Gen Art just extended the deadline for the Plastics Make it Possible competition to December 11.  The grand prize is $10,000 and a sponsored fashion show in New York during fashion week.  This competition is open to American designers only.  However, anyone can sign up to rate the entries and vote for favourite designs.

Plastics Make it Possible^SM and Gen Art are challenging new and established designers to put their creativity to the test and design two dynamic womenswear looks made from fabrics that include plastic-based fibers such as polyester, rayon, nylon and more.

The Grand Prize Winner will be obligated to create a sample collection, 10 piece line, utilizing items from the approved materials list to be shown during Gen Art’s New York Winter Fashion Week 2010. The Grand Prize Winner will also receive a $10,000 stipend/award to create the collection and a trip (two days / two nights) for Grand Prize Winner and one (1) guest to New York City, to attend the Fashion Week Event.

The CSPA Unmasked art competition not only has a $500 cash prize, the winning artwork will also be used in promotion of a great cause.  The deadline is December 16, 2009.  Thanks so much to Eden for giving me the heads up.

Run by the CSPA, this initiative currently has one primary component: a design competition wherein creative Canadians have the opportunity to design a mask in a medium of their choice for a chance to win $500 and a have their mask featured on the CSPA’s website and back cover of the CSPA’s inaugural magazine in 2010. Join the voice of Canada’s skin patient community and make it stronger!

Fashion Crimes, sponsor of Final Fashion, let me know they are having a very brief “Friends and Family” sale from December 2-4.  Since any friend of mine is a friend of Fashion Crimes (and vice-versa), you all get 25% off of everything in the store.

Today is the last day of the “Visual Presentation for Fashion” class I am teaching at Passion for Fashion, a program combining the forces of YES and the TFI.  My first teaching gig has been quite the learning experience – especially for me – and a marvelous chance to meet intrepid young entrepreneurs.  Their energy and enthusiasm always inspire me.

The final phase of the program is the “Fashionista’s Den” competition, where the participants are asked to present their business idea to a group of fashion industry pros (and me) for a chance to win $1000 and a year’s membership with the TFI including fabulous access to resources and networking opportunities.

YES is currently matching these young entrepreneurs with volunteer mentors to help them prepare and focus their presentation.  If you work in the fashion industry, this is a terrific opportunity to share your knowledge and experience with a younger person who is at the beginning of their career – like you were once.  Some of these students are looking to start magazines, styling careers, fashion labels, and other unique ideas, so no matter what your background there is someone out there who would really appreciate your time.

For all the information on mentorship, please download the PDF.

As I was finding inspiration at LG Fashion Week for paper dolls, Darlene Martin of Bijouxbead was finding inspiration for her new collection of glass, crystal and sterling jewelry designs.  So curious to see what she came up with.

Bijouxbead Holiday 2009 Interactive Pop Up Event
December 1 – 14 – The Atelier of The Fair Trade Jewellery Company
523 Parliament St., Toronto 647-430-8741

Hours
Mon-Tue by appointment only
Wed-Fri 12:30pm-8:00pm
Sat-Sun 11:30am-6:00pm

Thanks to Final Fashion sponsor LIV by Au Lit, I had a wonderful opportunity to invite 20 of my favourite fashion friends – writers, bloggers and stylists – to celebrate the beginning of the winter holiday season with wine and cupcakes and check out all the goods at LIV.  This is the second sponsored event I’ve done in the intimate, casual spirit of my old series of networking brunches, TFBB.

Here I am looking as festive as I’ll ever get!

Stylist Tricia Campbell meets shopping blogger Eden Spodek.

I love being a connecter of people – I tried to invite a mix of good pals from the TFBB days and newer friends that I’d like to get to know better – and of course people I think would like to meet eachother. I also tried to pick people I knew would love LIV’s chic, friendly style and the vintage-inspired jewelry of featured designers Edmoure Ralph.  All while keeping the event small enough to be intimate.  I’m lucky to have the enviable problem of knowing way too many awesome people so putting together the guest list was a happy challenge.

The girls of Fashion In Motion showing off some ornaments.

Kimberly of The Soul of my Shoes and Ashley Bartlett of She Does the City.  Marta of With Love… was also at the event taking photos for LIV’s blog, I was a bit too absorbed with introductions and conversations to get many good shots so I can’t wait to see Marta’s pics.

LIV’s owner Joanna Goodman and I at the end of a lovely evening.

Thanks everyone who came!  It was so much fun to see you all.  Roll call:

• Briony Smith and Danah Abdulla of blogTO
• Rea McNamara of EYE WEEKLY and Metro
• Emma Yardley of Canadian Living
• Johanne Durocher and Rachel of Fashion In Motion
• Jennifer Campbell of FASHION Magazine
• Gail McInnes
• Anita Clarke of I want – I got
• Jen Tse
• Linda Gaylard
• Nathalie Atkinson and Elyse of National Post
• Ashley Bartlett of She Does the City
• Afiya Francisco of The Style House
• Stefania Yarhi of Textstyles
• Tricia Campbell
• Renee Williams of Yahoo Canada Life
• Eden Spodek of Bargainista
• Kimberly Lyn of The Soul of my Shoes

As promised, Biddell gets another paper doll for his unusual menswear.  Besides silver wrestling bodysuits, what really stood out was the blingy mobile-phone neckpieces.

A while back I mentioned I was entering the Hermes tie design competition – where one of the rules was not to reveal the work, but since I am not a finalist I think its OK to show what I did now.

I decided to make a physical tie because I wanted to experiment with a heritage craft technique called “drawn threadwork”.  This method uses a somewhat coarsely woven fabric (here I used a 2-tone linen where the warp and weft are different colours).

My Oma had made some table linens using this technique so I went to visit her to learn it and spent a pleasant afternoon testing ideas on swatches with her.

What you do is carefully pick out warp and weft threads in the pattern of your choice, and then you stitch it down in various subtle patterns.  I spent hours and hours taking small, precise stitches to secure the drawn threads, a task I found enjoyable.  Detail work like this demands that you to both concentrate and yet you can also allow your mind to drift somewhat… it creates a pleasant mental state – sort of like knitting, which I am not as good at.

Now I was not surprised I wasn’t a finalist.  Sometimes as a designer I can be inspired by a technique and sometimes I can get trapped by it – in this case the fabric selection I needed to do the threadwork was too thick to create a useable tie – the knot on this thing (if you can knot it) is about the size of a man’s fist and would be way too much for any collar.  I’ve made my fair share of unwearable garments over the years – I would have to say this one is among my most favourite aesthetically.

Thank you to Eleni Nikoletsos for taking such lovely photos with her macro lens and generously allowing me to post them!  And thanks to Lisa Canning for introducing me to Eleni.  Click the pictures for (slightly) bigger views.

A word from… is a monthly news post contributed by the sponsors who support Final Fashion.  All of my sponsors are intrepid entrepreneurs with a lot of personality, and I encourage you to check out what they are doing and making.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please get in touch!

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Nina from the Toronto Fashion Incubator says…

TFI Guide: Fashioning Sustainability: TFI’s Guide to Going Green soon to be available in French too!

Learn how to take your fashion business green with this insightful resource. Increase your market share by knowing WHO the 4 types of eco-consumers are and what appeals to them. Will be available in French on November 24, 2009 here.

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William from Gwendolyne Hats says…

We create modern classics you enjoy everyday.  Come see our latest at the One of a Kind Show!
Booth: I-49.
Dates: Thurs Nov 26 to Sun Dec 6.
Location: Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. Toronto.

Gwendolyne has a fabulous new collection of hats, bags & accessories made right in T.O. She’s gone the extra step to bring artistry, fresh design and fine materials to practical accessories.  There’s something for everyone at Gwendolyne Hats.  Great gifts for giving & perfect treats for yourself; beautiful hats, gorgeous bags, cozy scarves and some sweet small accessories.

Our Shop will re-open on Dec 10th after the Show. With extended Christmas shopping hours until Dec 24.
Hours: Mon thru Sat from 12 to 8 p.m.
Location: 401 Richmond St, West. Top floor Suite 433

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Ashley from Shopgirls says…

Join us for our annual all-out GIFTED bonanza! Shopgirls has brought in 15 new artists just for the holiday season, so gift-buying should be a snap! Find fabulous things for the most special men and women in your life, including funky scarves, wallets, unique jewellery, highly giftable glassware and pottery, cute undies and botanical soaps, and more! As we do all year-round, Shopgirls offers free gift wrapping and has available gift certificates in any amount!

TO TOP IT OFF in celebration of our 2nd anniversary, on the 5th and 6th of December, Shopgirls will give away free jute bags with any purchase over $150! Shop your heart out and take home the goods in this eco-friendly custom-designed bag. Shopgirls makes sure these will be holidays to remember!

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Julie from LIV by Au Lit says…

Hello Final Fashion readers! We’re thrilled to meet you and to be partnering with Final Fashion. LIV by Au Lit is the natural evolution of fashion and home decor coming together in one space. Our 10,000 square foot, two-level store combines clothing, jewelery, furniture, linens and accessories to create an inspiring one-of-a-kind shopping experience.

Come and check out our amazing selection of holiday fashion and gifts this Saturday, November 28th between 10-6pm at our Annual Holiday Shopping Party! The first 50 purchases over $100 will receive a stunning jewelery gift. There’s also going to be a jewelery trunk show, live carolers and hot cocoa & treats. We hope to see you there!

Welcome to Click Click, the once-regular roundup of what I find worth clicking on the internet.  The last month has been way crazy for me so I haven’t managed to round things up as regularly and I usually do – so here’s an action-packed roundup to make up for all the irregularity.  Thanks for your patience!

• Anyone can get robbed, even pretty girls with witty words like the ladies at Worn Journal.  Help them out – donate, subscribe, advertise! – for all the karma you’ll need if it ever happens to you. *knock on wood*
• Snark attack – an intriguing review of a book on a subject that piques my curiousity as a mediaphile.  I’ve posited my own theory on how the media is turning flamewhore before, and this author’s argument seems to support that idea.
• So much fuss over Demi’s hip amuses me. As someone who draws and looks at figures a lot, the odd line of her hip strikes me as real, not adjusted.  Those of us in the image industry often see that what is real looks unnatural – nature is weird. Expert imagemakers know this – that’s why we use photoshop. I bet this brouhaha about over-photoshopping is actually over a case of under-photoshopping.  Who do you believe? I drew my own conclusions.
• Last chance for Caninja – Adrienne is clearing out her inventory of the accessory that put her on the map – of Canada – own a bit of Northern history.
• What does poetry have to do with Project Runway? An examination of taste and judgement from a literary perspective. Thanks to Jabberdust for the link – check out her gorgeous scarves at the FGI sample sale in Toronto this weekend.
• Fascinating article about Versace’s meteoric rise and slow fall – it could be very aptly illustrated with this cartoon by Gaping Void.
• Sir Paul Smith gives a very candid interview on his opinions on the fashion industry – “I’ve always preferred the creative process of designing and selling clothes to the idea of putting on a poncey fashion show.”

Plus, major fashion blog karma for friends of Final Fashion!

• Sweetlife illustrates a series on choosing the right dress with some of my paper dolls – looking pretty sweet!
• Sift, Dust and Toss checked out The Roosevelt Room from a foodie perspective and mentions me (!) – and so does Toronto Tasting Notes.
• Deeply Superficial – my friend Truc, a marvelous thinker, writer, and fashion pro, is blogging again.  You should subscribe!
• Stylish Goose – this commenter does lovely fashion illustrations from Canada’s capital city.
• The Cheap Girl gives me a shout-out for my paper dolls – thanks! And so does Fiercliveshere – go check out his amazing hats. And Dualite! And Fashion Claim! Love you all.
• The Backseat Stylers know it and show it – “the view is best from the back seat.” And here’s another backseater worth checking – Satisfashion.
• See a couple of pre-fashion week interviews with me at She Does the City and Vitamin Daily.