June/July cover - SHE Canada Magazine

The
Canadian
Fragrance
Awards
And the winners are…
Summertime
Beauty picks
That You Won’t
Sweat Off
EXCLUSIVE
My Fashion Life with Tory
Burch, Angela Missoni, &
Manolo Blahnik
Monica Dogra
The Multidimensional Artist on Film, Music,
Fashion & her Future
TFI’S Press and Buyer’s Brunch at
WMCFW
JUNE/JULY 2014 $4.99 CAD | Dhs 18.08 AED | £3.28
INSIDE
Osiyan Paris’ Distinctly Indo-French Aesthetic
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SHE Content
IN EVERY ISSUE:
EDITOR’S NOTE 6
SHE ONLINE 7
CONTRIBUTORS 8
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 9
STYLE SCOOP 10
HE 58
∙ Summer Looks for HIM
∙ SHEPRENEUR 48
∙ Sonya Gill: Youzus Founder
HEPRENEUR 52
∙ MPP Jagmeet Singh
SHE CARES 68
∙ Lady Fatemah Trust
∙ Lend a Helping Hand To Those in Syria
SHE DEBATES 66
∙ Shadeism: Lack of Beauty in Skin Tones
HEALTH/WELLNESS 72
∙ Yoga 201
ON THE ROAD 50
∙ Mauritius: Visit the Paradise Calendar
BEAUTY 76
∙ Introducing the New Faces of Maybelline
∙ Favourites for the Summertime
QUOTE/UNQUOTE 94
∙ Famous Quotes on Travel
Editor/Publisher KAMRAN ZAIDI
Executive Editor PRIYA KUMAR
Associate Editor HARPREET BRAR
National Advertising Director ADRIAN BHATTI
Art Layout Coordinator JENNIFER RONG
Travel Contributor ROBIN ESROCK
Features Contributors LIZ GUBER, SARAH HORSFALL, FARIA JAFRI, ANNA BANDI
Health & Wellness Contributor MARIA POSPELOVA
FEATURES:
Marketing Manager ERUM ZEHRA
OSIYAN PARIS 14
∙ Unrivaled jewelry by a brother-sister duo
COVER STORY 30
∙ Monica Dogra: Modern-Day Renaissance (Wo)man
SPECIAL FEATURES 28
∙Vogue Festival 2014
∙ Sanjit Roy: Barefoot College
∙MAX Agency: Summer in the City
∙ In the cove: A Short Story
SOUTH ASIA 40
∙ Aamina Sheikh: The Unstoppable Artist
∙ The Secret to Anti-Aging
Events 84
∙ The Ninth Annual Canadian Fragrance Awards
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Write to SHE Canada, 1999 Avenue Rd., Toronto, ON, M5M 4A5
Or [email protected], Facebook: SHECanada
Twitter: @SHECanada
For Advertising Inquiries:
Please contact Kamran Zaidi, 416 644 7788, 416 878 0SHE
[email protected]
SHE MAGAZINE CANADA IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF KAMRA ON PRODUCTIONS INC.
COPYRIGHT © 2014 KAMRA ON PRODUCTIONS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN PAKISTAN
EUGENIA KIM
Audra crystal headband
$200
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Editor’s
note
W
EDITOR
S.M. Kamran Zaidi
ith another summer officially upon us, it’s time to turn over a new
(proverbial) leaf and start over. As this issue was going to print, Ontario Premiere
Kathleen Wynne announced an upcoming June election. Perhaps by the time you’re
reading this, the votes will have been tallied and Ontario may very well have a new mix
of leaders.
Summer is FINALLY here. It could never have been more welcome than
Politics aside, in this June/July issue we bring you a new mix of our own. I’m pleased
to introduce a young, burgeoning writer to our team of contributors—my nine-yearold daughter Shakirah Zaidi. In this issue she authored a touching story of struggle
and triumph titled In the Cove. I would also like to introduce my daughters, Amna
and Fatima Zaidi, who contributed to their younger sister’s story by designing the
accompanying artwork. Inspired by the gripping and at times disturbing documentaries
Blackfish and The Cove, In The Cove is a narrative about the plight of dolphins and
whales through the eyes of a child.
memories just need to be made can only mean one thing - the season is
in 2014. There’s just something different about this time of year. The birds
are chirping, and the thermometer is reading temperatures that we are
not yet accustomed to due to our frigid winter. That iridescent feeling that
here and SHE online is here to tell you all about it this summer!
Also this month, we’re delighted to offer SHE readers an exclusive interview with
Monica Dogra. Best known in Canada for her role in Dhobi Ghat, Dogra is now set to
launch her first musical solo effort. Executive Editor Priya Kumar catches up with the
multifaceted artist as she prepares to travel the world on tour.
In this issue we also take an in-depth look at London’s famed Vogue Festival with an
exclusive talk titled “My Fashion Life” featuring womenswear designer Tory Burch;
Osiyan Paris’ French-Gujarati designers Alpa and Mehul Patel; and last but far from
least, our Beauty and Home sections featuring the products you know and love from
CoverGirl to Febreze.
Finally, I wanted to touch on the plight of Syrians and shed light on what you can do
in association with SHE to offer a helping hand to those in need. Now that winter is
officially a distant memory, we urge you to send cash donations, clothing, blankets and
other useful products to the people affected by the crisis in Syria. We will be collecting
your donations all summer long. Please send your gently used goods to: SHE Cares,
Suite 202, 1999 Avenue Road, Toronto, M5M 4A5 or e-mail [email protected].
Have a wonderful start to summer! And don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in
Letters to the Editor about your take on this issue.
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Contributors
“What is your favourite way to cool down in the summertime?”
PRIYA KUMAR
ROBIN ESROCK
HARPREET BRAR
This is a DIY gem for coffee lovers; put
coffee (milk/sugar optional) into an ice tray
and freeze overnight. The next morning
you have homemade iced coffee that won’t
water down.
River tubing. Nothing beats relaxing on a
rubber tube, feet in the water, floating with
the current on a hot summer day.
Wearing colours that reflect the sun’s light
usually help, which is why I’m glad
metallics are in this season.
Executive Editor
Travel Contributor
Associate Editor
letters to the
Editor
I loved your reviews on springtime spas. I made sure
that I made a note of each one that I plan to go to since
it’s always difficult finding a good spa to rely on, thanks!
- Angela, Toronto
I was happy to see a couple of features on designers such
as John and Simone Rocha. I hope to see more of these
in the future!
- Lindsey, Pickering
I always enjoy your Quotes section, it’s one of the things
I look forward to most when I pick up your magazine.
Your April/May issue probably had some of the most
inspiring ones yet.
- Sheena, Brantford
I also read “Love in Chelsea”, and was thrilled when I
saw that SHE reviewed it. I was even more thrilled that
we shared the same views on it.
- Connie, North York
The Health & Wellness piece was very motivating and
inspired me to work out. But I hope there are some
workout routine how-tos in your future issues.
- Theresa, Mississauga
When I saw that Merle Oberon was on your cover, I had
to pick it up. This was one of my most interesting reads
to date.
- Megan, Brampton
I appreciate that SHE covers tragic stories and real-life
events such as the Fehmina Chaudhry along with the
lighter topics. It always makes the magazine a captivating read and I’m looking forward to your next topic
focusing on real-life issues.
- Sandy, Toronto
The April/May issue of SHE really nailed it with their
“Brown Girl problems”. Let’s just say it got me through
a similar situation. I really appreciate how direct the
advice is.
- Farwa, Toronto
SARAH HORSFALL
SHAKIRAH ZAIDI
During summer, my favorite place is to be
is sitting on a boat while I read my book.
When I get too hot, I simply jump into the
lake to cool off.
My favourite way to cool down in the
summer is by going swimming and eating
ice cream.
Features Contributor
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Features Contributor
FARIA JAFRI
Features Contributor
Since childhood, I have discovered that
the best sanctuary from the summer
heat is in the simple pleasure of a cherry
freeze.
APRIL/
MAY
ISSUE
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1
3
1
2
2
3
4
Oscar de la Renta
Connect the
dots
Does the polka dot ever go out
of style? This perennial favourite
popped up all over the runways and
made an appearance on clutches,
sunglasses and detached collars.
Dot your summer wardrobe with a
fresh take on a classic pattern.
5
Versace
4
6
plastic
Surgery
Designers in every
major fashion capital
played with PVC this
season. From adorable
capelets at Burberry to
cheeky buttondowns at
Charlotte Ronson, this
is a look best enjoyed
with a heavy dose of
confidence.
1
1
8 Polka dot jacket $138
ARMANI JEANS Large red PVC bag $182
2
2
TOPSHOP Spot collar playsuit $96
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Patent leather and PVC flats $730
3
3
TOPSHOP Polka dot crop jacket $116
SIMONE ROCHA Leopard PVC skirt $770
4
4
ELIZABETH & JAMES Convertible Clutch $368
GIVENCHY Chain ring $440
5
5
SAINT LAURENT Silk bow tie $295
STUART WEITZMAN Gelly sandal $270
6
6
NSF Drawstring sweatpants $195
CHRISTIAN DIOR Perspex cuff Price on request
7
7
LE SPECS Acetate sunglasses $90rts $335A
ROCHAS Metallic crocodile-effect leather tote $1360shorts $335
7
Charlotte
Ronson
Burberry
7
6
5
8
Burberry Prorsum
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Christian Dior
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2
1
1
3
2
3
Caffe Swimwear
4
sneak
a peak
With Isabel Marant herself
declaring the obsolecense of the
platform sneaker, we turn to slipons and low-tops this summer.
Acne has fun with a metallic
version while Miu Miu takes a
bedazzled approach.
5
Marc Jacobs
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Life’s a
5
Chanel
4
beach
7
1
SUPERGA Animal print giraffe $100
2
ROCCO P Metallic Wingtip Brogue Sneakers $445
3
BOTTEGA VENETA Trèfle Intrecciato slip on sneakers $560
4
MIU MIU Crystal cap toe sneaker $698
5
ACNE STUDIOS Metallic leather low top sneaker $420
6
GIVENCHY Rose print sneakers $570
6
A far cry from
predictable, florals
take on a lush,
botanical look this
summer. Pair with
woven accessories to
channel South Beach,
even if you’re stuck in
the concrete jungle.
1
MOTHER OF PEARL Lagan banana espadrilles $385
2
MANGO Tropical print dress $64.85
3
MSGM Cutout back bouclé mini dress $555
4
DOLCE & GABBANA Cotton blend bustier $845
5
ASOS Tropical print retro sunglasses $21.10
6
DOLCE & GABBANA Floral print reversible bikini $665
7
SOPHIE ANDERSON Liliana woven cotton clutch $305
8
CARVEN Printed cotton blend crepe skirt $530
8
Just Cavalli
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osiyan paris
where east meets French
By Priya Kumar
What materials do you favour in your designs and why?
A
few issues ago we featured
Alpa Rama, founder and blogger-in-chief of
the wildly successful “A Parisian in America”.
Born in Paris, currently residing in the
States, Rama has created an online portal
that oozes chic without forsaking her Eastern
heritage. Rama’s family immigrated to Paris
in the late 1980s from Gujarat, India offering
Rama and her siblings a “best-of-bothworlds” upbringing. Since we last sat down
with Rama, her other venture Osiyan Paris
has taken off in a huge way. Named after a
village in Rajastan known for its handicrafts,
Osiyan is a partnership between Rama and
her brother Mehul. Offering unique designs
using only the highest quality materials,
Osiyan Paris’ aim is to offer a chic product
at a reasonable price. If their word isn’t
enough, the jewellery label also boasts being
a product of France. Osiyan is truly a staple
every jewellery box craves.
I recently had the chance to discuss the label
with the brother-sister duo and find out what
inspires them.
For our products, we favor natural stone and Swarovski Elements
pearls. We favour natural products so that there is sense of natural
energy embedded into the product and Swarovski Elements because
it offered materials that are in line with our brand philosophy in
terms of quality.
Tell me a bit about “The Golden Buddha” bracelet and why it’s
considered your signature.
Tell me a bit about the brand ethos of Osiyan.
The ethos of the Osiyan Paris is one that exhibits a sense of worldly
exploration, and combines that with a personality that is chic, high
quality, and very much luxury.
Being Gujarati by heritage, what was growing up in Paris like?
How has it shaped who you are today and the design process?
It was an overall great experience to grow up in France with Indian
origins. It was kind of having a dual life, being Indian in the house
and French outside of it. Our parents believed in exposing us to
Indian culture and religion but they never imposed it, which was
great so we could pick the best from both cultures. I definitely
picked up spirituality and family values from the Indian side, and
an attention to detail, fashion sense, and various cultural elements
from France.
What does the word Osiyan mean and how does it manifest itself
in your label?
Our first product, the Golden Buddha, was inspired by India, so we
looked at the map of India, and found Osiyan, a village in the state
of Rajasthan in India. My brother and I both connected with the
name so decided that Osiyan will be the brand. We wanted France
to also be an integral part of the name so we added the subscript
‘Paris’. Even though Osiyan was inspired by India, its name sounds
universal and boundless. It also doesn’t have connotation to a
specific product because we envision Osiyan to be a brand that
represents various products of the ethos I mentioned above.
14 SHE CANADA
Golden Buddha was our first creation; we put a lot of passion and
heart into it. It really defines who we are as a brand—the Asian
style with a touch of classic luxury, similar to our lives as Indians in
France.
How do you choose your color palate for your designs?
We get inspired from life overall. For example when we travel, we
love looking outside of a plane’s window and observe; any color that
we get attracted to we take a picture and then try to find the closest
beads that will remind us of those colours and palettes. Sometimes
it’s an emotion we are after. We feel a certain way in some places,
and although the feeling isn’t visible we try to incorporate it in the
bracelet through design and color.
Osiyan Paris is available on their website www.osiyanparis.com; keep
an eye out for their legendary promotions. If you’re located in the
United States, enquire about a promo code for “Free Shipping”!
INDUSTRY HEAVYWEIGHTS
By Sarah Horsfall
JOE FRESH
RUDSAK
Joseph Mimram, creative director of the Joe
Fresh brand, whose sharp eye and attention
to detail has enabled him to always be on the
forefront of what’s next. From product design
to marketing, Mimram is involved in every
stage of the Joe Fresh creative process. Like
his attention to detail in design, Mimram’s
business perspective on retail has led Joe
Fresh to become one of the top brands in
Canada. The brand is committed to offering
well-designed looks for women, men, and
children stylish that are well priced.
Known for its quality, craftsmanship, and
international instinct, Rudsak is based in
Montreal and has become one of Canada’s
leading fashion brands. The brand’s founder
and creative leader, Evik Asatoorian, has
always been inspired by James Dean’s
rebellious allure and Audrey Hepburn’s
pristine elegance.
The FW14 collection simply vibrates sexy,
chic attitude. A number of female ensembles
consisted of leather mini skirts that were
paired with knee-high boots and graphic
stockings. The balance of soft and hard
materials articulated a type of femininity
that is interlaced with edgy attitude. For
both men and women, there were a number
of different length jackets that were cut
in different silhouettes. Additionally,
accessorized with fur linings, gloves, and
leather bags, each ensemble will bring a
sizzling element to the cold season. All in
all, the collection captivates Dean’s rebellious
nature and Hepburn’s elegance.
From the Canadian Rockies to the Atlantic
Coast, this season’s collection draws
inspiration from the Canadian landscape.
There are the obvious sweater pieces with
graphic designs of a mountain or fox.
The more subtle looks however, include
an ensemble where the textile reminds
you of the face of a rocky hillside. At the
opposite end of the Canadian landscape
finds a chiffon dress with a blue and brown
textile that references the rocky coastline.
The collection provides a mixed array of
ensembles that can be worn for the warmer
fall days to the cold winter nights. The FW14
collection truly speaks to Canadian lifestyle
and design.
PINK TARTAN
Kimberly Newport-Mimram is the president
and head designer of Pink Tartan, the women’s
wear line that she co-founded in Toronto in
2002. The New York Pink Tartan showroom
opened in 2004, and the line is now carried at
Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Holt Renfrew, and The Bay, as well as at
other specialty stores across North America,
Dubai, and Seoul. Additionally, Newport-Mimram has designed uniforms for Holt Renfrew,
Porter Airlines, 60 Thompson in New York City,
and Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel.
Newport-Mimram designs according to her
style philosophy “simplicity is the secret to
elegance” and her lifelong mantra “execution
is key”. This year’s collection was heavy on
textural fabrics like wool and cashmere. With
the ensembles being paired with oversized
accessories, bundling up never looked so chic.
The collection maintained a nice balance of soft
pieces like Newport-Mimram’s fun flirty skirts
and heavy pieces like the motorcycle jackets.
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MACKAGE
Long time friends, Eran Elfassy and Elisa
Dahan, launched Mackage in 2009 in Montreal.
Upon graduating from LaSalle College
(Montreal), the pair launched their label that
eventually became one of the most prestigious
outerwear brands in North America. The duo is
known for creating collections that balance hard
and soft elements together.
Their FW14 collection consisted of a mixed
array of fuchsia wool, leather, grey camo,
quilted leather, fur, and forest green and navy
blue tartan. Mackage were extremely successful
in pairing different textiles. For instance, an
ensemble involving a black leather jacket, black
fur skirt, and green leather bag brings a fresh
look to the fall/winter season.
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NEW FACES
By Sarah Horsfall
BRIT WACHER
Brit Wacher debuted her collection on day
five of World MasterCard Fashion Week.
Wacher was raised and educated out West.
Before establishing her label in Montreal
last year, she spent a few years in Europe,
Asia, and Canada gaining experience in the
fashion industry. Some of her experience
involved working for Asian art and fashion
publications, and refining her skills with the
guidance of Dutch fashion designer Pauline
Van Dongen.
Claudette
by Claudette Floyd
and Joseph Helmer
This year, Claudette Floyd and Joseph Helmer
produced a joint collection for the runway. Floyd
was born in Jamaica and grew up watching her
mother create beautiful dresses. Her label, Rush
Couture, is currently based in Montreal. Her
label is characterized by her structure tailoring,
flowing lines, magnificent textures, and flattering
silhouettes. She modernizes vintage silhouettes in
order to create casual chic.
Based on the concept of duality, her designs
were a balanced expression of past reality and
futuristic fantasy. She contrasted traditional
silhouettes, like the Victorian inspired high
neck collar and accentuated shoulders, with
subtle obscurities that pushed the garments
into the future. Although her pieces were
not overtly feminine, the combination of her
tailored craftsmanship and flowing draped
elements certainly spoke to the female form.
A favorite piece was the modernized black
cape. The asymmetrical and orbital garment
was paired with a black pencil skirt, and projected the image of a modern power woman.
HILARY
MACMILLON
Hilary MacMillon founded her Toronto-based
womenswear label in 2012. For this season’s
collection, MacMillon drew her inspiration
from her Scottish heritage. While providing a
variety of pieces, her collection maintained its
cohesion with her consistent use of red, tartan
print, fur accessories, and bird graphics.
MacMillon stayed true to her label, which
focuses on creating pieces that are wearable
for the modern urban woman. Her effortless
tailoring and retro vibe thus did not completely
conceal the female form or modern elements.
For instance, her shapeless dresses were paired
with surprising sexy open backs. Another
favorite outfit was a white blouse paired with
sexy trousers. The trousers are tipped off with
red fabric. Accessories included a white knit
cap and fur handbag. The outfit expressed
MacMillon’s focus on female urban wear.
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Joseph Helmer is also based in Montreal.
Originally trained as a tailor, he studied at Lasalle
College in Montreal. He then travelled to Paris
to continue his training as a technician and
plastician. He practiced for some of the greatest
names in fashion and performing arts in France,
Italy, Spain, and Japan. At the same time, he
worked on his own creations and completed his
training in knits, embroidery, and textile design.
After a number of years, Helmer returned to
Montreal where he applied his twenty years of
experience to Philippe Dubuc. With Dubuc,
Helmer crafted costumes for the stage as well as
wedding dresses.
In the collection, there were a number of pieces
that possessed a wonderful combination of
tailoring and textiles. Tailored pieces were often
contrasted with contoured lines. A number of
these pieces were flattering to the female form.
However, as the collection filed down the runway,
you could feel as though there were two different voices speaking at once. Rather than being
harmonious, it seemed as though the two voices
were combatting for attention. For example,
you had a vibrant orange tailored suit offset by
an outfit involving a camo jacket, high waisted
shorts, and rain boots. Plus, there were a couple
of silhouettes, inspired from the 50s, that boxed
the models’ figures. All in all though, most of the
collection showed an interesting interpretation of
vintage profiles and balance of different textiles. A
personal favorite, a brown dress that consisted of
soft chiffon and a glittery woven fabric. The cut of
the dress resulted with a beautiful balance of fabrics and a very flattering and feminine silhouette.
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ONES TO WATCH
By Sarah Horsfall
CHRISTOPHER
BATES
THOMAS
BALINT
Since establishing his label, Christopher Bates
has been a rising star in the world of menswear.
Trained at Institute Marangoni, Bates currently
sells his brand at leading Canadian retailers
including: Holt Renfrew and Gotstyle Menswear.
Bates has earned high recognition by being
featured as one of the top six leading menswear
designers in Canada (Sharp Magazine, September
2009). In 2012, Bates was selected as the only
menswear designer in Mercedes-Benz StartUp
Program and was awarded with a sponsored show
at World MasterCard Fashion Week.
Thomas Balint studied sculpture at the
Ontario College of Art and Design in
Toronto. He founded his label in 2010 and
opened his first brick-and-mortar boutique
in 2012. In 2013, Balint restructured his
brand to incorporate his Hungarian Heritage.
Using unique cuts, Balint modernizes classic
styles with innovative design techniques.
From the models that walked the runway,
to the styling, and to the actual designs, the
entire collection alluded to Balint’s Eastern
background. The collection contained a
mixed arrays of black, grey, and some shade
of cream. The collection also included a great
balance of soft and heavy materials. From
silks to velvet, each design was the epitome
of masculine urban wear. A nice surprise
in the collection though, was a “dress” that
referenced the image of a woman wearing a
man’s collared shirt. A very sexy but tasteful
apparel.
His FW14 Collection, called Nocte, was inspired
by Oscar Wilde’s infamous character Dorian
Grey. Throughout his entire collection, Bates’
inserted interesting details that updated the
traditional male outfit. For example, his striped
shirts were given a little flare by being offset with
diagonal lines at the bottom right. Additionally,
his use of elbow patches, unique collars, use of
different textiles. With the suspenders and bow
tie suits, you can help but think of Mad Men reference. Whether wearing the casual sweater outfit
or business suit, Christopher Bates’ collection
simply exudes masculinity.
MICHAEL KALE
LAURA SIEGEL
Michael Kale studied at Central Saint Martins
in London. In 2003, he worked in Milan for
labels such as Antonio Marras and Bally. He
later secured a design position for Exte under
Sergio Ciucco and Alessandro De Benedetti. He
began his own label in 2007. Kale has been in
numerous magazines including: New York Times
Magazine, Wallpaper, Dazed and Confused, V
Magazine, WWD, Nylon, and Surface.
Formally educated at Parson’s School of Design (New
York City) and Central Saint Martins (London), Laura
Siegel is based in New York and Toronto. Her label
is characterized by easy-to-wear textured pieces that
are ethically handcrafted and collaboratively designed
with artisans in Asia and Latin America. Siegel
focused her skills in silver-smithing, knitting, natural
dyeing, embroidery, and accessory design. Her work
has let her to collaborate with international designers
such as Megan Park, Life with Bird, Luca Luca, and
Arthur Mendonca.
Kale believes that garments are “mortal” for they
move and breathe. Kales believes that garments
are created to function as an extension of the
wearer and to compliment the architecture of
the body. His FW14 collection, expresses this
belief for it spoke to the human form. Through
his use of coloured textiles and embellishments,
he demonstrated how the human body is a
balance between structure (strength) and
fluidity (fragile).
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Siegel’s FW14 collection focused on her signature
day-to-day wear. Her entire collection is characterized
by draped layering, funnel necks, and chunky knits.
Her colours consists of deep and rich browns, medium
to dark greens, and warm creams. She balanced her
heavy outerwear pieces with hand knit suedes, wools,
and cotton textiles. The overall feel of the collection
was very bohemian. You can picture the models
walking in a South American desert. Siegel used her
skills to modernize the practice of quilting by applying
unconventional materials like leather and silks.
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returning favourites
By Liz Guber
Anu Raina
vawk
Since her showing back in 2012, Anu Raina’s
print mastery has been noticeably absent
at the tent at WMCFW. Raina’s whimsical
designs made their return in the Spring/
Summer 2014 season, just in time for the
promise of warmer days to come. The
inspiration was decidedly urban, with prints
of a bird’s eye view of the city’s grid making
appearances on multiple garments. A vista
was drawn across a white mini skirt— that
of the C.N. Tower framed by streetcar wires
and high rises. It’s a view that is familiar to
most, including Raina herself. The location of her studio in the garment district no
doubt played a part in inspiring the collection’s motif.
Sunny Fong’s VAWK presentation is always
a favourite. This time around, the designer’s
mostly black collection was inspirited by
the collision of street style and the Middle
East. To give the morose palette some
depth, Fong played with texture, ranging
from lightweight sheers to high-shine
pleather. Still his most winning looks were
the simplest. A long, body-con jersey dress
with strategic slits across the body proved
to be the showstopper. True to his customer,
Fong showed a few pieces of luxe work-wear,
like the folded leather skirt and a couple of
sharply tailored coats.
With this effort Anu Raina once again proves
that she is a gifted manipulator of textiles.
Her creations are the perfect uniform for
die-hard Torontophiles who wear their love
for their city on their sleeve.
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Sid niegum
beaufille
Since his TFI New Labels win two years ago, Sid
Niegum has garnered a lot of buzz. Adopted as
Toronto’s industry darling, the front row was
dotted with Niegum’s designs on the day of his
show. His latest collection, which combined
monochrome looks with strong silhouettes and
a masterful understanding of drape will only
serve to win Niegum more converts. The palette
of cream, copper, olive and black allowed for a
directional exploration of cuts. Unafraid to play
with strong proportions, the clothes showed just
enough restraint to keep Niegum on stock lists
around the world. Keep an eye out next season;
you just might see that black high-collared vest
worn by an editor or two.
This sibling duo combines their strengths and
differences to great effect. Parris oversees the
brand’s jewellery design while Chloe focuses on
ready-to-wear. With their clashing masculine and
feminine aesthetics, the sisters manage to pull off
balanced, covetable collections each season. This
time around Chloe and Parris Gordon turned up
the funk on the main runway with a collection
that oozed bohemian swagger. From the choice of
music to the snap back hats, the nods to hip-hop
put a bit of attitude in the models’ strut. A more
grown up Beaufille girl emerged this season,
with her ‘90s grunge days behind her, she takes
an unaffected, but nonetheless sophisticated
approach to dressing.
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VANCOUVER FASH ION WEEK
WELL GROOMED
PARVESH AND JAI
This couture Indo-Western fusion label is a Vancouver-grown success story, creating
highly coveted designs for its high profile clients. Coming from a family with a
strong background in textile manufacturing, Dave Singh uses traditional fabrics and
techniques to create one-of-a-kind pieces that dazzle.
The theatrics of Parvesh & Jai’s designs comes through
at first glance. Not surprising seeing as they have been
commissioned as costume designers for numerous
Indo-French operas – Mozart Magic in 2011, Alexander
The Great in 2012, Le Orfeo in 2013, just to name a
few. The driving force behind this design duo from India:
ethical design. Having been named amongst the top 25
ethical designers worldwide, from their first swimwear
label, Blue Coral, to their high-end couture line, Raasleela, they continue to take the world by storm. Their
swimwear designs are sold in Paris, Brazil, Greece,
Sydney, New York, London and LA.
Photography: Dale Rollings and Aziz Dhamani
Setting the tone for the evening portion of the shows, the audience was serenaded
by a violinist before being regaled by hand embroidered creations in precious metal
tones of silver, champagne, amber and gold. Inspired by Indian Parsi threadwork
that was originally depicted in Kashmiri shawls, “Once Upon A Bride” told a story of
a bride blossoming from a young woman into a beautiful swan-like creature. Dresses
with mermaid and anarkali cuts were embellished Swarovski crystals producing
pieces that shimmered across the catwalk like the sun glimmering across water.
Their VFW Fall/Winter 2014 collection, titled “The
Baroque Princess”, takes us on a journey through the
Baroque art period of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Shimmery black dresses cascade over the body, boleros
with zari and gold embroidered detailing are paired with
modern Salwar pants and jumpsuits, and raw silk in
champagne hues is fashioned into an A-line one-sleeve
dress. Playful, theatrical and reminiscent of Galliano’s
shows for Dior, Parvesh & Jai produced a highly commercial collection of draping silhouettes tailored to make
women feel truly beautiful.
SHRAVAN KUMAR
“Fashion is a religion, more than a mere profession.” So starts one’s journey into
Shravan Kumar’s artistic mind. Always seeking to shock and surprise his audience,
Shravan’s designs rely on unconventional fabrics to translate his vision into never
seen pieces for his regal and elegant clients.
Wrapping up day three of VFW, with a finale of epic proportions, Shravan presented
“An Ode to Weaves and Weavers” a play on the interweaving of his life and work.
“To me weaving represents a balance in life,” stated Kumar in the pre-show notes.
“You have to find a certain degree of strength and balance between everything and
your fabric will be complete.”
Beginning in a non-traditional fashion, with all models on the runway, we saw mens
and womenswear in regal, jewel tones. Men’s jackets were traditional yet infused
with British influence – embroidered crests on breast pockets and embellished lapels
on blazers in velvet fabrics. Women’s designs included modern saris, velvet skirts
combined with embroidered corsets, and gorgeous, voluminous gowns.
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Events
runway
beauty
at vfw
“We are very excited about this new
partnership,” stated Jamal Abdourahman,
founder and producer of VFW. “Vancouver
Fashion Week is growing rapidly year-overyear, and this speaks to the significance that
the event is taking on the global stage. Through
this relationship with COVERGIRL, Pantene
and Olay we are able to provide an even
brighter spotlight under which designers can
present their collections to the world.”
“COVERGIRL, Pantene and Olay are proud
to be the Presenting Sponsors and exclusive
suppliers of makeup, haircare and skincare
products for Vancouver Fashion Week,” said
Melissa Karis, Director of Communications,
P&G Beauty & Grooming. “We are committed
to supporting beauty and fashion in Canada
and we’re excited to stand behind Vancouver
Fashion Week’s vision of bringing diverse
and innovative design talent together in this
growing platform.”
Guests of VFW were treated to hair and
makeup touch-ups at Beauty Bars throughout
the event, with styling products from the
Pantene Pro-V Stylers collection and makeup
from some of the latest COVERGIRL
collections including Bombshell and TruBlend.
Visitors to the Beauty Bars could get their
picture taken by professional photographers
or do it themselves at convenient selfie mirrors
after their runway-inspired touch-up to share
on their social networks.
Vancouver Fashion Week’s Fall/Winter 2014
showcase was the best to date. With over
50 designers from 21 countries, Vancouver
once again played host to an abundance of
established and emerging talent—and the list
will keep on growing.
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The people
behind the
Products
COVERGIRL, Pantene, and Olay
This year one of Vancouver Fashion Week’s major
sponsors was the world leading product conglomerate
Proctor & Gamble, bringing with them COVERGIRL,
Pantene, and Olay products to be exclusively used
throughout the show. “It allows us as makeup artists
to do our jobs with way more ease and efficiency,”
expressed Daphne Chuan and Jerry Kuo. Both from
Taiwan, these professional make-up artists are
volunteering their skills here at the event this year. This
is Daphne’s second appearance at Vancouver Fashion
Week and she notices a vast difference between last
year’s show to this current one. “We had to bring all our
own products as well as tools. This proved incredibly
difficult to match the different skin tones of all the
models; COVERGIRL has a huge assortment of tone
matching cover ups such as truBLEND, they made a
huge difference in the final touches!”
In terms of hair, Pantene products lay the backdrop for
the styles that make these models come alive. “Getting
sponsorship from Pantene certainly helps out on our
budget; being volunteers we are usually responsible for
all our own equipment so it really helps out,” Julian, a
hairstylist from Edmonton stated. “ We invest hours
and hours of time and work for a 45 second walk on
the runway and having the products already here eases
at least one part of the process.” When asked about his
thoughts on Fashion Week in general Julian responded
with, “It’s good for the art of everything; it’s so successful
because of the passion immersed in it. I only get to see
the very last show usually but the seeing the end result
makes it worth it!”
COVERGIRL, Pantene, and Olay have set up stations
dispersed around the venue so guests and viewers can
test the same products for themselves. Makeup artists
and hairstylists man these booths offering makeovers
and touch ups during the course of the event.
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Fashion Central
Fashion Central
Marketing I was really immersed in the
brands.”
Fashion, Beauty & the Digital Revolution: Pixie Gedolf, Mary Katrantzou,
Miroslava Duma, Nick Knight
Photography: Darren Garrish
Vogue Festival 2014
By Priya Kumar
“This is the third year of the Festival and I’m delighted that our lineup is bigger than ever,” said British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman of
the Vogue Festival 2014. Literary festivals featuring panels of esteemed
authors have become all the rage around the world; considering fashion’s
comparable presence in the arts, creating a festival around the visionaries
that shape the way we see style simply made good business sense and
who better to host such a meeting of the minds than Vogue Magazine?
“Of course, the price of a ticket also gains you access to the huge number
of activities taking place around the talks,” Shulman continued.
For this year’s festivities held on the last weekend of March, I had the
opportunity to attend two highly coveted panels: “My Fashion Life” with
Tory Burch (see below for interview breakdown), Angela Missoni and
Manolo Blahnik and “Fashion, Beauty and the Digital Revolution” with
Pixie Geldof, Miroslava Duma, Nick Knight and Mary Katrantzou.
Besides being privy to a discussion amongst some of the most influential
figures in fashion, guests of the Festival were offered hairstyles worthy
of a magazine spread by Kérastase, makeovers by Burberry, Chanel and
Bobbi Brown and Vogue monogrammed manicures by OPI. Harrods,
as the Festival’s title sponsor, offered perhaps the highlight of the
weekend—a chance to walk the runway on Harrods Live Runway. After
participants’ photos were shared via social media, the two with the most
likes won Harrods shopping sprees.
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The weekend also saw book signings with Manolo Blahnik and Nick
Knight (best known for his videography work for the live streaming of
Alexander McQueen’s S/S10 fashion show—revolutionary for its time),
style and industry advice from editors, Vogue themed cupcakes in the
Harrods Café and tons of great merchandise.
Held at the Southbank Centre just steps away from the London Eye,
the experience was aimed at non-industry fashion fiends but as a
guest attending for work and pleasure, the event exceeded my wildest
expectations. Meticulously organized, the Festival was planned around
keeping social media in mind. Two separate hashtags (#voguefestival
and #harrodslive) were created specifically for the tens of thousands of
anticipated uploads over the course of the weekend.
“We hope you enjoy your time in the world of Vogue,” Shulman
concluded.
Tory Burch Interview Exclusive from “My Fashion Life”
“My Fashion Life” brought together the grandmasters of design on a
once-in-a-lifetime panel to discuss how they reached their respective
levels of success. The talk opened with Tory Burch, designer and CEO of
her eponymous fashion label renowned the world over for its brand ethos
of Hamptons chic. Despite holding the title of the second-youngest, self-
Alexa Chung
made female billionaire in the world, Burch’s
upbringing was such that she didn’t necessarily
have to work in adulthood. Her father, a financier,
was so well connected in Philadelphia society he
dated Grace Kelly prior to her assentation to the
Monegasque throne, while her mother briefly
dated legendary movie star Steve McQueen.
Growing up she says as a child she was quite
unaware of their glamorous pasts, “I don’t think
I was that aware. We grew up on a farm basically
in the middle of nowhere because they wanted
to give us a more wholesome childhood.” A
self-proclaimed tomboy, Burch found it hard to
wear a dress until her prom, which was an Yves
Saint Laurent, no less. Her summers in school
were spent interning at Christie’s and when
she did eventually enter the fashion world after
graduating from the University of Pennsylvania,
it was to work for a Yugoslavian designer named
Zoran. This initial role led to her career in PR
with Vera Wang, Polo Ralph Lauren, Loewe and
Narciso Rodriguez: “Even though I was in PR and
It was during the three years she took off
from working to raise her sons that she
realized what she needed to do next in
terms of her career. She loved designer
clothes but couldn’t always afford to
purchase them herself, so she set out to
create something beautiful, with great
detailing and fabric, but affordable. This
notion led to the birth of her eponymous
label in her apartment at the Pierre
Hotel off Central Park. “There was so
much cold calling, just getting people
to come up, I had two racks, clothes
everywhere, a little bit of a design team,
three people, really just asking people to
come up and see it. Our opening was in
Fashion Week 2004. It was 10 years ago
and that opening was where we really
announced our collection.” Burch
started from modest means at a small
boutique on Elizabeth Street in New
York City’s neighborhood of SoHo as to
not overextend the brand. She was not
yet aware of the value of her product,
but the label quickly grew in popularity
and soon Bergdorf Goodman was her
first account.
When Burch initially started the
company, she and her ex-husband Chris
Burch put in a small amount of money
each along with several other investors:
“We did one round of financing but I
think there were probably 150 investors.
I was so terrified of taking people’s
money that I said, ‘If you want to invest,
just be prepared to lose it because I just
can’t take that pressure.’ We just got
a lot of people to invest a very small
amount. It was exciting and it worked
out.” This was an understatement from
a pioneer of democratic luxury; today
Tory Burch operates over 100 stores
around the world and she still manages
to get home for 7PM every night to put
food on the table for her three sons and
three stepdaughters.
In regards to any advice she would give
to young people starting out in the
industry she says succinctly, “I would
say do it, but you have to have a unique
idea and the wherewithal to understand
it’s going to be a tremendous amount
of work. And it’s been an incredible
amount of work but it’s just been so
fulfilling.”
My Fashion Life: Tory Burch, Angela Missoni,
Manolo Blahnik
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Monica
Dogra
Modern-Day
Renaissance (Wo)man
By Priya Kumar
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She reigns over Mumbai’s
entertainment scene. As an
actress/model/singer/brand
ambassador/designer, there
is very little Monica Dogra
hasn’t done with her career.
Her willowy, tall statuesque
frame was most recently
seen on the runway at
Lakmé Fashion Week for
11:11 CellDSGN; now she’s
doing the designing for a
collection in collaboration
with e-commerce site
Stylista. If that’s not enough
on her plate, she’s also
preparing for
the launch of her
first solo album.
Along with a
myriad of films
in production or
on the verge of
release, Dogra
can one day
look back at
her FOMO-free
career with pride.
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Dhobi Ghat was like a visual and
emotional symphony of story and
sound. I think it’s a film that dives into
the poetic and the heart breaking of the
everyday mundane.
F
or a city of 40 million, Mumbai
sure is a small world. Monica Dogra and I
have run in similar circles in Bombay—as
we fondly call it—for years. Both sharing
a similar ex-pat pedigree, many of the
parties and social activities we frequented
overlapped regularly. In fact, her husband
is a childhood friend of mine from Toronto.
On a monthly basis SHE is at a loss for
which of the endless supply of South Asian
celebrities we should feature on our cover;
it is a struggle to choose which talent is
worthy of the honour. But when it came
to my attention that Dogra was launching
her first solo musical effort during a season
obsessed with the music festival, putting her
on the June/July cover seemed a no-brainer.
North American audiences know Dogra
best for her role in the Kiran Rao film
Dhobi Ghat, one of the hottest tickets
available at TIFF back in 2010. Starring
opposite Bollywood legend Aamir Khan,
Dogra played Shai, an American (former)
investment banker looking to find herself in
Mumbai through photography. It’s said that
when Rao set out to cast the film, she had
Dogra in mind the whole time. A role where
life seemingly imitates art, or better yet vice
versa, Dogra’s performance as the fish-outof-water in the Maximum City—another
popular moniker for Mumbai— was lauded
the world over.
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Dhobi Ghat catapulted Dogra onto the
A-list as India’s international “it” girl,
all but eclipsing her music career as one
half of the electro-pop sensation Shaa’ir +
Func. A renowned indie-rock band based
in Mumbai, S+F have paved the way in a
country possessed by Bollywood for other
bands offering something different. As
Shaa’ir, Monica’s ethereal and sometimes
haunting vocals brings a sense of balance to
the otherwise overpowering beat. She and
her counterpart, Randolph Correia (Func)
have performed across the globe including
at Glastonbury, the largest greenfield festival
in the world. They will be returning for a
second time this summer to an audience of
175,000.
went on to NYU where she graduated with
a Bachelors in Music. Spanning the world
over, her career has been anything but
ordinary. I recently had the chance to catch
up with Dogra to chat about her latest work
including her role of Michelle opposite
Rahul Khanna in the film Fireflies that
premiered not too long ago at the New
York Indian Film Festival. Here’s how our
conversation unfolded:
Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland,
Dogra grew up first generation Indian. She
Actually, I feel Fireflies is a film for India
albeit not a mainstream one. It’s a delicate,
You’ve got many projects on the go at the
moment—tell me a bit about your role in
the film Fireflies. With an international
release at NYIFF do you feel the film will
strike a chord with international audiences
as well?
emotional portrayal of two brothers
experiencing loss and longing in irreparable
circumstances. The treatment is one that is a
realistic representation of the Indian middle
class without the pomp and theatrics in
your usual Bollywood film.
There’s also talk of the short Severing Ties
with Kalki Koechlin. It’s my understanding
it was partially funded using Kickstarter.
Was that sort of entrepreneurial drive
evident on set as well?
Yes, absolutely. Severing Ties is a passion
project and all those involved were rooted
in love and belief. As an artist, I hold this
dynamic as paramount to the creation
of a work that will traverse the space of
being “independent” and therefore not
commercially viable, to ultimately reaching
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As a
performance
artist, much of
what we do is
image based—
and my solo
album is an
effort towards
the undoing
of all those
illusions.
wide audiences. I recently shot a film in LA
called #relapse, produced by Jeff Roy, who is
a filmmaker I met in India (he is how I was
brought on the project) - the level of artistry
and dedication I saw from my co-actor,
Casey Legler, my director, Rosie Haber,
and my producer, Jeff - left me feeling like
I was involved in an Oscar-worthy project.
And I think that’s all I really am out there
looking for, that feeling of alchemy, that I’m
contributing to something transformative
and magical.
Tell me a bit about your role in the yet to
be titled film opposite Naseeruddin Shah.
What was it like working with such a
legend?
The film is still untitled and on pause
mid-shoot for a number of reasons. I am
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honoured to be in a film where Naseer-sir
is also involved, but have to refrain from
commenting further as I’m unsure of the
status of this project at the moment.
You’re about to release your first solo
effort—Shaa’ir by Monica Dogra. How has
the creative process differed from when you
wrote and composed alongside Func?
Dhobi Ghat (2010) was released at TIFF
and was hugely popular in Canada. Why
do you feel it resonated so well with a global
audience?
I have not titled my solo album yet. I
thought about naming it what you
mentioned, but I’ve changed my mind! Go
figure. The creative process differed for me
because as a solo venture this is a moment in
time where I am defining myself with myself
only—alone—standing on two feet unafraid
to share the fragments and the bruised.
As a performance artist, much of what we
do is image based—and my solo album is
an effort towards the undoing of all those
illusions.
Dhobi Ghat was like a visual and emotional
symphony of story and sound. I think it’s a
film that dives into the poetic and the heart
breaking of the everyday mundane. That
way, it’s an extremely relatable story. It’s one
that puts a mirror up to the ways we may
get stuck in outdated systems - preventing
ourselves from connecting, loving, and
experiencing life freely.
Where will your music be available for
download and purchase?
Hopefully, everywhere. I just signed with a new agency and the
roll out plan for the release has not been locked.
Tell me a bit about your upcoming international tour dates.
I’m hearing whispers about Glastonbury. Is Canada also on the
agenda?
Glastonbury is happening for the second time! I’m terribly
excited. I will also be in Berlin shooting a music video and
playing a show for Border Movement. After that I will be in
Canada for a bit chilling out in July and my music partner will
also be Stateside so I wouldn’t rule out a show in Toronto! But
in the end, someone would have to book us. That’s how that
works [Dogra says with a wink].
As this issue was going to press, there was much debate swirling
around her role in #relapse, a film that challenges society’s
understanding of gender roles and identity. Time will tell how
audiences receive the role, but as her first big North American
project and the O-word (Oscar) being dropped herself, we expect
big things. Dogra is certainly one to watch.
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Women are incredible agents of
change. The problem is they have been
either barred from participating in
development or blocked from access.
– Megane Fallone, Barefoot College
slowed the negative impact of deforestation, and
decreased air pollution from burning firewood
and kerosene. If households are able to invest
in these units, people can socialize, take night
classes, and engage in income-generating
activities after sunset.
Merle Oberon
Roy has built a revolutionary program where
women are no longer barred from education and
are now being empowered. Tilania’s Barefoot
College has inspired twenty-four colleges in
countries like Afghanistan, Bolivia, and fifteen
African nations. Women who were trained
at the College in Tilania have replicated the
model at home. Their newly found skills enable
them to take part in crucial aspects of their
communities. As Roy had intended, a woman
who had been lifted out of poverty inspires her
community to soon follow.
Hollywood’s First Taste of the Far East
By Priya Kumar
Barefoot College
W
By Sarah Horsfall
hen education is marginalized, how can rural
communities engage in self-sustaining activities and lift themselves
out of poverty? This is a question that Sanjit “Bunker” Roy has spent
his entire life not only trying to answer but to also resolve. In 1972,
he established a rural college in Tilonia, India called “Barefoot
College”. The college is not your typical institute for it was built
by and exclusively for the poor. Its mission is to lift those who are
marginalized, exploited, and impoverished over the poverty line.
The college applies rural traditional knowledge and skills to build
homes, to collect water where potable water is scarce, and spread
socio-economic messages at the grassroots level. The college also
introduces technologies that can be understood and controlled by
rural communities so that quality of life for the poor is improved.
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The College recognizes that women tend to suffer the most in poor
conditions. They cannot develop specialized skills because they are
often barred from training. A community cannot be lifted out of
poverty when half of its population remains ostracized. To resolve
this issue, the College focuses a majority of its efforts on promoting
the equality of women. The College trains rural women to become
solar engineers, parabolic solar cooker engineers, barefoot
midwives, teachers, and other skilled professions. Roy focuses on
educating women because he believes they possess more loyalty to
their communities. As a result, they are more likely to return home
and enable their communities to benefit from their learned skills.
The College’s ability to promote sustainable living and holistic
development derives from its unique
infrastructure. For example, the College
liaises with village elders to select two
grandmothers to be trained as solar
engineers. The village then creates
a committee of men and women to
establish a solar program where funds
are collected from each participating
household and provide a workshop
building for the women. The program
provides electricity to households and
public facilities like schools, hospitals,
and community centres. Manufacturing
these units require high accuracy
and skill in metal craftsmanship.
Women are trained through sign
language and numerically arranged
colour codes. These colour codes help
them to remember the permutation
and combination of the wires. In six
months, the women learn to handle
charge controllers and inverters, to
install panels and link them to batteries,
to build solar lanterns and to establish
a local electronic workshop where they
can carry out all repairs to the solar
power system themselves.
Barefoot College has sparked a
global movement. Communities are
experiencing positive environmental,
economic, and social ramifications.
For instance, the use of solar energy
has reduced carbon dioxide emissions,
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Special Feature
Special Feature
By Sheri Beatty
Summer is here! Summer is always a busy time for
Toronto and this year is no exception for the city or for
MAX Agency. MAX Agency is consistently seeking
new clients, planning events and submitting talent for
auditions. With a summer full of events like Luminato,
NXNE, Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto Pride, Digital
Dreams, The Toronto Fringe and Summerlicious you
can look to MAX Agency for all of your event planning
and fashion show needs leading up to TIFF and all year
round. The film and television industry in Hollywood
North is very busy and very hot this summer! Chalk
full of great shooting locations, Toronto is Wall Street
without the water and with Canada Government Tax
Credits, shooting your movie in Toronto would have to
be the best choice!
Summer in
the City
By Eloise Alba
MAX Agency is a very talented and sought after
developer of companies while being well versed in
meeting the budgetary needs of any up and coming
brand. Complimented across Canada and all over the
world for its diverse roster and immense talent base
MAX and MAX Talent are always ready to help lead
any brand down the road to success.
I spoke with the agency’s Booker recently about their
talent and the agency has said they are currently
looking for new and talented clients of all shapes, ages,
sizes and ethnicities to complete their roster. “We
would particularly love to meet potential male and
female clients over the age of fifty and clients of all ages
from all ethnic backgrounds.” To get an interview with
an agent and begin the process of becoming a MAX
client, please fill out the online application form at
maxagency.com.
New clients are given the opportunity to participate in
mandatory free introductory acting classes in Toronto
through The Talent Shop and in a competitive talent
based industry the proper training is very important.
The agency’s Booker went on to say, “We are actively
seeking travel opportunities for MAX models to spend
time in another major city auditioning and gaining an
international perspective of the industry.”
“Our agency holds open calls every Wednesday and we
are always searching for new talent to be represented
here and out of town. We are able to submit talent for
projects all over the world!” In addition to Toronto,
MAX has clients in Paris, Montreal and Manhattan
among other great cities! For an opportunity to
become a part of the talent industry please contact
MAX agency!
Contact MAX Agency at (416) 482-5392 or visit
www.maxagency.com
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sHepreneur
I was tired of
hitting a glass
ceiling and being
told what to do.
Youzus founder, Sonya Gill
By: Harpreet Brar
S
you naturally have to have an online voice no matter
what – and a large one at that. And it worked.
tarting her business with only $1500
in her pocket, Sonya Gill has proven to be
a successful force in the social media and
public relations world. Her PR agency, Youzus
originally started as a blog in 2010 and has
since grown to become a full service agency
where brands connect with other influencers.
Dating back to her childhood, Gill has always
immersed herself in a creative field, making
her role as a social media expert a natural step
in her career.
You’ve served as a host for many television and
radio channels, and have already established your
own social media savvy business. As a child, did
you always know which direction you wanted
your career to go in?
I didn’t always know I would end up here, but
looking back in time and connecting the dots
of my past, it should have been readily apparent
that I would end up in media. As a child, I was
always singing, writing, drawing, acting or doing
something of the creative sort. My friends’ parents
would always tell me that I belonged in television,
but I never took it for anything more than a surface
value compliment - I just thought it meant that I
talked a lot!
As the founder of Youzus, what would you
say has been your proudest
moment to date within the company?
Building the business from a blog to an
agency and starting with less than $1500 in
my pocket.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever
received?
What was the driving force that motivated
you to begin your own business?
I was tired of hitting a glass ceiling and being
told what to do. I wanted to control my own
fate and my own destiny and create the kind
of life that I always dreamed of.
Your new book, “Keep It Super Simple
For Social Media”, is a guide to successful
online marketing and branding. How did
you begin to acquire these skills as an
individual and put them to practice?
I’ve always been heavily immersed within
the online world – we’re talking from way
48 SHE CANADA
Be bold, but remain humble. And always put
yourself in the other persons shoes.
back in the day when Friendster and MySpace came into existence
and before the word ‘social media’ came to the limelight. So when
I began my career in television and radio, I was already on a lot of
these sites (even Hi5.com), so leveraging my name was not very hard
to do. By the time Facebook rolled around and then Twitter, it soon
became a requirement to be online and have social media accounts
as a media personality. The learning process at first was very raw, like
a monkey see, monkey do type of deal, but the more literature that
started coming out on how to brand yourself online, the more I kept
learning (i.e. blogs, books, audio books etc.). I practiced on myself in
the beginning, because when you’re a television or radio personality,
As someone who is consistently speaking at
public events, how do you calm your nerves before you’re given the
microphone?
To be honest, my hands still shake to this day! I don’t know why,
especially because I’ve been doing it for such a long time. But I will
admit that I do a lot of self-talking and coaching. I have to remind
myself that I’m not there to just speak, I’m there to teach and inspire.
People didn’t come to see me, they came to hear what I have to say.
So just remembering to connect with individuals on a personal level
and relating a lot of what I have to say to real life experiences makes it
very easy for me.
SHE CANADA
49
Mauritius
Visit the Paradise Calendar
W
By: Robin Esrock
hen I was a teenager, my parents gave me an “islands
of the world” calendar featuring 12 months of impossibly turquoise
water. You know, the ones with coconut trees bending over a white
sandy beach? I’d cut out the photos, taping them to the walls of my
bedroom, dreamily staring at them long after the months ran out,
and a new calendar arrived. The islands had wonderfully exotic
sounding names: The Maldives, Tahiti, and my favourite, Mauritius.
Something about the way it rolled off the tongue. It sounded
delicious.
From Canada, it’s no picnic getting to Mauritius. Located 900km
east of Madagascar inside the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is small,
tear drop tropical island home to to 1.2 million people, mostly
descendants of Indians brought over by the British to work on
sugarcane plantations. Since independence in 1968, the official
language of Mauritius is English, everyone speaks Creole, and reads
and writes in French, a throwback to its French colonial days. Not
that I paid too much attention, soaking in a hot summer night, and
an all-night Creole celebration outside the capital of Port Louis. At
last, I was invading those dog-eared photos on my old bedroom wall.
50 SHE CANADA
As one the most popular honeymoon and holiday destinations for
French, German and British tourists, the island has around 100
resorts, primarily congregated in the north and west. I headed south,
a region that is slowly shifting away from sugarcane plantations into
exclusive golf courses and luxury villas. Like other tropical islands,
Mauritius is refocusing its resources on tourism to offset declining
sugar prices. The Heritage Le Telfair Resort is part of four properties
developed under the same locally-owned hotel group, oozing class
and old world service. Every night, I dug my toes in the sand watch-
ing a picture perfect sunset, as one is prone to do on island escapes.
A short golf cart ride away is the Villas Valriche, where foreigners can
now purchase luxury 4 bedroom villas overlooking a stunning 27hole golf course. While you can expect to shell out a couple million
dollars for the privilege, it comes with handy Mauritian citizenship.
Sell your villa however, and you lose your passport.
On a boat cruise to the nearby Ile de Coco, a pod of Spinner
dolphins are practicing their aerial gymnastics. In the distance, I see
a mountain called Le Morne, where escaped slaves took refuge, and
preferred to jump to their death rather than be captured. The captain
plucks spiny sea urchins off the shallow lagoon floor, cuts them open,
cleaned them out, and hands them to me with a dash of lemon juice.
Fresh seafood never tasted so good. Like other Mauritians I’d met,
the Captain was cheery and good-natured, sporting a white toothy
watermelon smile. He tells me about Snake Island (which is round
and has no snakes) and Round Island (which has snakes and isn’t
round); that people here leave their religion at home, which is how
Hindus, Muslims and Christians co-exist peacefully; how 70% of the
staff in the resorts springing up in the south is from neighbouring
villages. Creole pop music is blasting from the speakers.
I take a break from the beach to visit a roadside attraction called
Casela, a bird and safari park, where I pet lion cubs and drift amongst
zebra on an offroad Segway. Around me are honeymooners and
families, mostly Euros and South Africans loving their ultimate
tropical island getaway. I drive from south to north in just three
hours, leaving the mountains for the bustle of Port Louis, and the
more developed north. There are traffic jams every day inside Port
Louis, and basic goods can be pricey, imported from as far away as
Australia and South Africa. I leave the city for one of the island’s
premier resorts, the Lux Grand Gaube Hotel. TripAdvisor called
it one of the world’s most romantic hotels, and so it’s no surprise
to find rows of couples facing each other over candlelight at the
poolside restaurant. Fortunately, I had my wife to enjoy the moment,
because this is really not an island you want
to experience on your own (nor does it much
cater to singles and younger travellers).
It’s always a good time of year to unwind on a
tropical island. With direct flights from Dubai,
Mauritius does not have to be another elusive
calendar dream brightening up your office
walls. Of course if you have such a calendar,
use it to cross off the days, dream big, and look
forward to finding yourself under the shade of
a Mauritian coconut tree.
Robin Esrock is the bestselling author of The
Great Canadian Bucket List, and the host of the
OLN/City TV series Word Travels. You can find
him at www.robinesrock.com
SHE CANADA
51
You recently introduced the Bill that
now calls on the month of April to be
recognized as Sikh Heritage Month in the
Ontario Legislature. Do you feel that this
will eventually be celebrated nationally?
Hepreneur
MPP Jagmeet Singh
By: Harpreet Brar
B
eginning his career as a lawyer,
Jagmeet Singh offered free legal services to
communities around the GTA. It was because
of his aid to minorities struggling with
unaddressed issues that pushed Singh to run
as a candidate for the Ontario Provincial
Parliament. Viewed as a human rights
activist, Jagmeet Singh addresses issues on
women as marginalized groups as well as
religious equality, specifically within the Sikh
community.
After working as a lawyer and establishing
your own practice, what was the trigger
that motivated you to enter politics?
As a lawyer, I would provide free legal
services to different community groups.
One group that I used to help out a lot had
a human rights issue that they were raising
and no politicians would help them. It
turned out that some politicians were kind
of discouraging what they were doing. At the
end of it, we were successful in raising the
issue that we wanted to raise. The group felt
really disheartened that elected officials from
the same community that was impacted by
this human rights issue were discouraging
them, so they said that they needed to run
a candidate that wouldn’t be afraid to speak
on issues that would come up. It took about
six months of persuasion from different
community groups that wanted me to run
and eventually, I caved.
So this is something you wouldn’t have
pursued if it weren’t for your peers?
No, I definitely would not have. I would vote
regularly, but it wasn’t something I wanted to
do and it was really the encouragement from
my colleagues, peers, and some of my family
that got me into it. I really do appreciate and
value where I am. I’ve grown a lot more in
these two years than I would have grown
in legal services. The way I’ve been able
to inspire people is so humbling, that I’ve
actually been able to help people out and get
It’s the first law of its kind in the world. It’s
the first time that any government in the
world has a permanent month forever that
will be celebrated as Sikh Heritage Month.
I’m hoping that it grows into a movement to
celebrate Sikh Heritage across Canada and
then hopefully across the world.
You have a large following on social
media and many of your followers
consist of young people who look up to
you. Unfortunately, this is rare amongst
politicians. How do you continue to inspire
and connect with the youth?
young people involved in politics and get
the community to believe that they can elect
someone that will follow through with what
they say they’ll do.
Someone once asked me why I’m able to
connect with the youth and I said “maybe
because I’m not that old yet”, but I’m getting older now so maybe that doesn’t work
anymore. One of the things that I value as a
skill in life is remembering what it was like
to be young. So when I talk to youth I try to
remember what I was like at that time. I feel
that I can keep my messages relevant that
way, remembering the worries and the hopes
that I had. I also have a lot of young people
around me, they keep me young me too.
You are consistently seen as a human
rights activist, what are the issues that you
consider to be the most prominent at the
moment?
Your impeccable style has been known to
be influential amongst many. How do you
stay up to date in terms of fashion and
style?
One way to summarize the most prominent
issues: minority groups are facing oppression
and injustice and our job is to make sure
that those groups that are in the minority
and the groups that are vulnerable and small
in numbers are protected. One of the major
things I have to stress – the mistreatment of
women is probably the biggest problem in
the entire world because that’s half of our
population and women are some of the most
marginalized and vulnerable people because
of the power imbalance. Its not localized and
they are a minority group – not in number,
but in power.
People would think that I got into style
because I like clothes but I’m going to give
you the inside scoop. When I was growing
up in Windsor, I used to get picked on a lot.
There wasn’t very much diversity there. I was
a tough kid and I didn’t let it get to me – I
would defend myself. So I would try to dress
in a way that would show that I was tough.
But as I got older, I realized that I couldn’t
really ‘look’ tough anymore. I basically tried
to dress in the sharpest way possible because
people are going to look at me so I thought I
might as well give them something to look at.
I started dressing in a way that would convey
my beliefs and values. I made sure I carried
myself in a way that would showcase who I
was and I spoke with conviction.
If you could relay one message to the
youth, the people who look up to you, what
would that be?
I would say that I want everyone to develop
in themselves a courageous spirit of their
own self-worth. An internal confidence
comes from knowing who you are. You really
have to be sure of yourself to deal with all
of the pressures you’re going to face in your
life, especially young people. To deal with
the pressures you have to develop internal
confidence that’s not dependent on anyone
else. It comes from knowing who you are,
your identity and from having a courageous
sense of your own self-worth.
My sister-in-law is great; we go on shopping sprees
together, have lunch dates, and ultimately have a
friendship that goes beyond our relation through
my husband. Now when I said she was great, I
meant that she’s great when she’s not living with my
husband and I. She recently moved home and has
nowhere else to stay until she lands a job. I’m a very
hospitable person, but it’s been three months now.
She’s creating tension between my husband and I
and we’ve been stripped of our privacy. I don’t want
to be the person who kicked out my husband’s sister
but I feel like I might have to be. How do I break it to
her that her lease is almost up?
HE:
This is a tough situation. Why don’t you start by emailing
her postings to jobs? If she’s not actively looking, then you need to
push-start the process. By receiving these emails, your sis-in-law will
slowly begin to realize that her welcome isn’t so welcome anymore.
SHE:
While you may not have anticipated her lengthy visit, it
depends on whether you offered her your place and if you gave her that whole “you
can stay as long as you want, my house is your house” spiel. If that’s the case, there
isn’t much you can do without looking like the bad guy. She may not like what you
have to say, but this is because she’s not prepared to hear it. Perhaps she’s gotten a
little too comfortable. If the bond with your husband’s sister goes further than just a
mere connection, then don’t be afraid to be a friend. Do this by talking to her about
the situation you’re in, and explain in a way that she can relate to what you might be
going through. She’s a woman, she’ll understand more than you think.
54 SHE CANADA
My fiancé and I are getting married next year. We’ve
been together for 8 years, since high school. Lately
I’ve been getting cold feet – and we’re nowhere near
the wedding yet. Suddenly I’m beginning to think
that I haven’t seen what else is out there for me and
I could just be stuck in my own little world. On top
of that, I just feel like my interests and hobbies are
shifting, whereas my fiancé’s are sort of just standing
still. Are these normal thoughts about someone
you’re about to marry or is it time for me to be on my
own?
HE:
This is normal, however, if this is someone you want to spend the
rest of your life with, you need to ask yourself if what you two have at this moment is
enough. Forget about what you had in the past back in high school. People change
by nature. You need to determine whether you want to grow with or without him.
SHE:
I think we all know the answer to this one. It’s obvious
that you have a fiancé who’s not growing at the rapid speed you are.
You may have started to realize that, yes, there is more out there for
you and no, you don’t need to spend the rest of your life with your high
school sweetheart – no matter how romantic on paper that may seem.
You’re better off being with someone who’s more compatible with the
person you’ve become, not the person you were.
SHE CANADA
55
South Asian
inventions
SIR JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE –
WIRELESS RADIO
VINOD DHAM – PENTIUM CHIP
SUSHRUTA – FATHER OF SURGERY
1994
2013
1993
Around 800 BC Sushruta was an ancient Indian
surgeon who was the first to come up with a number
of surgeries to practice. He describes more than 300
kinds of operations that call for 42 different surgical
processes and 121 different types of instruments in
a series of books he authored, which are collectively
known as “Sushruta Samhita”. Sushruta is also known
as the Father of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery which
is also described in his texts.
SHIVA AYYADURAI – E-MAIL
An electronic program developed to simulate
the features of the interoffice, soon became
what we know as E-mail today. A 14-year-old
Shiva Ayyadurai had a goal to develop an interorganizational paper mail system to simplify the
way people sent messages to others. Ayyadurai
had a vision that everyone from secretary to
CEO could send and receive direct digital
messages. Today, e-mail is used all over the
world, not just for business purposes.
56 SHE CANADA
EESHA KHARE – SUPER
CAPACITOR PHONE CHARGER
Known as the “Father of the Pentium chip”, Vinod
Dham developed the most successful Pentium
processors for the company Intel. Once it was a hit,
Vinod was promoted to the position of the Vice
President of the Intel’s Microprocessor Products
Group. In 1993, Dham was quoted one of the top 25
executives in the US computer industry and in 1999
he was among the top 100 most influential Asian
Americans of the decade.
1978
500 BC
1895
In 1895, Jagadish Chandra Bose made a public
demonstration of wireless radio. However, his
discovery was mostly overlooked and Guglielmo
Marconi was given recognition when he made
a demonstration in 1897. However, scientists
around the world now acknowledge J.C. Bose
as the true pioneer. On March 29, 1904, Bose
became the first Indian to receive a U.S. patent.
We all detest sitting by our phones in one
spot waiting for them to charge. Well,
18-year-old Eesha Khare revolutionized
a device that can charge your phone
in 20 seconds flat. An electrochemical
supercapacitor device as they call it, the
invention assists the charging device to
hold charge for an even longer period of
time. Khare’s invention won $50,000 in
prize money at the Intel Foundation Young
Scientist Award held in Phoenix, Arizona.
AJAY BHATT – USB
Ajay Bhatt has approximately 31 patents under
his name including the invention of the Universal
Serial Bus (USB). Bhatt invented the USB while he
was working for Intel and became globally known
in 2009 when actor Sunil Narkar portrayed him in
a television commercial. The USB has made for
simpler times by allowing users to connect
devices to their computer. It is now used
for many electronic devices all over
the world such as cellphones
and memory sticks. Bhatt
estimates that there are over
10 billion devices that use the
USB!
SHE CANADA
57
2
1
1
2
3
Penguin Menswear
5
Vivienne
Westwood
3
4
vacation
5
6
7
8
mode
4
Summer is here, finally. Make the
most of every long weekend in these
warm weather staples. Who said
shopping for your significant other
wasn’t fun?
1
TOPMAN Makahiki Hawaiian short sleeve shirt $75
2
YUVI Black Diamond and silver cord bracelet $620
3
MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA Leather slip ons $520
4
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Slim fit cotton-chambray shirt $335
1
BOTTEGA VENETA Striped intrecciato leather billfold wallet $480
SAINT LAURENT Requin collar surfer shirt $890
5
2
RAY-BAN Metal aviator mirrored sunglasses $145
DOLCE & GABBANA Burnished leather sandals $485
6
3
FOLK Suede and leather sneakers $320
UNIFORM WARES Wristwatch $890
7
4
DOLCE & GABBANA Leather wrap bracelet $175
L.G.R. Zanzibar havana round-frame sunglasses $345
8
5
MARC JACOBS Printed woven cotton shorts $175
6
SPERRY TOP-SIDER Gold cup leather boat shoes $135
6
D&G
58 SHE CANADA
SHE CANADA
59
2
1
4
3
5
SmartSavvy
2014 Audi A6 TDI
and
In this day and age, technology has
become so advanced that there is a
gadget out there targeted to do just
about anything. These simple and sleek
products help us make our day to day
lives just a little bit easier, whether it be
a tracking device that prevents us from
loosing our valuables or the latest DSLR
camera that can capture impeccably
sharp photographs at just the tip of
our fingers. This summer is the perfect
opportunity to test out these gadgets and
see which suits your lifestyle.
6
60 SHE CANADA
1
Tinitell gps tracker for kids $99
2
Withings Oxygen monitor watch $120
3
sony A77 II camera $1200
4
EVERPURSE Phone charger purse $129
5
Whistle Dog activity monitor $129
6
tzukuri Trackable sunglasses $349
7
samsung NX mini camera $449
7
Base Price: $53,600
To put it simply, the A6 is a delight to drive.
Its powerful, supercharged V6 motor and
super-smooth eight-speed automatic
transmission convey an invigorating
force. Inside you’re given lavish, perfectly
finished, top notch seating that is
overflowing with the latest innovative hightech features. The interior of the vehicle
pays attention to detail, along with the
extra comfortable front seats.The A6 also
offers many active-safety features including
front and rear parking sensors, a top-view
camera, blind-spot monitors, a night-vision
system, and a head-up display. The allwheel drive is optional, with a rear-based
torque split. Did we mention the optional
in-car Wi-Fi? With the impeccable and
considerable amount of features, the A6 is
the car we have our eye on this summer.
SHE CANADA
61
1
1
3
2
3
2
4
5
4
Grooming
Tools
That Every Man Needs
6
62 SHE CANADA
1
DR HARRIS Three pack almond oil soaps $35
2
PERRICONE MD Gentle Cleanser $35
3
JACK BLACK Deep dive glycolic facial cream $20
4
KENNETH COLE Mankind fragrance $72
5
L’OREAL Men expert hydra energetic turbo boost
moisturizer $12.87
6
OLD SPICE shampoo and conditioner $7.99
From luscious hair to maintaining the perfect
amount of scruff, SHE’s picks will keep
your man looking dapper and at his best.
Moisturizers and skin cleansers will soon
be items he can’t live without. His grooming
tools have never been more appealing –
nor has he, after he uses them of course!
Disclaimer: There is no guarantee that your
significant other will turn into Jared Leto
after the use of these products.
5
6
7
8
1
DOVE MEN+CARE Fresh awake face and body wash $4.72
2
DOVE MEN+CARE Anti dandruff fortifying shampoo $4.77
3
DOVE MEN+CARE Aqua impact deodorant $3.99
4
NIVEA FOR MEN Cool kick shaving gel $7.49
5
NIVEA FOR MEN Exfoliating Face Scrub $7.47
6
OLD SPICE body wash $10.99
7
GILLETTE Fusion proglide power razor $25.99
8
GILLETTE Clear gel antiperspirant $4.99
SHE CANADA
63
In the Cove
By Shakirah Zaidi
tied to my tail let go and it became loose. I
was going to take a chance. I went very slowly
to make sure I didn’t wake up the people
in the boat. Soon, my tail was free. I heard
orcas, dolphins, blue whales, and humpbacks
crying. Soon, it was silent, and more red came
from the cove.
Illustrations by Fatima Zaidi. Colouring by Amna Zaidi.
Chapter 1: January 8, 1989 6:00 a.m.
The cove is a 2009 documentary film
that dissects dolphin chasing practices
in Japan. The film is a call to end mass
dolphin executes, change Japanese
practices, and to brief and instruct
people in general about the dangers, and
expanding risk, of mercury poisoning
from dolphin meat. The film highlights
the way that the amount of sea animals
are killed and claims that 23,000
dolphins and whales are killed in Japan
consistently by the nation’s whaling
industry. The relocating dolphins are
grouped into a cove where they are
netted and executed by method of spears
and blades over the sides of boats. This
film, along with Blackfish, released
in 2013, received wide recognition for
their arguments in regards to whaling.
Both documentaries have gone on the
impact the public, most notably, the
public who visits SeaWorld. SeaWorld
recently suffered a 25% drop in profits
shortly after Blackfish was released.
Not only have these movies affected
SeaWorld, but children, also. Inspired
by the documentaries, nine-year-old
Shakirah took to her pen and paper to
write a touching short story. Read the
remarkable short story written by an
intelligent and young mind.
64 SHE CANADA
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I woke up to the sound of banging. I saw
big, white poles in the distance. As I looked
around I did not see my mom or dad. I
couldn’t tell why the poles were here. I saw
all the whales leaving. I could not see clearly
from the salt water and sleep in my eyes. What
was going on? I looked up, it was still dark on
the Japanese ocean. I was about to swim and
join my dolphin pod just as a few poles locked
in place in the water. I was very scared of the
loud noise. I poked my head around, this time
most of the whales were all swimming away
from the poles to one place. It looked like a
netted cove. I tried to swim one way and five
more white poles blocked me off. I looked
around and every side of me was blocked. I
was cornered.
Chapter 2: Sunset
When I awoke, I saw that I was near the cove.
I tried to swim but I noticed I was netted to a
boat. What stilled me was the red substance
coming from the cove. I wanted to see what it
was but when I saw people awake, they spoke
in their language and reached out for me.
They stuck a sharp stick thing in me and then
the room went black.
Chapter 3: Tunnels
I stared around in the dark. I noticed on both
my sides there were rocks. I think I’m in the
cove, I thought. Again, I tried to swim but
now my nose and tail were tied. Eventually
it got very dark. Later, the people in the boat
fell asleep. The one holding the rope that was
Chapter 4: Tillicum
When the boaters left, I was crying and
moaning for some dolphins to come.
Eventually, I gave up. I swam over the nets and
left the horrific cove where whales died. Soon
I heard other crying and moaning. I knew it
wasn’t a dolphin cry. I followed it and soon
saw a black and white blur. When I got closer
I saw an orca moaning as well. He was my
age (six months in human years and a teen in
whale years). I asked him what his name was.
“Tillicum,” he said.
“Hi, I’m flipper,” I replied.
“You mean you’re world famous?”
“No, no, named after him. Come on, they’re
coming again at night.”
Chapter 5: Bang 8:00 p.m.
We were at the bottom of the ocean. Tillicum
was swishing his tail back and forth quietly. I
told him I was scared but there was no answer.
I looked and he was fast asleep. I fell asleep too
as I hoped this crisis was all a bad dream.
I was awoken with a loud, tail-piercing shriek.
I looked for Tillicum. He was gone. Bang!
I heard. I was in shock that it had happened
again.
Chapter 6: Cut Tail 12:00 a.m.
I swam around and twisted in various ways
to get to Tillicum. I got to the cove and I was
too late. Tillicum swam over awkwardly with
a trail of blood behind him. When we got
back to our sleeping spot, I asked him what
happened.
“Th-they t-took me,” he stuttered, “a-and
c-cut my t-tail.”
As I looked at him I saw a big gash in his tail.
“Wow. You could have died,” I said.
“Y-you n-need to do something F-Flipper.”
Chapter 7: Sunken
I swam back to the cove and saw another
dolphin limp out over the net trying to escape.
He took a few breaths and then he sank. He
didn’t come up again.
Chapter 8: Swim!
“Calm down Tilli, I will help you,” I said.
I took a piece of seaweed and wrapped his
tail with it. When I was done treating him
we heard another bang. This time they took
us in a boat and took us through the tunnels.
We stopped in a big underwater cage. They
put us to sleep again. When we awoke, I saw
someone with a spear.
“SWIM!” I screamed.
We swam and swam and then we gave up.
They caught us and put us in the boat again.
After a few hours, they dropped us in a pool.
Chapter 9: SeaWorld
When we arrived, they gave us food and then
started yelling.
“Jump!” he yelled,
We jumped, He gave us a sardine. “Wave!”, he
said if I waved I would get another sardine. It
carried on until night. I heard the humans call
what we were doing “practice”.
Chapter 10: Parents
When we woke up, I wanted to see what the
people were up to. When we checked, I could
see through the bushes to the inside of the
cove. I saw the Japanese people were about to
stick a spear in a dolphin and in an orca.
“That’s my mom!” I said.
“That’s my dad!” said Tillicum.
As we watched the horrific scene, more and
more blood came from the cove. When the
people left the cove we swam over and nudged
our parents. Seeing them, we could not bear
their pain. When the people came back we
swam off but we could see still the Japanese
people fill our parents’ stomachs up with rocks
and sunk them to the bottom of the cove.
Chapter 11: Escape Year 1990
We’ve been in captivity for a year now. It is
horrible. Tillicum’s tail is infected. I am cut on
my side and we are in a pool. Compared to the
ocean, it is like a bathtub.
“We got to get out of here, Flipper.”
“Light bulb,” I said, “Tilli you jump your
highest and I will whip my tail against the
wall. It will break and we can leave.”
We did as planned and escaped.
“Flipper!” as I got pulled back at motor boat
speed. As Tillicum swam after me, he got
caught too. The Japanese people took us to a
place that was called SeaLand. It sounded the
same but the pool was actually the size of a
bathtub. They put us in the pool and I could
not move my tail. I tried to swim but could
not. I wailed and moaned. I had a tail cramp.
Tillicum did the same thing; he had a fin
cramp. I had more to come from my horrific
day.
Chapter 12: Caught
Chapter 16: Suicide
We swam out and went to our sleeping hole.
Then they caught us. This time they separated
us into different pools. I moaned for Tilli,
but he didn’t answer. That night I heard the
banging and I knew what would happen.
More death, more extinction, more killing.
I am fed up. I am being tortured and I am
suffering. As someone tried to take me out of
the pool, I took a few breaths and let myself
die in the vet’s arms.
Chapter 13: Goodbye
Tillicum was talking to Flipper and there
was no answer. He looked over and Flipper
was dead. Tillicum wailed and screamed for
Flipper. The vet heard this and had to leave.
When the Japanese people saw how Tillicum
was acting, they knew this didn’t feel right.
They then released him into the wild.
When the people came over to my pool, they
said, “say goodbye to Tillicum, he’s going to
the cove, he’s too slow.” When all the Japanese
people left, I made my move. I jumped over the
wall and swam over to the cove. I saw a spear
with blood dripping from it. I moaned and
cried but Tillicum came out. I was puzzled. I
swam to the cove and one person had a spear
in their throat.
Chapter 14: They’re Back
As we swam back to the spot we slept in, I felt
like I had a string stuck to my tail again. As I
looked back, there was nothing there. As we
swam on, it happened again. I dared to look
back and I saw a flash of human skin as it
dragged me back.
Chapter 15: This is the End
“Tillicum!” I screamed.
He looked behind him and screamed,
Chapter 17: Sadness
Chapter 18: End
Tillicum jumped over the wall and was free.
The next time Tillicum heard banging, it
was just from construction breaking down
SeaWorld.
The End.
Although there is a worldwide ban on whaling,
there are still illegal practices that go on.
Whales are continuously tortured, captured
and killed. To help put an end to this, become a
member of Save The Whales. Your membership
and donations help the non-profit organization
continue their efforts to care for and save the
whales. Visit www.savethewhales.org for more
information.
SHE CANADA
65
SHE Debates:
Lack of
beauty
skin tones
in
T
he other day my friend told me, “You’re so pretty.” I
smiled and replied, “Thank you! You’re gorgeous yourself.” “But
I’m not as fair as you.” That made me frown. Why did the lightness
of my skin dictate my attractiveness? Why did the darkness of my
friend’s skin make her any less beautiful than me? After all, we are
both Pakistani girls. The next part made my heart fall into the pit
of my stomach. She asked me about products to make her skin as
fair as mine.
She would not have to search very hard. There are countless
cosmetic products that are marketed as “dark-spot” correctors for
white women and skin brightener for women of colour (WOC).
It is as if the dark spot on our faces is our actual skin tone. Many
female celebrities of different ethnic backgrounds are airbrushed
to look fairer. There is even a deodorant that lightens the colour
of underarms! Apparently underarms are not tortured enough by
hot wax, lasers and sharp razors on regular basis, now they have to
66 SHE CANADA
By Faria Jafri
be whiter. The Star reports, in 2015 the skin-bleaching industry’s
profits will reach $10 billion USD according to the market research
firm Global Industry Analysts.
One particular brand that has been widely criticized lately is Fair
& Lovely. The commercials begin with a dark-toned woman of
colour that is unhappy. She is introduced to the Fair & Lovely skin
bleaching cream. The next scene is a fade-out of how her dark skin
becomes fairer as she continues using the cream. She is magically
transformed into a fair-skinned woman that is now deemed
beautiful by society, who can finally get a man and be successful in
her career. Only now is she allowed to be happy. This is Shadeism.
Shadeism is a prevalent form of internalized racism. Since the
colonization of African, South Asian and Caribbean nations,
fairness has become an advantage. If a person of colour had light
skin-tone, they physically appeared to be closer to the white, ruling
race. This meant they were superior. The darker a racialized person
was the more they were associated with slavery. Through media,
this status symbol then evolved into a beauty ideal.
In South Asian cultures, brides-to-be are often told to stay away
from the sun during the days approaching the wedding. They are
also masked with “haldi”, a turmeric paste, which is a natural skin
bleacher. This is done so that on the day of celebration she would
appear to be glowing.
Recently, the graceful Lupita Nyong’o addressed the issue of
Shadeism when she made a speech at Essence’s 7th annual Black
Women in Hollywood about dark-skin and beauty. Despite the
compelling speech, Nyong’o became the face of Lancôme. While
it is very progressive that Lancôme is addressing the issue of lack
of WOC in the beauty industry, one of their products is a skin
brightening cream. Another unfortunate fact is that Lancôme does
not even sell cosmetics that are for women with Lupita’s skin tone.
Although the signing of Lupita can be assumed to be a typical
marketing gimmick, this attempt could be the beginning of a more
inclusive beauty industry.
There are many ways to measure beauty – strength, grace, love,
kindness, intelligence, leadership, success, etc. – skin shade should
not be one of those ways.
SHE CANADA
67
T
he economic situation in the Palestinian West Bank is
becoming desperate. Due to the political situation in the region,
economic activities are at an all-time low and unemployment is on the
rise. Even people who are employed suffer as their employers, notably
the Palestinian National Authority, are unable to pay their salaries. It is
estimated that presently 65 percent of the population in the West Bank
lives in poverty. This means hidden starvation, especially for families
who already were poor before the current economic recession and do
not have reserves to fall back on. Families headed by a woman and
without a male breadwinner, the sick and the elderly are hit hardest.
Most Palestinian families are large. In some regions, the average family
comprises no less than nine members, most of them children of school
age, who all rely on a sole breadwinner.
Humanitarian Relief Society (HRS), a Palestinian humanitarian
organization active in the West Bank, especially in Arroub refugee
camp, therefore proposes to distribute a 20-kg sack of rice to 350
extremely poor families. Rice is the main staple of the Palestinian diet
and is eaten for lunch and frequently dinner. Most families cannot
afford to purchase a sack of rice and resort to buying small quantities
on a daily basis. Little money remains to purchase other ingredients of
a nutritious meal, for example vegetables, cooking oil and meat. Eating
only or mainly carbohydrates leads to malnutrition in the long run,
68 SHE CANADA
especially among children, who need all kinds of nutrients to grow and
develop healthily. A family who has a sack of rice will be able to spend
its daily cash supply on other food items and will thus eat sufficiently and
have a more balanced diet.
A sack of rice will enable family providers to adequately feed their
families for a month or more. Assuming an average family size of seven,
which is a conservative estimate in Palestine, 2,450 people will benefit
from this project, at least two thirds of them children. A mere four Euro
are sufficient to improve a person’s nutrition for a whole month.
Dear LFT donors: When you sit down for your daily meals, think of
those who look at an empty table and have to go to bed hungry. By
giving a small part of what you spend on food every month, you can
significantly improve their lives.
To Donate or Get Involved Contact:
September Lodge, Village Way,
Little Chalfont
Buckinghamshire
HP7 9PU
The Lady Fatemah Charitable Trust is one of the first charities to use its own unique
text code, LFCT14, to raise funds by using JustTextGiving, a service available to
Vodafone subscribers internationally.
In the spirit of the LFT, this is a new service which has no set up or associated costs for
the LFT and every penny donated via text goes directly to the LFT. Once your donation
has gone through, you can also add Gift Aid to the donation, which we recommend as
it gives us an extra 25% on your donation.
For more success stories and information about how to donate, please visit:
http://www.ladyfatemahtrust.org/
[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0) 1494 762 063
Fax: +44 (0) 1494 762 286
Mob: +44 (0) 7798 761 020 / +44 (0) 7798 769 030
SHE CANADA
69
ing physically closer to donors) for the
continuation of the project. We have
members and partners in Kabul who
are interested in the project and have
helped us in its design.
What does the CAC offer in terms of
services?
The Afghanistan & Central Asian
Association Citizen’s Advice Centre
in Afghanistan
D
By Priya Kumar
ays before this issue was set to go to print a
German member of the Associated Press was shot dead and her
Canadian colleague critically wounded in the attack on the eve of
Afghanistan’s elections. Anja Niedringhaus, 48, a Pulitzer Prize
winning photographer and Kathy Gannon, a reporter for the AP
from Timmins, ON, were on assignment in the outskirts of Khost
in Tani district. While a tragic day for Canadians, Germans and
the journalism profession as a whole, this is one of the few cherrypicked stories the western media will report on leading up to the
election. Not to make light in any way of the terror these two brave
women endured that day, it is also important to shed some light
on what everyday Afghanistani’s are going through during this
politically tumultuous time. It is for this reason we at SHE felt it
necessary to report both on our fallen compatriots and Afghan
nationals.
I recently had the chance to catch-up with Dr. Nooralhaq Nasimi,
Director of the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association. The
ACAA aims to assist new Afghanistanis to the UK by offering free
70 SHE CANADA
advice, English classes, CV workshops and legal advice. Recently
the ACAA received a grant from the UK government funding
a similar project to empower Afghanistanis in Kabul and Pul-e
Khumri. Dr. Nasimi was visiting Afghanistan during the electoral
period and had the following to say about the Citizen’s Advice
Centres:
What led to the decision to launch the Citizen’s Advice Centres
in Kabul and Pul-e Khumri?
To provide free, impartial legal advice to the vulnerable groups of
society which mainly include women, children and those struck by
poverty and to offer employment opportunities for local residents
and to create volunteering opportunities for university students
who are willing to gain work experience. These two cities are where
poverty along with unemployment have reached very high levels
in recent years. Statistics gathered by international organizations
have shown that Kabul and Pul-e-Khumri are cities with rapidly
increasing populations. I also grew up in Pul-e-Khumri and
therefore have a good understanding
and impression of the city and its
surroundings as well the area itself and
wanted to offer something helpful back
to citizens living there. Finally, it’s also
important to transfer a positive and
important aspect of British society into
Afghanistan.
Why Kabul and Pul-e Khumri?
We have chosen Pul-e Khumri because
despite being a city there are still
extremes of poverty and inequality is
high. As in other cities there are large
numbers of people living on land not
recognised by municipalities who do
not receive basic services from the state.
As a provincial city we hope to build
closer links with the local authorities
and community leaders. It is traditionally an industrial city and we thought
this could make it a good environment
for providing business advice and
services as infrastructure is already in
place. We chose Kabul because despite
being the capital there are still extremes
of poverty in Kabul and inequality.
Women do not seem to play as active
a role in the active population as you
might expect. There are high numbers
of returning refugees and IDPs who
need assistance to stay out of poverty.
Working in the capital will help us
make contact with a larger number of
other NGOs and service providers and
will help us fundraise (in terms of be-
Citizens’ Advice Centres provides free,
impartial, confidential advice on a wide
range of issues and services identified
by vulnerable groups as impacting poverty in Kabul and Baghlan provinces.
We run training and advice sessions
at the Centre, including health
professionals, business men and
women, local offices of the Ministry
of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and
the Disabled (MoLSAMD), Ministry
of Women, the Afghan Human Rights
Commission etc.
Volunteering opportunities are
uncommon in Afghanistan, especially
for undergraduate and post-graduate
students who are looking for work
experience. We offer an environment
where they can gain a little experience
prior to entering the workforce.
Has there been any political resistance
to the CAC?
Thankfully, we have not encountered
any political resistance; with the
elections, we are unsure if the situation
will change.
Who benefits most from the Centres?
The Centres are open to everyone,
regardless of ethnicity, religion or
gender. However, those who are most
vulnerable in society, which include
women (widows), children (orphans),
individuals with special needs and
those living in poverty, are our targets.
SHE CANADA
71
Health & Wellness
Health & Wellness
Whenever you feel that you don’t
have time for yoga, it is exactly
when you should not stop.
flexibility level is not a constraint.
T
yoga201
By: Maria Pospelova
here are various debates as to whether Dostoevsky used
to practice yoga; yet, this article is not about that. Overwhelmed, by
the increasing trend of an amateur yoga practice in North America,
you, at last, had been convinced to give this “workout” a try. There is
variety of potential paths for one to discover yoga. Perhaps, someone
dragged you along for the first complimentary class, or it was part of
a team building company event, or you took it for fun as part of your
gym membership that one night instead of a crazy intense bootcamp
class. You might have been “prescribed” yoga by a chiropractor or
psychologist after an injury, or participated in a fun pre-engagement
party of your friend’s sister. Either way, by your will or not, yoga has
eventually found its the way into your life. And here you are, an
enthusiastic newbie, who has successfully finished a class, or two,
or the whole month of them. Intimidating and unusual at first, yoga
practice has seduced you. Strangely enough, no matter how much
72 SHE CANADA
you did enjoy the “aftertaste” feeling in your body and mind, and
agree that yoga does have health benefits, one is still likely to come
across the challenge of sticking with it, and making yoga a part of a
daily/weekly routine, budget, and schedule.
Whichever stage of a yoga discovery you might be at right now, here
are some encouraging facts that might help you to keep going strong
with your beginner practice, and enjoy the benefits of yoga longterm.
EXCUSE: “Duh, I am not flexible”. REALITY: Flexibility is not a
requirement to participating in a yoga practice. In fact, an improved
flexibility is more of a side effect to a regular practice, rather than a
prerequisite. Being hungry doesn’t discourage you to get food, and
being not clean enough doesn’t stop you from showering. One’s
EXCUSE: “It is too expensive.” REALITY:
Yes, yoga can be costly. Drop-in rates seem
to provide the worst value per class. On the
contrary, commitment to a practice and a
purchase of an unlimited pass can lower
your cost to be as little as couple of dollars
per class when attending regularly. Various
studios in Toronto offer amazing discounted
intro packages, complimentary classes,
classes by donations and outdoor community
classes. Paying attention to how much money
we spend on the unhealthy habits such as
cigarettes, impulse shopping and weekly beer
can also be helpful while figuring out a yoga
budget.
fears, and limiting beliefs it takes someone
in order to do a certain pose. Focusing on
your own breath, practicing compassion and
patience for your body on the mat, eventually
will result in successfully balancing physically
challenging poses.
EXCUSE: “Hot class is not for me, ashtanga
is too challenging, yin class is boring, and why
would I pay for a restorative class if I can nap
at home?” REALITY: One size does not fit
all. There are at least 10 different yoga styles
offered in a city as big as Toronto. Exploring
what your physical body needs at the moment
is key. Yoga is a unique physical practice that
combines working on strength and flexibility.
Each style focuses more on the one or the
other. Having fun while exploring the effects
each practice has on your body and mind, you
might be able to find at least one yoga style to
fall in love with, and that you won’t be able to
imagine your life without in the future.
I kindly encourage you to enrich you life with
memorable, intriguing moments, expanding
personal boundaries, and step out of your
comfort zone. True enjoyment comes from
being present in the moment, non-attachment
to the result, as well as the ability to be
comfortable in being silly and vulnerable.
May you all have an amazing journey of
self-discovery while sticking with your yoga
practice. Namaste.
EXCUSE: “I don’t have time for this.”
REALITY: Living and working in a busy
city is extremely demanding physically,
emotionally, and mentally. When I was in
university, I used to take discounted yoga
classes at the student union yoga club. The
closer and closer we got to the midterm
week, the emptier the classroom would get.
I will never forget the line the teacher gave
us: “Whenever you feel that you don’t have
time for yoga, it is exactly when you should
not stop”. The truth is, the busier your life
becomes, the more you need to try and find
time to reconnect with your breath, body, and
check in with your thoughts.
EXCUSE: “I am not good enough, everyone
is looking, it is embarrassing.” REALITY: The
truth is, when we just begin our journey with
yoga, we naturally compare ourselves to everyone in the room. Sometimes success of others
inspires us, and other times seeing someone
standing on their head can feel discouraging when you are the only person that can’t
even reach for your ankles. It is important to
remember that most classes welcome all levels.
You have no idea how many years of physical
and internal practice of working with personal
SHE CANADA
73
4
2
1
3
5
1
kids
Corner
10
3
Basics for
babies
Free your children of post-school boredom
and inactivity with these quick fixes for
summer. You’ll be glad you did.
5
6
Buying adorable items for babies just
became even more fun. Head to your next
baby shower with these gifts that will go easy
on your credit card. The products are cute,
and so are the prices.
6
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POTTERY BARN Personalized fairfax grey striped duffle bag $27.50
2
POTTERY BARN Shaggy head sleeping bag $89
3
INDIGO Ticket to ride board game $59.95
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WALMART Monopoly empire $24.93
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TOYS R US Lego The Hobbit $34.99
1
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INDIGO Percy Jackson five book box set $23.10
Pottery Barn Nursery critter wraps $29.99
2
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TOYS R US Razor ripster $49.97
johnson & Johnson`s Head-to-toe wash $7.77
3
TOYS R US F5 Flow Series scooter $179.99
Johnson & Johnson`s Vanilla oatmeal baby lotion $4.97
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Babies R Us Bath spout cover $12.99
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CATERPILLAR Baby best bottom diaper package $88.65
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74 SHE CANADA
SHE CANADA
75
Introducing the
New Faces of Maybelline
Maybelline New York recently announced not one, but two new spokeswomen for their
brand. Both women embody the Maybelline New York woman’s spirit and passion for
makeup. Dutch model Marloes Horst and British model Jourdun Dunn have been
added to the list of the makeup brand’s list of prominent and iconic spokespeople and
we’ve got the latest on these glamorous ladies.
Jourdan Dunn
By: Anna Bandi
ON FASHION AND BEAUTY
Have you always been passionate about fashion?
I enjoyed dressing up as most young girls do. It wasn’t until I
really got into the business that I started to appreciate what it
takes to create fashion.
What gives you confidence in your job as a model and in life?
Music. Empowering music uplifts your spirit and makes you feel
good especially when it’s created by strong , confident women.
How do you define “beauty”? What makes a woman beautiful?
How would you describe your fashion taste?
I’m not really a “girly girl”. However, most people usually picture me
wearing a dress because I wear high fashion pieces when I’m shooting.
But, I’m most comfortable wearing jeans, a blouse and a blazer.
What gives you confidence in your job as a model and in life?
I have always had a strong personality. I feel that having a strong belief
in yourself is something you need not only as a model, but is very
important in everyday life.
Best tips you have learned from the pros?
Beauty is confidence and self-awareness. To be beautiful, you
have to know who you are on the inside. Beauty is kindness and
respect for both yourself and others. Makeup is best used to
enhance what you already have with the right touch in the right
place it can be truly transformative in how you feel.
What makeup items do you always have with you?
Who is your beauty icon?
Lip balm, eyebrow gel and concealer.
Bridgitte Bardot. I feel like she embodied everything a woman is and
should be.
What does it mean to be a Maybelline New York spokesperson?
It is an honour to be a spokesperson for such an iconic brand. I
am proud to say that I am a Maybelline girl and hopefully I can
make people feel the same way I did when I saw the advertisements growing up. The brand imagery is always beautiful and
positive. To now be a part of that is a dream come true!
What does “born with it” mean to you?
76 SHE CANADA
ON FASHION AND BEAUTY
Being a model has opened up a whole new world for me. I have learned
how to use products and which colors work best for my skin tone. It is a
lot of fun because every makeup artist has his or her own special way of
working, so I get to see a lot of different techniques. Ultimately, the best
tip I’ve learned from the pros is to play around with products to find
your favorite colors and textures. There is so much out there, have fun
with it!
ON THE MAYBELLINE NEW YORK BRAND
British model Jourdan Dunn is no stranger to the spotlight, walking the
runway for prestigious brands such as Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren and
Prada. She started her modeling career at the young age of 16 and now
at 23 she continues to dominate in the modeling world, scoring high
profile contracts with Victoria’s Secret and now Maybelline New York.
Marloes Horst
It’s a reminder that we are all born with a special quality that
makes us individual and uniquely beautiful.
What are your favourite Maybelline New York products?
I love Color Sensational lipsticks. I like to mix Nude Lust and
Storm Sahara to create the perfect nude lip. And of course, Great
Lash mascara is my all-time favourite!
ON THE MAYBELLINE NEW YORK BRAND
What does it mean to be a Maybelline New York Spokesperson?
Maybelline New York is such a huge and iconic brand that makes
women look and feel beautiful, and I am very honored to be a part of it.
What was the first Maybelline New York product you ever used?
I love the Fit Me foundation. A makeup artist applied it on me at a shoot
once and I’ve been using it ever since. It has a lovely texture which works
very well with my skin.
What are your favourite Maybelline New York products?
Next to the foundation, I love the mascaras. Right now I’m using the
Rocket for volume and smoothness. It doesn’t give you any clumps! I
am also in love with Color Sensation The Buffs lipsticks; they give the
perfect finishing touch for a natural look.
Signed to one of the biggest modeling agencies, Next Model
Management, Marloes Horst is starting to make a name for
herself in the fashion industry. The face of several advertising
campaigns including, Emporio Armani, DKNY and Kenzo,
Horst is a supermodel on the rise. Becoming the newest
addition to the Maybelline family will raise her status and
make her a prominent model in the industry.
SHE CANADA
77
1
1
3
2
4
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8
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Bronze
Summer
SPlash
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GODDESS
Embrace your summer tan
with these products that are
sure to enhance your natural
glow. We’ve got you covered
in the office and on a night
out!
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78 SHE CANADA
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LANCOME Star bronzer palette $35
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LAURA MERCIER Tinted moisturizer $55
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COVERGIRL Copper radiance bronzer $6.99
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MAKE UP FOR EVER Diamond powder $30
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ESTEE LAUDER Bronze goddess powder $40
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ESTEE LAUDER Pure color sizzling copper eyeshadow $25
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COVERGIRL Shadow coffee $6.47
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MAC Ruffian gold glitter lipstick $19
Whether you’re laying by the pool, or hitting
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MAKE UP FOR EVER Diamond powder $30
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10 SECRET Fresh effects body mist $4.99
10
Health & Wellness
Backstage at
WORLD MASTERCARD
FASHION
WEEK
with Maybelline
By: Harpreet Brar
Saying Goodbye
It was a snowy day in March, but ‘the show must
go on’, right? While the outdoors were frozen
and still, inside the doors of World MasterCard
Fashion Week, it was just heating up. SHE had their
backstage pass ready to look at models preparing
and being primped by Maybelline New York’s lead
makeup artist in Canada, Grace Lee for VAWK at
WMCFW. The Canadian brand founded in Toronto
by Sunny Fong, VAWK can be described as equal
parts modern femininity and timeless beauty..
From lip prep to foundation to nails, each surface
of a model is painted with a specific end goal to
guarantee that the vision of a designer is exact. It's
no basic errand – here's a glance at what happened
backstage, and how Lee transforms a dream into the
beautiful walking canvases that are these models.
80 SHE CANADA
In the United States, the cosmetic
industry generated an estimated total
revenue of 54.89 billion U.S. dollars
(2012). In this industry, where we
pursue our perfect skin and colours,
are a number of shadowy ingredients
and practices. Aveda Corporations and
Intelligent Nutrients founder, Horst
Rechelbacher, dedicated his life’s
work to combat these questionable
practices and to develop his own
line of organic products while using
sustainable practices. At the age of 72,
Rechelbacher passed away in his home,
leaving his two children, Peter and
Nicole, and life partner Kiran Stordalen.
I
n commemoration of Horst Rechelbacher,
we recognize the loss of an industry’s innovator,
visionary, and true crusader. On February 15,
2014 Rechelbacher passed away from pancreatic
cancer at his Wisconsin home. His life’s work
had been dedicated to the pursuit of natural and
safe beauty products, as well as the incorporation
of sustainability in business. His legacy endures
through Aveda corporations and the hundreds of
“would-be sustainable” businesses to which he had
inspired.
Rechelbacher was born in Klagenfurt,
Austria, to an herbalist and a shoe designer/maker.
At the age of fourteen, he left school to apprentice
as a hairdresser. He traveled to numerous cities like
Rome, London, New York, and Minneapolis for hairstyling competitions. While competing in Florida,
Rechelbacher conceptualized a natural hair product
line that would later be known as “Aveda”. During
the same year, he was reminded of his childhood
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interest in herbal medicine after he had attended a lecture on
Ayuvedic medicine. He later spent six months in India learning the
tradition that would become part of Aveda’s framework. In 1978,
Rechelbacher opened his first hair salon in Minneapolis. His salon
expanded into a small chain known as Horst & Friends. He then
expanded his salon brand. Aveda grew into a lifestyle brand and
became a global movement for the encouragement of a balanced
life. In 1997, Rechelbacher sold Aveda to Estee Lauder Co. for $300
million.
Aveda is based in Minnesota and continues to identify
itself as a company that offers naturally derived beauty products. For
example, Aveda acquires its ayurvedic herbs from an Indian firm
called Nisarga. The firm uses non-toxic methods, the use of carbon
dioxide at low temperatures, to obtain extracts. Aveda prides itself
in offering organic products and being able to trace their certified
organic ingredients. Their standardized definition of “naturally
derived” ingredients requires that more than fifty percent of the
molecule come from natural sources.
Aveda also identifies itself as a company that is committed
to sustainable practices. The company is involved with numerous
programs that help support communities that produce their
products. For instance, Aveda has committed itself to partnering
with the Yawanawa for their production of urukum (a palm seed
that is harvested for its red pigment). Aveda has been working to reestablish and strengthen the traditional Yawanawa culture along the
Amazon River in Brazil.
Aveda’s efforts also extend to local environs. Not only
have they denounced the use of animal testing but they have also
campaigned for its termination in the beauty industry. On other
fronts, they have funded projects that support the quality of life
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for animals. For instance they have funded animal relief efforts
following natural disasters, including Animal Humane Society in
the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the National Wildlife Federation
after the Gulf Oil Disaster. In the past decade, Aveda has raised
$8 million for grassroots organizations that protect endangered
animals and the surrounding environment.
To help maintain the environment, Aveda has been
involved in projects that are designed to reduce packaging waste
and use renewable energy. They began by being the first privately
held company to sign the Ceres Principles in 1989. To fulfill these
sustainable principles, Aveda works to minimize their packaging
and maximize their use of recyclable and post-consumer recycled
materials. With their use the most environmentally sound materials
and as much post-consumer recycled content as commercially as
possible, they claim to save the use of six hundred tons of virgin
plastic each year.
To lower their environmental impact even further,
Aveda purchases wind generated electricity to power primary
manufacturing facility, company headquarters, and the Aveda
Institute in Minneapolis. They also invest in Native Energy’s
Help Build projects, which provide funding for the long-term
development of new sources of renewable energy including wind
energy.
In total, Aveda has raised over $18 million USD for
environmental and social causes. To acknowledge their dedication
and practice, Aveda was the first beauty company in the world to
receive Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) sustainability endorsement.
After selling Aveda, Rechelbacher started another company called
Intelligent Nutrients. This company specialized in organic, nontoxic health and beauty products. Rechelbacher grew many of
the ingredients on his 570 acres farm and retreat centre in Osceola,
Wisconsin. He fought to make the products USDA certified organic.
Rechelbacher was a strong opponent of “green washing” within
the cosmetic industry. The term refers to the misleading marketing
claim of companies that use the word “organic’’ without certification.
Therefore, along with his new company, Rechelbacher continued his
pursuits to raise public awareness of carcinogenic ingredients found in
beauty supplies. In 2004, Rechelbacher helped finance the “Campaign
for Safe Cosmetics”. The Campaign recently helped persuade Johnson
& Johnson to remove two ingredients linked to cancer from its baby
shampoo, including formaldehyde and 1, 4 dioxine.
Rechelbacher is considered to have been a “game-changer”
in the world of beauty products. As a result of Aveda’s commitment
to eliminate toxic chemicals from its products, not only did he bring
sustainability to mass marketed products but he also enlarged the
market for so-called natural cosmetics. Geoffrey Jones, Harvard
Business School professor and author, said that Rachelbacher made
natural cosmetics relevant in the American market. Although the
idea of organic cosmetics did not originate with Rechelbacher as it
has been manufactured since the late 1950s by firms like Yves Rocher,
Rechelbacher had helped in making “natural health and beauty
products fashionable and the fastest growing sector of the industry”.
As a result of this growth, the issue of “green washing”
became quite rampant throughout the beauty industry. Peter Melchett,
Soil Association policy director, highlighted a number of harmful
chemicals found in beauty products that were labelled as ‘organic’ and
‘natural’. Some of these ingredients can be found in antifreeze and
cleaners. The root of the issue being that there is a lack of regulation.
In the United States, the FDA does not have the authority
to regulate beauty products. Campaign for Safe Cosmetics cofounder, Stacy Malkan, stated that there are no guarantees that the
ingredients are safe. She also stated that due to a lack of legal standards,
companies often use it as a marketing term. To counter this issue, US
Representatives Jan Schakwosky and Edward Markey introduced Safe
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2013. The proposed
act would have strengthened FDA oversight; phase out ingredients
linked to cancer, infertility, and developmental problems; require
full ingredients disclosure; as well as give authority to FDA to recall
dangerous products. However, this act encountered serious opposition
from leaders within the beauty industry.
In Canada, Health Canada is responsible for regulating
cosmetics under the Food and Drug Act and the Cosmetic Regulations.
In 2004, “Canada’s Cosmetic Regulations” were updated to require
manufacturers to list ingredients on retail packaging. Even though
manufacturers are required to disclose the concentration of each
ingredient to the Minister of Health, it is not easily accessible for
the public. Furthermore, manufacturers have until ten days after
the product’s release to notify Health Canada. Canada’s cosmetic
labelling and notification requirements do not apply to unintentional
ingredients, like by-products and impurities. Additionally,
manufacturers are not routinely required to perform pre-market testing
of used chemicals.
In 2012, the David Suzuki Foundation initiated a survey
to investigate the prevalence of twelve chemicals (BHA/BHT, coal
tar dyes, DEA related ingredients, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde,
parabens, parfum, PEG compounds, petrolatum, siloxanes, sodium
laureth sulfate, triclosan) in products that Canadians normally use. The
results revealed that 80% of submitted products contained at least one
of the Dirty Dozen Ingredients. Furthermore, each product contained
an average number of 1.9 ingredients.
Over the course of his journey, Rechelbacher has been
honoured with a number of awards that recognize his devotion to safe
products and environmentally friendly practices. One award included
the Rachel Carson Award for Lifetime Commitment to Environmental
Ethics and Integrity. We experience the loss and void of his passing.
Rechelbacher could not witness the end of “green washing”, but the
movement for safe beauty products and sustainability in the beauty
industry continues forward -- the mark, the legacy, the gift Horst
Rechelbacher has given.
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Best private
label launch:
L’Occitane La
Collection de
Grasse
NINTH Annual
Canadian Fragrance Awards
O
By Harpreet Brar
n a breathtaking spring day, the
ninth annual Canadian Fragrance Awards were
held in Toronto at the Arcadian Court. Hosted
by Cosmetics Magazine, the venue was nothing
short of superb. Finalists and winners of the
men’s and women’s fragrances launched in
2013 were celebrated, with over 350 leaders in
the fragrance industry in Canada. Each winner
received a beautiful Art Deco award.
It was learned that judging for the Canadian
Fragrance Awards isn’t so simple. To begin,
the panel of judges get together to review the
submissions and finalists are selected utilizing
the set criteria known as: fragrance, launch,
advertising, PR, and sales. It’s apparent what
the brand does promotionally and in-store
is exceptionally prominent. Once this is
accomplished, the ballot featuring the finalists
is sent out to 260 members in the industry and
1200 beauty advisors. This is when they vote
for their favourite fragrance in each of the 11
categories and submit it to Cosmetics Magazine
for organization. Then, the 26 judges meet once
more to review the votes and pick a winner in
each category.
Without further ado, read along to see if your
favourite scent is amongst the 2014 winners.
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Best limited
launch women’s:
Michael Kors
Sporty, Sexy, Glam
Best niche launch
(men or women):
Carven Le Parfum
Best luxe launch
(men or women) +
Judge’s choice:
Marni Eau de Parfum
Best full-market launch
women’s prestige:
Marc Jacobs Honey
Men’s Hall
of Fame:
Paco Rabanne
Pour Homme
Women’s Hall
of Fame:
Calvin Klein
Eternity
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2
1
Bring
3
Summer
This season, candles and air fresheners
are the way to go to bring that fresh
summery scent into your home. If
smelling clean isn’t enough, exude your
cleanliness with our top-rated products
here. You can thank us later.
4
5
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inside your
Home
8
9
1
DOWNY Infusions liquid softener $6.94
2
TIDE BOOST Stain release $9.99
3
GAIN Moonlight breeze flings 3-in-1 detergent $4.44
4
FEBREZE Thai dragon fruit scented candle $7.99
5
MR. CLEAN Magic eraser $4.99
6
THE GOOD HOME Lavender vacuum beads $20
7
FEBREZE NOTICEables Mediterranean lavender $4.98
8
GLADE Blushing berry scented oil refillable candle $7.99
9
THE GOOD HOME Beach days scented candle $25
6
7
SHE CARES
Syria
SHE Canada recognizes the intensifying violence
that is consuming the nation of Syria and the
precious lives that are constantly being taken
away in the midst of the viciousness. About 50%
of all Syrian refugees are children or adolescents.
Due to the traumatic events in Syria, these kids
are powerless and in need of water, food, and
shelter. We want to help.
Large portions of these children have seen their
brothers, their sisters and their parents become
injured and harmed. In the wake of seeing such
terror, some children end up becoming withdrawn.
They urgently require psychological support
alongside clean water, food and medication. It
is estimated that 2.4 million Syrians have fled to
neighbouring countries with high hopes to live
safely.
SHE Canada is now accepting donations to help
those in Syria in their time of need. Funds raised
will go towards food, water, shelter, and support
for victims. Lend a helping hand to all Syrians
and their children today by sending donations to:
[email protected].
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Book Review
Brown Girl Problems
The Fishing Fleet,
Husband-Hunting in the Raj
BY Anne de Courcy
Review by Priya Kumar
The British Raj created all sorts of social pockets and diasporas.
Perhaps the most intriguing were the boatloads of eligible young
debutantes from Britain looking to make a good match among
the well-paid officers in the Indian Civil Service (ICS). Practically
starved (on both sides of the ocean) of suitable matches during the
Imperial rule of South Asia, British women were paid to make the
treacherous journey overseas to make a good match. But as the trend
caught on and the Suez Canal opened—making the trip quicker and
safer—soon the Raj was able to charge a hefty sum to put these young
ingénues up.
The experiences these women had in British India (which then
included Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka) were akin to
a chapter out a Louis Carroll novel. While many of them achieved
what they set out to do and headed home with a husband in tow, some
of the women covered in the novel were third and fourth generation
Britons. Of these, the most intriguing were members of the AngloIndian (or Eurasian) community that formed by the British soldiers
92 SHE CANADA
I’ve always been a little more on the heavier side. I’ve
never bothered to do anything about it but lately I’ve
been going to the gym and I actually enjoy the feeling
it gives me. I’ve started to see results and I know I
could do better if it wasn’t for my diet. I live with my
parents and my mother always insists that I eat her
food. No matter how greasy or fattening, she sees
nothing wrong with it as long as her children are fed.
I assume this is what has assisted with my weight gain
over the years and every time I try to eat healthier, my
mother gets upset by saying I’m not eating enough.
How do I take control of making my own meals
without worrying her?
is aware that this is something I do not want. Am I
just going to have to deal with this enormous crowd?
Dear Wannabe Health Freak,
Now here’s the correct answer: your wedding is really not about you,
it’s for your family to throw the most elaborate fête of their entire
lives in celebration of you. If Bank of Dad is managing your wedding
budget, the level of ostentation is up to him. Of course you should
have some control over the guest list, but at the end of the day your
parents have been looking forward to your wedding perhaps longer
than you have. Lots of people are not necessarily a bad thing; the
more the merrier could never ring truer than
your big day.
Go with the flow at the wedding itself by
keeping
your good friends close by. You will
want to
see a familiar face after the barrage of
well-wishes from aunties and uncles
who remember when you when you
were only four years old.
Anne de Courcy recounts the time between the late 17th century
and 1930s when these women, known almost humorously as the
“Fishing Fleet”, were sent across to British India on an adventure of
a lifetime. The novel covers every detail from the pests they would
have endured—“Lady Canning remarked that her dinner table in
Calcutta ‘was covered in creatures as thickly as a drawer of them in a
museum’. Sometimes floors seemed alive with beetles; Lady Canning
described huge cockroaches (‘as big as mice’) in her bedroom, ‘some
moving away, side by side, like pairs of coach horses’,”—to the level
of opulence they experienced unique to the Raj. “[The maharajas’]
palaces, their clothes, their jewels, their retinues, the gold and
silver trappings of their state elephants, the largesse they showered
on fortunate guests, seemed to sum up everything that was meant
by the phrase ‘the gorgeous East’,” opens the chapter on the fleet’s
encounters with royalty.
Matches alive or dead were sought mainly for the ICS men’s great
salaries and pensions. Even if a groom died of disease soon after
marriage, his bride would be well taken care of by the Raj. If a
young lady were unable to make a match she was branded “returned
empty” and sent back to Europe. Some went back by choice to find
their partner locally in Britain, while others simply never married
remaining spinsters the rest of their lives.
Brownproblems
Girl
The Wannabe Health Freak
The South Asian diet is perhaps the antithesis of the Mediterranean.
Steeped in oil and cholesterol like ghee, our food may taste delicious
but it’s a silent killer. India not only has the highest number of Type 2
diabetes patients in the world, but children are becoming increasingly
insulin resistant. To make matters worse, all things being equal, those
with South Asian genes are more susceptible to metabolic syndrome
than Caucasians. So there’s the science behind why your mom needs
to cut back on the trans fats.
If you’re able to go to the gym yourself, I assume you’re also old
enough to be cooking for yourself (and perhaps for your family
on occasion). You should speak to your mother from a scientific
perspective. Do some research into metabolic syndrome and the
consequences of ignoring it. Map out your case and chances are she
will be so impressed with the initiative you’ve taken, she’s bound to
hear you out and perhaps help in meal preparation. By cutting back
on unnecessary oils and starch you’re not just doing your body good,
but you’re also going to be able to taste certain spices and flavours
that were previously masked by all that grease. Give it a go—you
might find your passion lies in cooking.
mixing with native women. As miscegenation laws soon took hold
by 1800, the daughters of these communities became social pariahs.
Neither the British nor Indian population wanted to accept them.
A few of them, like Grace Trotter covered in the novel, managed to
marry their way out and back into one society or another. However
after succeeding in finding a husband of noble blood, she left him as
soon as they returned to Britain. Her story is not unique and is one of
many covered by de Courcy’s “The Fishing Fleet.”
The Anti-Bridezilla
Dear The Anti-Bridezilla,
I’m going to press the envelope here and give you two answers—
my answer and the right answer. Personally I could not agree more
with you. The South Asian wedding industry is currently valued at
$38 billion internationally and attending one is akin to a day at the
circus. Even families who may not necessarily be able to afford a
massive send-off for their daughter pull out all the stops for a week
of over-the-top decadence. Being the exact opposite of subtle, it’s not
surprising the multi day South Asian wedding isn’t for everyone. If
such an affair is really not you, propose something low-key that you
and your fiancé will foot the bill for. There’s my two cents.
I’ve gone to a lot of weddings growing up. As fun as
they can be, I can’t help but dislike the humongous
crowds that South Asian weddings contain all too
often. As a bride-to-be, I would ideally like to keep
my crowd to a minimum but my father sees it as a
necessity to invite every person he’s ever known (okay,
a little bit of a stretch). It’s overwhelming having
hundreds of people you don’t know at your own
wedding! We can’t see eye-to-eye on this topic and he
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TRAVEL
“Paris is always a good idea.”
AUDREY HEPBURN
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do
than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
mark twain
“Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons
from God.”
kurt vonnegut
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“Once a year, go some place you’ve never been
before.”
dalai lama
“One’s destination is never a place; rather, a
new way of looking at things.”
henry miller
“Knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our
ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more
lovingly, our own.”
MArgaret mead
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