enjoyed learning about Noah, and what drives him.

See you next week for our city down with Fashion Journalist Claudia!

I first met Xana (pronounced Shana), in a small computer class in August 2016. The only spot left in class was next to this tall, delicate looking girl with a beautiful tan, and an even more beautiful face. We quickly became friends as she has a very light and playful spirit that compliments my silly weird self quite well. Xana and I continued to become closer and closer over our time studying at LaSalle, bonding over photography, clothing, life outlooks, love, friendships, and most of all our desire to have fun and create. Xana and I used to (still sometimes will) leave class to go get a good picture for Instagram, I know… I’m rolling my eyes as well. But truthfully it is fun, and with Xana it was even more fun, I am one who prefers to be behind the lens and Xana makes this the easiest thing. her effortless beauty and silly nature makes her a dream to photograph. It is truly no surprise that Xana has now decided to sign to an agency.

Below you will get a glimpse into Xana’s experience and mentality when it comes to modelling in a day that is more competitive than ever. Enjoy!

fff: Xana, when did you first realize you wanted to be a model?

X: Oh, thats tricky. It wasn’t something that was an obvious decision like many people think. Growing up I was actually quite funny looking, I was much too tall and thin which led me to look a little off balance and awkward ‘haha’. It was only later in high school where I started to come into my own, that was also when Instagram was really taking off with heavy use of influencers… so at this point everyone was already taking pictures of themselves constantly, it was from this that I realized I enjoyed it and was actually quite good at it. But before all this I wanted to be a painter and a mother ‘haha’, very simple.

fff: How did you get started Modelling, was it solely through Instagram?

X: Well, it really all started with Instagram, having friends who were interested in photography and couldn’t afford paying an actual model would hit me up to shoot. At first I would say no, unless it was someone I was very comfortable with… I felt very shy at the beginning, still do today. So I really got a lot of practice from this, and Instagram is actually how I got discovered by Montage, the agency I’m signed with. That being said, my sister Zara is an amazing photographer and studied it in University and would often use me for her projects, which was amazing as she is one of the most creative and loving people I’ve ever met. So to work with someone who has her level of skill as an amatuer model was amazing practice for me, I think that really helped me get into the mindset of the photographer as well as the model.

fff: How do you keep a healthy mentality as a Model? any tips?

X: Ah, good question. This is something that is a forever struggle, not just as a model but as a person in today’s society. I am definitely someone who can get sucked into the world of comparison, and as a model that is a huge part of my job, it can be challenging to be sitting in a casting with beautiful women around you and not question yourself… but you really have to remind yourself daily, that you are made perfectly. You are you for a reason and the people that you need to be around will see it and feel it and chose to work with you, or spend their time with you etc. I’m a big believer in that truly, and that helps me stay sure of myself… its not easy but it helps. Also, really giving my body what it needs. enough sleep, meditation, water, and food… both healthy and junk is important.

fff: What do you love so much about Montreal Fashion, and being a model immersed in it?

X: Oh, I love this question. Montreal fashion is so unique, as unique as the city itself. Montreal is truly such a melting pot in so many aspects, music, art, culture, and fashion its hard to compare us to another city because we are all so eclectic as a whole. That’s really what I love about Montreal Fashion, we are never all following just one trend… even if we are you can see so many different unique twist to it, it’s always so fresh and inspiring. Being a model within Montreal is amazing because every job is so incredibly different, and I constantly get to work with amazing stylist who play with the versatility of Montreal.

fff: Where do you see Montreal heading when it comes to Fashion?

X: Ou, Montreal is really making waves right now in the industry. We have so many amazing Montreal Brands that have created a name for themselves across North America, like JJJJound, Saintwoods, Dime., and so many others. We have definitely surpassed Toronto when it comes to local houses that are killing it. We are even giving local New York Brands a run for their money. I really think the dedication to the art and the city is what is truly differentiating us, I know just between you and I everything we want to do is solely for the pureness of creating and keeping it local and in Montreal. I feel like a lot of us feel this way and its driving us all forward as individuals and a city.

fff: You just briefly touched upon this, But what is it that Inspires you to succeed in this industry?

X: Simple, I enjoy what I’m doing and I want to be able to do this for as long as the industry would let me… so until I’m 30 ‘haha’. But truly, it is when I feel most myself, and that is a very addictive feeling. I love to work with people that inspire me, seeing how many amazing creatives we have in our city and learning how their minds work, and watching their drive propel them forward is something I want to be around for the rest of my life.

I hope you guys enjoyed my little conversation Xana as much as I did, she is truly such a genuine and kind person and to work with her in any manner is always so fun and leaves me feeling so fortunate. I am always reminded of how important it is to take care of your mental well being as well as physical. In today’s society we are so over stimulated, with social media and technology it is important to take a step back and allow yourself to just be. I only allow myself 1hr of social media every second day in order to keep my mind in my present. let me know what you guys think of this interview and some tips or tricks you guys have for keeping a mentally healthy mind.

See you next week for our interview with Montreal Designer Noah.

dearly,

fff.

–

Welcome, to the Future Faces of Fashion, a Montreal based blog created by Me, Cassandra! A Fashion Marketing student who is trying to grasp the inspiration of her soon to be peers within the industry, and where the industry itself may be heading. As a soon to be graduate I have come to the paralyzing question, ‘What am I passionate about?, What do I want to do within the industry? What drives me?’. Driven to find an answer to this question I have decided to create this blog in hopes of finding the answers and guidance I am looking for through people within the industry.

I will be interviewing Fashion Photographers, Journalist, Designers, Models, Wholesalers, Influencers, and stylist. These individuals will all be people who fall into the age group of Generation Y. I will be discussing their career history, inspiration, and emotions towards fashion and where they think the industry and them within it is heading. I will then discuss how my personal and inspirational views have shifted after each interview and the main thing I have learned from that individual. This blog will be a personal research project to see what is the driving force within generation y in the fashion industry; is it fame, Financial success, Social media growth, Inspirational growth and development, or to truly create, and express ones self. By meeting and interviewing these individuals all within different areas of the industry it will really help give all well-rounded view of what the future of the Montreal fashion industry will look like and where it is heading, but mostly what the driving force behind the future looks like.

By doing this I think it will help give me a sense of guidance from young professionals, as well as an insight into where the industry might be heading and which area I’d like to be apart of. I am very eager to see the true leading forces of inspiration behind Generation Y, I have a feeling I will be quite surprised and will really learn a lot, and I hope you, the reader will feel the same.