PLEASE, everyone, stop considering Matt&Nat to be eco-friendly fashion! It is plastic bags made in China! That is the opposite of eco-friendly! They are just marketing themselves so that people who care will feel like they are making a difference by buying their products.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to enter the contest and share your fashion knowledge with us!

This was tough because you all had really compelling reasons why you love the designers you do. We can certainly appreciate all of the designers you've highlighted and hope this little exercise got more than a few of you thinking about our dear home grown talent and how we need to support them in every way we can!

Now on to the winner of this fabulous jewelry from MMCrystal...

Congratulations, Hot Cuppa! Your descriptions made us want to go shopping (thanks a lot!), and it is clear you are passionate about these brands. You will be contacted via email with details for the delivery of your new fabulous jewelry!

XOXO

Typo fix-up: I meant to say that Pre-Loved once had a label of undergarments called "Lover", (not "Love").

This is easy because my favourite labels ARE Canadian!!! To narrow them down to three I must include...

1) Chulo Pony: This west-coast design group makes fabulous dresses and separates injected with individuality, femininity and fun. I discovered Chulo Pony in an oh-so-fabulous shop in Winnipeg called "October", and am always on the lookout for other shops carrying this label. My closet happily has pieces I've bought on my Canadian travels (Toronto various Queen West shops, Port Hope, and Halifax). You can't miss the big swirly "Chulo Pony" script. In fact, just recently I saw a girl carrying a red bag with their logo screened on one side, and I wanted to run across the street and say "oh, you love them too?!!"

2) Comrags!!!!!! I bought Comrags back in the '80's when they were new and were featured in an uber-cool store in the Market area of Winnipeg. Such beautiful wools and linens, jet black, streamlined and minimal: dresses, coats, skirts. I still have some of those pieces!! When I came to Toronto and discovered the flagship store on Queen Street, well, let's just say I felt like "I'd arrived". Their current pieces tends to have patterns and more colour than the early days, but they have a few basic dresses that they've been consistently making for years. If you need a black classic cocktail dress, check their shop out. The staff is knowledgable and lovely.

3) Pre-Loved: This once-little vintage shop has turned into a label to be reconned with. Some of my most individual pieces come from this shop on Queen Street (in a new location since a fire destroyed the original store). Over the years, the store concept has evolved. They once had a label of undergarments called "Love" and I still have a cool undershirt that I've pretty much worn to shreds (but can't part with it!). Now, they stick to reworking vintage clothes (sweaters, shirts, you name it) into one-of-a-kind pieces. They might turn a raincoat into a skirt. PreLoved is found in shops across Canada, as I discovered on a trip to the east coast.

My three favourite Canadian designers go to both ends of the economic spectrum but I love them all!

My all-time favourite is (like other posters) Joseph Mimran with his Joe Fresh line! I adore the fact that it is affordable and easily accessible to everyone (when our Zehrs was renovated last year to include Joe Fresh I was SO EXCITED) and the pieces are also durable and fashionable! I also adore the fact that this line includes items for all ages -- my 5-year-old neice is a budding fashionista so I love picking up Joe Fresh items for her as well!

On the other end of the spectrum, whenever I get to Toronto I hit Holt Renfrew because I love their inclusion of Canadian designers and their amazing fashions!
My two favourites are Jay Godfrey and Phillips Sparks. Both of them have an amazing eye and combine contemporary and classic elements.

I think it is so important for Canadian fashion magazines (such as Flare, Elle Canada and LouLou) to devote a large portion of their fashion focus to Canadian designers. I think it is amazing that Project Runaway Canada is back as well because I think Canadian fashion is an important element to our culture!

PS sorry for the random purple line, not sure what happened there!

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You’re right, you are almost stumped for a second when someone asks you about Canadian designers, which is so sad because we should be supporting our home grown talent!! But when you think for a sec, you realize that you actually do know more than you thought. Here are my 3 faves in no particular order:
Linda Lundström
In high school I did an essay on Canadian Artistic Identity, and I featured Linda Lundström as one of my case studies. Ever since then, I have had my eye on this iconic Canadian designer. Her pieces are beautiful, elegant, simply and classic. Her most famous piece if the LaParka, which is her spin on the traditional Inuit Parka. She even uses Inuit designs in make of her pieces, which gives her a uniquely Canadian edge – one to be proud of. One of the best things about her line is that it is produced right here in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Toronto, and with a downward economy like the one we have today, this becomes even more important. She says she strives to make clothes for real women, that are not just beautiful on the runway, but also practical too.
Matt&Nat
Matt & Nat makes eco-friendly accessories, most notably purses and handbags. My friend has one of their oversized “leather” bags and I adore it. (I really love their Japanese Paper line!) I am going to have to save my pennies though – they’re stuff is not cheap. The best part about them is that the line is completely vegan (and who couldn’t love something that is beautiful and also nice to animals?!) Their bags are gorgeous bright colours, and have that kind of metal hardware look, AND – I’ll say it again – they’re nice to animals (AND the environment too!) They even use recycled materials – apparently they use plastic bottles to make faux-suede lining! And they are based out of Montreal (what is it with Montreal and really nice handbags?)
Joe Fresh Style
Joseph Mimran is the man behind Joe Fresh and I. LOVE. HIM. This is without a doubt my hands-down favourite designer right now. His stuff – which is sold in the most accessible place e-v-e-r, Loblaws Superstore – is really cute, oh-so-stylish and SO INEXPENSIVE!!! Some of my favourite (and might I add, most often complimented) pieces lately are from Joe Fresh, and the best part is that they are among the cheapest in my wardrobe! You almost don’t want to tell people how much you paid for them – let em think you spent a fortune – but I can never pass up the chance to brag about my deals lol. They also have adorable baby stuff (I just got a baby gift for a friend from there and she said its her favourite present) that is just as affordable as their other clothes, not to mention they have just come out with a JOE BEAUTY line which I cannot wait to try (pretty much everything under 10 bucks!) Joe Fresh just cannot get any better!

I totally agree with you that there isn't enough hype about canadian designers! I went to fashion week for the first time this year and I was amazed by the talent we have right here in our own country.. My three favs would have to be

1. Lucian Matis - I didn't watch project runway, but I was lucky enough to be at his show and all I can say is WOW! His designs were fun, flattering, beautifully tailored and just funky enough... Someday I hope I can add one of his designs to my closet!

2. Joe Fresh - This line has made my trips to the grocery store so much more exciting! Not only is the price point amazing, but the quality is really good and every season, the line captures key trends. How can you go wrong when a trendy trench costs less than $50??

3. Sunny Fong - I think this designer is the "leader of the pack" and I really hope he wins project runway canada this year... although I don't think he has put out a new collection since 2006, his flawless tailoring and attention to detail make him the one to watch... I can't wait until he puts out a new collection!

4. Mackage - I know I was only supposed to name three, but how can I not mention Mackage - Their coats are an international hit and have appeared in many of my fav magazines and shows (including gossip girl!). I love my mackage coats!!!!

5. Jason Wu - ok I promise this is the last one but how can he not get a mention for making Michelle Obama so beautiful on inaugeration night! He has already joined the ranks as a celeb fav and I love how he is so proud of his canadian heritage!

So much talent isn't there? :)

Win My Bling Give Away - Worth $260!

We're going to make this really easy... or hard depending on how familiar you are with the Canadian fashion scene.

See, we think Canadian designers are under-hyped. There is a lot of diversity and for the most part, they tend to be quite reasonably priced. Yet for some reason, most Canadians know nothing about our own fashion scene - as evidenced by this embarrassing episode that was shot at Fashion Week in Toronto.

The earrings and bracelet I'm wearing in this episode is also from a Canadian designer, MM Crystal. Remember the bling that Tre Armstrong wore on the finale of So You Think You Can Dance Canada? That's MM Crystal! The founder, Michelle Merizzi is glamorous and fabulous and we will be featuring her soon.

Each piece is made with Sworovsky Crystals. The bracelet is worth $140 and the earrings, $120. One of you will win them both!

Name your 3 favourite Canadian designers here in the comments and include why you like them. A winner will be selected by April 15th, 2009.

Good luck!

Check out MM Crystal and more about the jewelry up for grabs here:
http://www.mmcrystal.com/jewelry/60314/60314.html

See Tre Armstrong wearing MM Crystal bling here:
http://www.mmcrystal.com/page1.html

Contest Alert!

Like my bling? The jewelry I'm wearing in this episode was provided by local designer, MM Crystal and one of you will win the bracelet and earrings! Details will be posted soon. Stay tuned!