Dear Seekers

The Write Way to Mother: Good Mom on Paper

Sun, 15 May 2022 11:00:16 GMT

I’m joined by two incredibly talented and funny writers, editors, novelists, mothers (in no particular order) - Jen sookfong Lee (also a celebrated poet) and Stacey May Fowles (also an award-winning sports journalist).After their first collaboration on Whatever Gets You Through: Twelve Survivors on Life After Sexual Assault, they joined forces again in 2020 to work on another anthology. Except this time, it was on a topic that they both found very close to home- literary life and motherhood. Published this May, Good Mom on Paper is a collection of twenty essays, exploring the fraught, beautiful, and complicated relationship between creativity and motherhood.

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The Write Way to Mother: Mother's Day Special

Mon, 09 May 2022 02:37:14 GMT

Today's episode is a Mother's Day special featuring an audio montage from Dear Seekers' past conversations with five writers who mother- Victoria Chang, Claudia Dey, Harriet Alida Lye, Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr and Heidi Sopinka.

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The Write Way to Mother: Ashley Audrain

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 15:16:38 GMT

My second conversation from The Write Way to Mother series is with Ashley Audrain, author of one of the most celebrated debuts in 2021, The Push - a novel about motherhood (in a nutshell). It raises some very dark questions like: what if we don’t form a connection with our children? What happens if our children turn out to be someone we absolutely did not anticipate? The novel has been sold in over 20 countries and was on the New York Times best selling list for WEEKs. After many lined up to bid on the screen right, U.K. producer David Heyman eventually won the bid. He is known for his work on the Harry Potter films, A Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and many more.

Ashley is such a warm and welcoming person and I enjoyed our conversation very much. We talked so much about motherhood and writing: how she managed to find stolen times to write during those early motherhood days; how motherhood was the catalyst for her to step out of the shadow and became a best-selling author; and how different her writing processes are from the first novel to the second.

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Jeanine Brito on preserving memories and feelings

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 10:30:20 GMT

Today, I’m joined by Germany-born, Toronto-based Jeanine Brito, who I first connected with through Instagram many years ago when she was still working on Sophomore, a magazine that she created in her early twenties with a group of good friends. Even though Jeanine had been working as a designer in a various of companies over the years- from an interactive designer in a tech start-up, to a graphic designer at Umbra, and eventually to the creative lead at Global Mail’s Content Studio, I always knew there was an artist in her. To be fair, I’m sure she knew that too. But it wasn’t until the pandemic that Jeanine finally re-connected with her inner artist and was able to put more attention on her artistic practice and pursuit. For many artists in any discipline, finding their voices and artistic vocabulary might take years. But for Jeanine, it took one pandemic. Being forced to stay in a confined space, in a way, has evoked an if-not-now-then-when moment. With some very clear signs and guidances from the universe, Jeanine recently took a leap of faith to take her art practice full-time.

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Marlowe Granados on pursuing pleasure, especially during difficult times

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:30:00 GMT

Marlowe Granados definitely knows how to tease, flirt and seduce, not people, but life. Growing up with a single mother and being close with her grandparents, Marlowe’s desire to play hide-and-seek with life and grab life by its tail was never lessoned, but rather, encouraged. She takes her pursuit of pleasure very seriously, especially during difficult times. Loosing her dear mom during her teen years left a significant mark in her personal life but yet she chose to not let it be the overcasting shadow. Marlowe started writing Happy Hour when she was 22, but it wasn’t until nearly 8 years later she got to taste the fruit of her labour. After many rejections over the years, Happy Hour was eventually picked up by Flying Books in Toronto in 2020 as their first in-house publication. Since then, it has been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Another, and many more. The ripple effect has put Marlow and her debut novel right under the spotlight, which turned out to be quite a bizarre experience to her. To introduce Marlowe as one, two, or even three professions would be a disservice to her and to the world. She writes, she styles, she photographs, she paints, and she has directed and acted in a film. Do not guess what she is going to do next, because she might not even know either. Even if she does, we probably will never guess it.

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Victoria Chang on memories, grief, and unspoken trauma

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:40:44 GMT

I recently met Dear Memory, a memoir that has essentially changed my life- not only because it forced some of my own uninvited, buried childhood memories to painfully resurface, but also has opened my imagination to what a memoir could look like. My conversation today is with its author Victoria Chang, and Claire Foster, who led me to this incredible book.

Victoria is a prolific poet who has written many critically-claimed and commercially-celebrated poetry books- including Barbie Chang, The Boss, and Obit, which earned her many noble awards and the spotlight that (surprisingly) led her to a two-year long depression. Victoria is one of those very intriguingly contradictory people- dark and light, reserved yet extroverted, and someone who only looks towards the future while writes to dig through the past.

Claire is a literary translator from French and a bookseller at Type Books in Toronto. For Small Press and The Review of the Center for the Study of Arts and Literatures of North Africa, she has translated short texts by George Sand and Isabelle Eberhardt. Her translation of Pierre Clémenti's 1973 prison memoir, A Few Personal Messages, is forthcoming from Small Press.

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Maira Kalman on the power of not knowing

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 10:00:17 GMT

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Maira Kalman, the most senior guest I’ve had on the podcast so far- she is 73, yet she is one of the most playful and dreamy people I’ve ever met. She is an author, illustrator and artist based in New York. Maira has written and illustrated over 30 books, both for adults and children, and her works have appeared in a numerous of publications, such as the New Yorker, New York Times, and many more. One of her most provocative works was Sara Berman’s Closet, a memoir of her late mother Sara- who immigrated from Belarus to Tel Aviv in 1932, one day in her 60s, self edited, self reinvented and created a new identity, and since then, had never looked back and exclusively worn only white pieces. After her death, her personal garments and belongings were preserved by Maira, and eventually exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

During our conversation, Maira talks about the daily rituals she has been practising for over 25 years, the power of not knowing and not over thinking, and the beauty of restraints.

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The Write Way to Mother: Rachel Yoder

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:00:00 GMT

My first guest for this series is Rachel Yoder, author of Nightbitch- a novel published last year in 2021. Although it’s categorized as fiction, I would argue it’s more a cross-genre piece that is part auto-fiction, part science-fiction. The protagonist in the book is an artist and stay-at-home mom who turns into a dog (yes, you read it right). This is one of the most bizarre and imaginative books I’ve read in a long time. It’s dark, funny, weird and wild. It’s magical. It’s provocative. It’s an easy read to devour yet a difficult read to digest.

This is a very special episode- not only because it’s the first of this series, but also because I’m joined by a co-host for the first time. Her name is Elizabeth Polanco, a writer, editor based in Toronto. When Elizabeth isn’t writing or editing, she works at one of the most beloved vintage shops- Mama Loves You. Elizabeth was the one introduced me to Nightbitch. So I thought it would be interesting to invite her to join me on this conversation as I was curious to hear about her reading experience considering she isn’t a mother herself.

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Brought to you by Dear Seekers, The Write Way to Mother is a new series explores the intersection of art and motherhood. You can learn about how this series was conceived and manifested right here.

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Jackie Kai Ellis on writing a memoir, memory and digital footprint

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 11:00:20 GMT

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Jackie Kai Ellis, a multi-hyphenate who splits her time between Paris and Vancouver. Jackie has started many creative and artistic endeavors in her life. Big and Small. After pursuing her passion for pastry in Paris, Jackie opened an award winning bakery and cafe Bouquet in Vancouver, which she has since then sold to two of her original teams. She wrote a memoir - The Measure of My Powers which later became a national best seller. She created The Paris Tour that hosts pastry tours in Paris, and now she writes an advice column- Ask Jackie for Vitruvi’s Natural Habitat magazine and is the head of Product development for Flax Home.

In this conversation, we talk about memory, its fluidity, movement and how it influences the way we see ourselves. We talk about Jackie’s creative process of writing her memoir and what it has helped her discover. We also touch upon digital footprint and exchange thoughts. We caught Jackie in a very transitional space as she is expecting her first baby- at the age of 42. She also shares how she is feeling now about becoming a mother.

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Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr on writing a book about her mother, language and motherhood.

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 14:00:00 GMT

I’m very excited to bring you the first episode of 2022. Today’s conversation is with Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr, a writer, teacher, and daughter of Dorothy Akunyili, a Pan-African hero who battled corruption and faced down misogyny in Nigeria.

In this conversation, Chidiogo shares her experience writing this part-autobiography, part memoir; she touches upon language and how each language we speak evokes different parts of our personalities and memories, and we also exchange thoughts on motherhood and healing, and how these two intersect and interwind.

This is a very rich conversation. I really hope you can join me to the end.

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Lee Dekel on slow motherhood and creating her own universe

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 10:00:00 GMT

This conversation is with Lee Dekel, owner of 100 percent Silk, a shop and gallery space located on Queen st. West in Toronto. Lee also designs their in-house label 100 percent silk. Yes, same name. Same philosophy. The idea is to bring hard to find independent labels that champion the artisanal techniques and craftsmanship, which sadly are dying. Lee has created a universe that is very unique and distinctive. This free-flowing conversation touched upon a wide span of topics, including new motherhood, social media, being a creative during the pandemic, creative collaborations and more.

Dear Seekers is now a bi-weekly newsletter sent out on every other Sunday morning with podcast conversations like this one, column and diary style essays like this one, and sometimes internet rabbit hole finds. As a newsletter subscriber, you have early access to a more raw and less edited episode.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Nike Onile on creative wintering

Thu, 27 May 2021 10:36:00 GMT

Today’s conversation is with Nike Onile, an interior and spatial designer based in Toronto. Back in 2017, we connected through Instagram. During that time, Nike was running her design agency 800 square feet, and The apartment, which allowed customers to shop every single thing in that apartment. From the bed linens to the clothes hanging in the closet. It was a big hit. Nike not only gained tons of press, but also lots of industry recognition. But the thing is the business was running faster than she could keep up with. And behind all the glamour and rainbow, Nike felt incredibly unfulfilled.

In the end, she decided to let it go and went into a long period of what she called it “creative hibernation”. And Nike is now back on the grid. Just rebranded her business to a brand new concept, ODE studio, which allows her to sink her teeth into multi-disciplinary design. She is a regular design expert on CityLine, and has been featured by House and Home, NUVO magazine and most recently, Refinery 29. In this conversation, we talked about the importance of seeing creative endeavours as seasons. There are winters, and there are summers. Creative wintering is more important than we give it credit for. We talked about identity. We talked about how dancing with our own darkness is just as crucial as embracing our light. We chatted about cancelling the outside noise. We laughed a lot. I even shedded a few tears. Not sure it was because Nike was THAT amazing, or because of the hormone in me as a breastfeeding mother. Or the combination of both. But either way, I enjoyed our conversation so so much.

You can find Nike via Instagram here.

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Cover Art Photo credit: @kla_ssh.

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*Important Updates + Audio version of the first letter

Sun, 16 May 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Hi hi, I'm (sort of) back.

In this episode, I'm sharing some important updates about Dear Seekers and where we are heading.

First and foremost, we're now on Substack! If you're a Dear Seekers subscriber, you should have received two letters from me already. If you missed it, you can still head to our Substack to read the past letters. For those of you who don't want to read the second letter but prefer to listen to it, I've recorded an audio version that you can listen to...in this episode (Starting at 8'30).

Some house keeping things if you're new there:

Get in touch on Instagram at @DearSeekers

Read about the NEW Dear Seekers here.

For he past home-visit photos, you can still visit our website here.

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Esie Mensah on actively challenging our defaults

Thu, 28 May 2020 10:30:12 GMT

Despite of being an award-winning dancer and having worked with some big names like Rihanna, Drake, and Backstreet Boys, when it comes to accepting her own achievements, Esie Mensah has come a long way. Throughout her career years, Esie has been constantly exploring internally as an artist. And by doing that, her voice has been getting stronger and stronger. As the creator of the beautiful theatre show Shades, which re-examines the wound caused by prejudice against a person based on the darkness of their skin colour, Esie hopes to provides a healing opportunity for its audiences while challenging them to confront themselves and to shift their defaults. She recently appeared on Ted Talks to continually exploring shadeism, not through dance- the art form she is familiar with, but with speaking words instead. By knowing that she has a message to give, Esie delivered it with a standing ovation.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Harriet Alida Lye on motherhood, cancer and becoming

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 10:30:47 GMT

Someone once said, "a rich life experience is what makes a good writer great." As it may not be true for many, it's certainly the case for Harriet Alida Lye. Just at 15 years old, Harriet was diagnosed with a form of Leukaemia called Natural Killer that the average survival time of patients is fifty-eight days. Another chilling fact: Harriet is the only known survivor. It’s almost like a given blessing to have this illness so that she could be the one to tell this uniquely important story. Years later after living in many cities in the world, Harriet is finally settled in Toronto with her partner, their son and two dogs. She currently lives in a "hipster mansion" as she refers to in her memoir Natural Killer. Before this book, Harriet debuted her misty and unsettling novel The Honey Farm, which was praised by a numerous of major publications. The New York Times called it "a buzzworthy debut". Her work has also been published in The Globe and Mail, The National Post, The Happy Reader and many more.

Pre-order her memoir here.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Nicole Campbell on finding her own identity and taking risk

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 10:30:04 GMT

Just like the company she co-created, Nicole Campbell is whimsical, humorous, witty, and fun. Through Grape Witches, she intents to make nature wine approachable and available. They have a monthly nature wine delivery service, they host the most desirable and whimsical art parties, they consult at private events, like birthdays and wedding receptions, and they also host educational sessions spreading knowledge about nature wine.

Having worked in the wine and hospitality industry for years, Nicole has learnt a lot about what she loves, and what she doesn't about this industry. She loves nature wine, obviously, its producers around the world and the makers behind each bottle, but she gets quite turned off by how pretentious, exclusive, and male dominated this industry can be. So, she and her partner Krista Oben are here to change that.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Zai Rajkotwala on giving space to sadness

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 11:30:47 GMT

My conversation with Zai Rajkotwala , owner of two of the most beloved shops in Toronto, Easy Tiger and Ease, exchanged in the cutest, tiniest house in the west end. Her home is an extension of her shops- full of quirky, hand-made, colourful objects. The things she has been collecting, the things she adores, and the things that touch the deepest part of her sentimental self. They are everywhere, but all seem to be situated in the right place with the same amount of care and love.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Deborah Wang on living in the moment

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 11:00:11 GMT

It's quite difficult to define what Deborah Wang actually does.

To introduce her as one, two, or even three professional titles would neglect her ability of spreading her wings further. She completed a Master of Architecture in University of Waterloo and Master of Fine Arts at OCAD; worked as a senior designer at Toronto's Architecture and Design firm Superkül; and beyond that, she has built DesignTO - an annual art and design festival, alongside a group of dedicated friends.

Before interviewing Deborah, I was quite amazed and curious about how she makes all of these projects possible. After our conversation, it has become pretty clear. Her perspective on life and death has liberated her to be someone who takes on projects that interest her at the moment. She doesn't plan very ahead. Instead, she chooses to immerse herself into meaningful projects, one at a time.

Deborah has lived a fulfilled and meaningful life, one that continues to evolve.

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Virginia Johnson on seeing life in chapters

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 10:11:00 GMT

Virginia Johnson is a Toronto-based textile designer, painter, illustrator, and is also the author of Travels Through the French Riviera, a beautiful coffee table book marrying dreamy watercolour illustrations with practical travel guides. Her clothing line has been picked up by major retailers like Barneys, Anthropologie, Holt Renfrew and her illustration has been commissioned by Vogue, New York Magazine, Flare and so on.

During our conversation, Virginia shares the mistakes she made when starting a fashion label at the age of 23 and the lessons she carried with her; she talks about the advice she took, and the ones she chose to ignore; and she shares how her mom becoming a published writer in her 70s has inspired her to never let herself "age into irrelevance".

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Rachel Hale on trusting the process

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 10:06:54 GMT

As soon as you enter Rachel Hale's apartment in Bloordale village, you can immediately sense a mix of slowness and vibrancy, just like herself. Rachel is a multi-faceted creative with an extensively diverse background. Her winding path has led her to where she is now - working as a community manager, creative producer and TV host, however, Rachel isn't putting herself in any category and is always seeking to expand personally, professionally and creatively. We chat about her experience and takes on being by-racial; her new moon and full moon rituals; and the power of trusting the process.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Arden Wray on the responsibility of storytelling

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 10:00:12 GMT

The first time I met Arden Wray was at another Dear Seeker Claudia Dey's book launch in the Gladstone Hotel. Although our exchange that night was brief, I had a strong drive to reach out to have a deeper conversation with her I knew OF Arden before that first encounter. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Arden's work, she is a Toronto-based Photographer who specializes in portraits. She has been commissioned by some of the most cherished publications, like The New York Times, British Vogue, while been hired by many indie fashion labels to bring their visions to life. Her photos have this magical power to connect you with the subject who you inherently may have nothing in common with. Travelling between Toronto and New York, Arden is using her lens to mostly capture two things she is most inspired by- people and places. The stories she is trying to tell are lingering among the past, the present and the future, and she is always practice the art of storytelling and looking closely.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Deborah Moss on grieving, healing and practising gratitude

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 10:30:20 GMT

Moss & Lam is one of Toronto's most cherished art studios. Their artworks are so far reaching that there is a good chance you've encountered their work, even if you don't realize it. From Milan to Hong Kong, from New York to Toronto, Moss & Lam is known for creating massive, whimsical interior pieces and installations marrying art and architecture with an emphasis on hand craftsmanship. Now, housing a team of 25 talented artists, the Moss Studio has been commissioned by some of the world’s biggest names, such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, the Four Seasons hotel, Holt Renfrew, Saks Fifth Avenue, and so on. No doubt, their portfolio is truly impressive. But what I find most inspiring is, despite all of the success, owner Deborah has been living a very humble lifestyle far away from fame and glam. She has been constantly exploring creatively, embracing new challenges, and opening to self-learning and self-discovery, especially when she lost her dear husband Edward Lam, her best friend, her life and business partner, and the father of her two young daughters. Deborah is a woman full of strength, vulnerability, wisdom, resilience, and grace. During our conversation, she speaks thoughtfully about her process of grieving and healing after losing Edward, and generously shares the importance of practicing gratitude and the beauty of risk-taking. After we parted ways, her poetic wisdom lingered in my mind for quite a while.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Carley Fortune on putting herself out there

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 10:30:25 GMT

You may not be familiar with Carley Fortune if you’re not in the publishing world, but you most likely have heard of all the publications she has played an important role in. Carley started as an intern at Toronto Life and raised her hand when they needed an Associate Online Editor. Then, she joined The Grid as one of the founding members to launch this beloved Toronto weekly news magazine. A couple of years later, she joined forces as the Assistant Editor at at The Globe, and her experiences there eventually led her to the role of Editor in Chief at Chatelaine. Now, Carley is leading a team of 7 as the Executive Editor at Refinery29 Canada. Her extensive background in publications is very impressive. She is someone never shies away from opportunities- she senses them and she seizes them. During our conversation, she shares her experiences of building a team from the ground up, opens up about her struggles of finding her identity as a new mom, and talks about her way of getting in touch with herself. Despite all the fear and unknown, Carley is willing to put herself out there for a bigger purpose.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Tammy Yiu on making art discoverable and accessible

Thu, 09 May 2019 10:00:05 GMT

Carefully tracking down local dear seekers has been such a pleasure since the launch of this project. When discovered an intriguing woman in the city, I’m always like a little kid in a candy store. On a rare occasion, someone would introduce me to a potential guest who they think might be a great fit, but in today’s case, it was a husband who DM me on Instagram to recommend his wife, Tammy Yiu.

After connected with Tammy, I knew I had to bring this woman on board. Working as a freelance designer, Tammy co-founded Partial in 2015 in a hope to make great art discoverable and accessible. She feels a deep sense of responsibility to her community of artists and has a strong desire to make this platform a support system for artists, a discovery channel for art seekers, and an inspirational space for people who are not yet into buying art. Tammy is fuelled with positive and kindred spirit. To know her is to lover her.

Sitting down on her kitchen table in her open loft at the borderline of Parkdale and Roncesvalles, we chat about her childhood years growing up in Oakville; the things she learnt from her successful entrepreneurial father; and the importance and inevitability of pivoting.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Lauren Sellen on the emotional intension behind art making

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 10:00:40 GMT

It seems that we are living in a time when floral design is having its renaissance. A group of florists around the world is not afraid to push boundaries and is literally flourishing on Instagram. One of our very own, Lauren Sellen, creative mind behind Coyote Flowers, is amongst this new wave. She not only has worked with cult-following brands like Glossier, collaborated with other disciplinary artists on fascinating editorials, but has also established a group of like-mined clientele who embraces unconventional beauty. Lauren has a lot of emotions. She admits that. And she expresses her emotional intension through her art. While nature is her canvas, flower is the extension of her body, her soul and her brush stroke. From Winnipeg to Ottawa to Toronto and now in Hamilton, Lauren has been seeking peacefulness. She is getting close.

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Jenny Bird on the power of manifestation

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 12:54:02 GMT

From small town Elora to Toronto to the world, from selling her jewellery on her kitchen table to now over 500 retail stores internationally, from having fertility challenges to now mother to two, Jenny Bird is one of those women who made something out of nothing- through her strength to persevere over and over again and through her power of manifestation. As a young girl growing up in a town with a population of 3000, Jenny socked herself in arts and crafts. along with big dreams and deep understanding of the responsibility to provide for the family. Now, at 42, Jenny is at a very comfortable space with success and recognitions under her belt, she continues to seek for deeper meaning. Something bigger is calling her- she feels strongly. We were lucky to have caught Jenny in a moment of change- shortly before she gave birth to her second child Georgie

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Juli Baker on conscious living

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 11:00:04 GMT

On a super snowy day, I carried my recording equipment to the Junction with an extremely excited heart. I've been to Mjölk many times as a customer, but have only been able to admire owner Juli and John's astonishing home from a distance. Located right above the shop, their home has been featured in publications like the Kinfolk Home, Azure.

In 2009 when the aesthetic of Scandinavia wasn't taking the internet by storm and when the similarities of Scandinavian and Japanese design and philosophy weren't yet recognized by the masses, Juli and John were already on the path of building this sanctuary space stocked with carefully considered objects, furnitures and antiques. Not only that, through their in-house magazine and occasional exhibitions, Juli and John are also offering their customers a way of conscious living.

Working in sync with her husband John Baker, Juli is bringing her previous experiences with art curation, photography and publishing , except this time, all on her own terms.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Tracy Wan on exploring the world of scent

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 11:30:02 GMT

Tracy Wan has a way with words and has a nose for scents. This Toronto-based writer followed her parents' wish by going to Architecture school but then followed her own heart by dropping out. It doesn't take long to realize Tracy's spectacular ability to articulate words, thoughts and feelings. Using this superpower of hers, Tracy managed to write for a living, which comes unsurprisingly as a surprise to her parents.

Running a passion project Invisible Stories alongside her day job, Tracy is set out to debunk the myths of perfuming making by featuring independent perfumers who came upon the craft the unconventional way and exploring our relationships with scents through memory, language and travel. To know her is to love her. Sitting in her charismatic apartment, we smelled some perfumes she made, dived deep into her memories as a kid, and explored the world of scents.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Music: Canon in D Major by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100301

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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Fran Miller on marrying things interest her into one beauty line

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 11:30:18 GMT

10 years ago when green beauty was not really a thing, natural beauty products just started to surface, and luxury handmade beauty lines were nowhere to be found, Fran was experimenting in her basement with ingredients from health food stores - Not for anyone else, but to combat with her own skin problems.

A few years later when she was bouncing back and forth between high-end retail and wholesale with no self- fulfillment, Fran had a now-or-never moment and decided to give this beauty line a try. With her curiosity at heart and spectacular sensibility, her namesake skincare line F. Miller has since gained recognition in many major publications such as Vogue, The File, Into The Gloss, and Monocle just to name a few. Outside of publications, F. Miller has been spotted on many IT girls' bathroom counters and top shelves.

Fran is set out to bridge the gap between luxury and natural skincare and to redefine what handmade beauty products can mean. She is not just selling bottles of skincare products, but rather marrying all the things she is personally interested into one and expressing that through her beauty line.

Inside Fran's house where the old seamlessly mingles with the new, we chat about her high school crush, humble beginnings, and the next moves for F.Miller.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Beth Nicholson Crago on choosing what to suffer for

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 10:30:16 GMT

There are some women that just stand out from the crowd and attract your attention like a big magnet. That was Beth Nicholson Crago when I first met her at an event.

I approached Beth and shamelessly asked: "What's your story?" Turns out, she is one of the two amazing ladies behind the best-kept-secret- Opelle, a luxury handbag brand that is designed and handcrafted in Toronto for women looking for something "functional and aesthetically refined".

In spite of Beth's impressive career of working at Michael Kors, Derek Lam, Thakoon, while having Jason Wu, Moda Operandi on her client list, Beth confesses that fashion is not her first love. With an English degree from McGill specializing in acting and theatre, Beth was chasing after her dream of becoming an actress. After having her first taste of rejection, she soon realized that she didn't like acting enough to go through the hardships associated with that career. This realization has led her to the door of fashion. The rest is history.

On the couch beside her son's play table, she opens up about the conversation she had with her parents during high school that sparked something in her, we exchange feelings about the Old and New Celine, and she shares the struggles she chose to go through and the ones she turned away from.

Music: Canon in D Major by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100301

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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Nancy Chen on the science of art

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 10:00:52 GMT

Born in Massachusetts, raised shortly in Toronto and Ottawa, and then grew up in Hong Kong, this neuroscience graduate has been stretching her interests and experiences far and wide over plenty of cities and multiple industries. After working as an event producer/promoter in Shanghai, Nancy came back to Toronto and co-founded Mansion- a music promotion and event planning group that produced Toronto’s most unique and desirable events.

After exiting the music scene, Nancy didn’t stop dreaming. In three years, she has created three restaurants- from German street eats to authentic Chinese. Now, when Nancy is not busy making sure all the food is up to her standard at SO SO food club, she probably is strategizing award-winning campaigns at Sid Lee. When she is not solving problems at work, she might be conceptualizing her next big idea.

Indeed, she is a busy woman- with smart ideas and big ambitions, but she never makes her move blindly. Utilizing her science background with an extremely creative mind, Nancy can’t get enough of bringing unique concepts to life and creating experiences that are hard to ignore and forget.

Before sitting on the couch with Nancy in her beautiful Loft, I paid a visit to SO SO just to make sure the food is truly authentic. And yes, I was impressed. For the first time, I was proud of my own cuisine- the kind of food I grew up with, crave for every weekend, and cannot leave without.

Being a rebel with a strategic plan, artistic heart, and cause in mind, Nancy is set out to bring real Chinese food made from scratch and of the best ingredients to Toronto.

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Daniela Bosco on getting back in touch with herself

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 10:30:02 GMT

The first time I met Daniela Bosco was at an instalment hosted by Ewanika- one of the most elegant boutiques in Toronto, to celebrate Daniela as an extraordinary woman who has inspired the shop owner Trish. During the night, we exchanged thoughts on what it means to be a modern woman and what it means to be a woman in the modern world - yes, these two are quite different. And by the end of the night, I was totally under her spell. So much so that after the night, I had to stalk her on Instagram and eventually asked her for a coffee date.

Being a Creative Consultant/Stylist who is very much in demand and travels often and far, Daniela doesn't let her work define her. She insists on working with her own pace, slowly but steadily. But this realization didn't come easily. Right after closing her much beloved store- Chasse Gardée, Daniela became incredibly sick. This turmoil journey was probably one of the most painful and difficult times in her life but has also helped her gain clarity and reach back to who she once was- a tender yet strong feminist.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Mahro Anfield on looking back to look forward

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 10:30:10 GMT

Mahro is the type of woman who is shy and quite but once you get to know her, her world is like a "Russian Doll" that has layers under layers.

In December 2012, at the age of 22, Mahro bravely signed a retail lease of one of the most prime locations on Queen st. West. Nearly 6 years later, her shop Mama Loves You has not only become a must-visit attraction for international tourists who seek for hidden gems in Toronto, but has also gained its popularity among many locals, including some of the women we feature, including but limited to our first guest, Stefanie Ayoub- owner of Boneset Studio, and the most recent feature, Amber Joliat- creator of the Misfit Studio.

Ever since being introduced to the world of vintage by her mom, Mahro has nurtured a genuine enthusiasm for the rare, the exotic, the colourful, and the old. Visiting her apartment was such an eye-opening and amusing experience.Sitting on the couch with Mahro beside all the artwork painted by her parents, we chat about her memory of being taken to value village and hidden antique shops, share our takes on fast fashion, and eventually bond over true crime documentaries.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Amber Joliat on practising the art of presence

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 10:30:07 GMT

The name "Amber Joliat " and "Misfit Studio" seemed to surface overnight just a couple of years ago and since then, it's been producing a consistently concise yet compelling response: "She is amazing!" and "You HAVE TO try her classes!" I have to admit, first, I wasn't convinced. Who is Amber that Toronto seems to be so obsessed with? What is so magical about her classes that everyone keeps talking about? What does it mean to mix dance, yoga and pilates (how can it even be a thing)? My curiosity led me to Mr. Google and eventually to pages of articles written about Amber and the Misfit Studio she founded back in 2010.

After reading many interviews and write-ups, I became more intrigued and funny yet, more skeptical. How can a woman so amusing and enchanting exist in the real world? Until... I finally got the chance to meet Amber in person at a panel discussion hosted by KOTN earlier this year. Amber's soft-spoken, well-articulated, fruitful words can really melt your heart and re-awaken your soul. Not kidding! She has this magical and magnetic energy and vibrancy that makes you wonder: Is she real? Or maybe she is an earth angel? So, the rumor WAS right! The obsession now makes total sense.

Sitting on the couch with Amber in her equally magical home, she shares her childhood memories of being in love with dancing and drawing; talks about the art of language; and how to live and work with a more spiritual, purposeful perspective. She calls it: Practise the art of presence.

Music: Friday Morning by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100224

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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Claudia Dey on the art of being an artist

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 10:30:55 GMT

I had long heard about Claudia Dey, one of the two best dressed Torontonians, with the other being her best friend Heidi Sopinka. But it wasn't until I started doing my homework for this interview and met Claudia in her beautiful and charismatic home that I came to realize that Claudia is truly an interestingly oppositional woman. She is gentle yet firm, child-like yet serious, chaotic yet orderly, dark yet joyful. Even herself, Claudia admits that she is always drawn to people who embrace the beauty of being multidimensional and contrary.

It's safe to say Claudia's life is first and foremost amongst hats and books. Her essays have been published in The Paris Review, The Believer alongside many other elegant magazines. With the success from her first Novel, Stunt - being one of Globe & Mail and Quill & Quire Books of the Year 2008, Claudia's second novel Heartbreaker has been listed as one of the most anticipated novels in 2018.

During our conversation, Claudia expresses her relationship with a hat that was given to her by her mother when she was a teen; explains why she thinks writer is an "invisible profession"; and shares the art of being an artist.

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Music:

Friday Morning by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100224

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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Caila Stangl on embracing the unknown

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 10:30:49 GMT

Caila Stangl is the cofounder and soul of Public Office, a creative and production studio based in Toronto. At a time when nothing in sight was visually thrilling, PO caught my attention. I visited their beautiful studio in the Artscape Youngplace building on a sunny day and had a pleasant conversation with Caila and Lindsay (the other cofounder). They've been doing some big things quietly- working with international elite clients like Roots Canada, Starbucks and other local beloved brands, such as Jenny Bird, Golden Ticket Candy.

During our chat, Caila shares the small yet pivotal moment for her career; walks us through her first nerve-racking client pitch experience as a freelancer and how she eventually overcome that fear of "selling herself"; and she also talks about, as a designer, how to manage to be stimulated and inspired yet stay focused?

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Lisa Mok on enjoying the beautiful imperfections in life

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 10:30:40 GMT

With no job, no plan and no place to live, Lisa Mok packed up her car and drove from Ottawa to Toronto to pursuit something that she wasn't sure of at the time.

Now. Being the Global Creative Director of Canada Goose and having plenty of awards under her belt, Lisa has proved her success to her traditional Chinese parents. However, she could care less about all these achievements she has earned. In fact, the soft strength and resilience she has manifested allows her to strongly appreciate the small things, moments and imperfections in life. Her passion project, which she re-imagines, redesigns and alters the objects she found, has caught some attention. And if you go to her website at lisamok.ca, you will quickly fall in love with all these beautiful things and find it hard to imagine their not-so-perfect past.

Photography: Vai Yu Law

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Sydney Allen-Ash on refusing to be put in a box

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 10:30:44 GMT

Today's guest is Sydney Allen-Ash. She goes by Syd.

Studied Fashion Management at Ryerson university, Syd has not only nurtured a passion for local and independent designs, but has also developed an understanding of people and culture through clothing. Prior to working as a Digital/Brand Strategist at Virtue - an advertising agency under VICE, Syd acquired her interests in photography and worked with local boutiques like Ewanika and Nomad.

During our conversation, I learnt about Syd's rape trauma and the catalyst for her healing. She shares her takes on what it means to be a powerful woman and the connection between woman and power; she opens up her decision process of shaving her head and how this has helped shaping her identity and improving her self-esteem; and she expresses why lacking an identity could be a curse and a blessing for countries like Canada.

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Visit Syd's home on www.dearseekers.com

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Odessa Paloma Parker on embracing her weirdness

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 11:30:18 GMT

One thing I've learnt from all the women I've interviewed so far is that as women, we don't have to live a life that is prescribed to us by anyone- the society, our parents, or even ourselves. Today's guest Odessa Paloma Parker is definitely one of the women who has been fully embracing her weirdness and celebrating who she truly is.

Being the Fashion Editor for The Globe and Mail, creator of the Vintage Crawl- an annual event participated by Toronto's best vintage shops, and now the Content Lead for Tokyo Smoke and Van Der Pop, Odessa has created big things quietly. But her personal style is far from mute.

In this interview, Odessa shares her journey from being an outcast to a confident woman; her takes on the fashion industry that is based on people's insecurities; and history lessons on how/why cannabis has been attached with stigma.

Give it a listen. Hope you enjoy it.

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Tonya Papanikolov on modern approach to beauty and wellness

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 10:50:15 GMT

You may have seen Tonya Papanikolov occasionally modelling for independent brands. Her outside beauty is undeniable, but what makes her even more loveable is her strong ties to nutrition, nature, and holistic beauty. Being the brain and facilitator behind her community The Well Woman, Tonya hopes to inspire and encourage modern women to take a slowed-down, in-depth, and holistic approach towards wellness and beauty. She hosts workshops, consultations and experimental dinners, and also has an interview series on her website, called Good Morning Interviews, that lets readers peak into the lives of women who know the power of ritual during the sacred morning hours.

During out chat, Tonya walks us through her journey from nutrition to fashion and then back to nutrition; she talks about what a healthy relationship with money looks like; and she shares the method that she has been practising to help her release emotions. Hope you enjoy it!

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Amanda Shirreffs on embracing the things that scare you

Thu, 24 May 2018 11:01:14 GMT

Today's guest is Amanda Shirreffs, a stylist based in Toronto. She is a gem that Toronto is so lucky to have. Although Amanda's super glamorous client list includes the New Yorker, New York Magazine, Dazed Digital, Fashion Film Festival, Vougue.com and so many more, how she got introduced to the styling world was actually a beautiful accident.

During our chat, she shares her awkward high school years of feeling not fitting in and her dream that seemed so far-fetch ended up turning into a reality; she talks about why styling is more than just putting beautiful looks together and the wisdom she has learned from having to start all over again at the age of 28.

Music Credit: Canon in D Major by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100301

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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Alicia K. Harris on turning pain to power

Thu, 10 May 2018 11:15:02 GMT

Alicia K. Harris is a Toronto-based filmmaker, set designer. She sets out to make films that educate and empower others, especially youth. With the desire to tell good stories, she isn't afraid to revisit those dark and most painful memories of her own. During our chat, she opens up about her experience as a rape victim, and what helped her to recover from the trauma. She also expresses how a film she watched at the age of 10 made an enormous impact on her life even to this day; and shares the reasons why she chose her award-winning film Love Stinks to take place in the 80s.

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Emily Ramshaw on being uncomfortable when too comfortable

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 11:40:00 GMT

This week's conversation is between Emily Ramshaw and I...(oh and a second guest). When first I set out to interview Emily, I had a pretty decent sense of what we would be chatting about: Like how she landed her first real job as the Assistant Fashion News Editor for Flare Magazine at the age of 22, her glamorous life as the Senior Editor for the Convetour in New York, what brought her back to Toronto, and what compelled her to be working as the Content Lead for Bumble Canada. We chatted about all that. But what also ended up unfolding was an organic conversation about her experience going to an all-girl high school, the transition from working for a big publication to a fashion start-up, the double-edged sword of being someone always looking forward, and so much more.

Emily is definitely not one of the people addicted to comfort. Quite the opposite actually. Although she probably thinks luck has a lot to do with her success, I believe her courage to always challenge herself and her strength to embrace the unknown have contributed to where she is today.

That Kid in Fourth Grade Who Really Liked the Denver Broncos by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/uvp/

Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/

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Danielle Suppa on cultivating life with a discerning eye and curious heart

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:30:00 GMT

With her discerning eyes, curious heart and playful soul, Danielle Suppa, owner of Souvenior Studio, has cultivated a special space for local and international artisans, designers and makers.

After working for big retailers for years, Danielle discovered an opportunity in the local pop-up scene, and felt the desire to tap into something she could call her own. With the help of her fashion schoolmate, Trisha Lepper, Danielle has transformed local galleries into pure and soulful playgrounds.Located in the west end, Souvenir is now a local must-visit destination for design lovers and the seekers at heart. Although it's no longer a hidden gem (thanks to the good old fashioned word of mouth), Danielle still manages to surprise and give anticipation to visitors by hosting pop-up exhibitions, concept events and by constantly introducing off-the-beaten-path labels.

During our chat, Danielle shares the art of being vigorous yet gentle, strong yet soft; her ways of balancing between the market demand and her own sensibility; and one thing that is very important to her.

Canon in D Major by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100301

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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Erin Klassen on celebrating the art of being an intuitive feeler

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 11:25:00 GMT

Through her own independent publishing company Without Pretend, Erin has not only created a platform for emerging female-identified writers and visual artists, but also has nurtured a safe space for women to express their feelings and in touch with their intuition.

Her new book Happy If you Know It tackles the question of "what does it mean to trust your intuition" with a mix of poetry, essays, confessions, photography and art contributed by 15 women. In our conversation, Erin shares what are the practical questions we need to start with when looking inwards, and how we can let our feeling help navigate the ups, the downs and heartbreaks.

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Heidi Sopinka on taking detours towards the right direction

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 10:11:37 GMT

From a bush cook in the Yukon to a helicopter pilot; from a travel magazine editor in Singapore to an architecture publication editor in Toronto; from an environmental columnist at the Globe to the co-founder/designer of a cult following fashion label- Horses Atelier, Heidi Sopinka has lived a life full of surprises and detours but leading to the right direction. Now looking back, writing has always been a thread connecting all the dots.The idea of her novel - the Dictionary of Animal Languages was born 12 years ago, but was being fermented all these years and didn't get published till recently.

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Randi Bergman on marrying fashion to a bigger landscape

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 10:02:50 GMT

Randi Bergman is a Toronto-based freelance writer, editor currently contributing to a wide range of publications and magazines, such as The Globe, The Cut, Vogue.com, The kit. Just to name a few. Prior to her freelance career, Randi was the Executive Digital Editor at FASHION Canada. Recently, Randi has taken on a new role as a podcaster and is sharing her love and obsession with the 90s on Capsule 98. During our chat, Randi is taking us from Toronto to New York to Paris and sharing the glamour, the ugly, the beauty of Fashion Weeks. She unapologetically expresses her love for tacky fashion and trash cinema and walks us though how she navigates in a fancy fashion world with her unwillingness to be fake and her unique point of view on fashion, art and culture.

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Mackenzie Sehl on turning being a master-of-none into her strong suit

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:31:28 GMT

It all started with a small problem: Couldn't find high quality, well fitting tees that are affordable. So Mackenzie decided to leave a well respected job in a branding studio in New York and moved back to her parents basement in Toronto to start the fashion label KOTN with her two best friends (one later became her husband). She has not only artfully turned being the "master of none" into her best strength and has built an ethical lifestyle brand that is now more than just the organic cotton shirts. (They have built TWO schools in Egypt!) Named 30 under 30 by Forbes in 2017, Mackenzie believes this is just the beginning.

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Alyssa Bertram on finding the power to be vulnerable

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 07:04:06 GMT

Alyssa Bertram is the founder of EASY period. Her curiosity and background in research has led her to discover a blind spot in the market for women's hygiene products. Besides being a Boss Lady, Alyssa is also an artist at heart. She never thought she could turn her passion of "connecting and helping women" into a business, but not only has she done just that, she has also inspired other women to cultivate their voice by hosting beautiful events. Music: www.bensound.com

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Stefanie Ayoub on quitting her dream job to find herself

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 03:39:05 GMT

Welcome to the first EVER episode of Dear Seekers.Stefanie Ayoub is a Toronto-based fashion designer/illustrator who have worked at power houses like Phillip Lim, Greta Constantine, and had her illustrations published in a variety of notable publications. She shared how she fell in and out of love with fashion, and how her soul-searching phase has led her to where she is today.Music: https://www.bensound.com

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