Aime

SUMMER, I'LL MISS YOU

2010-08-28T13:57:00.004-04:00

It's the last weekend of summer - good bye patios, food fests, and water sports for yet another year. Prolong summer in your mind with this must read - Mediterranean Summer by chef David Shalleck. It's a yummy tale of a chef on a private yacht that used fresh, local ingredients from each port city that dotted the Cote d'Azur and Costa Bella.

Now it's no secret if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook that I'm a fashion foodie (a name given by The Star's Ecologic Erin). So it's no wonder that I selected this book whilst cruising the Mediterranean last year which inspired my first seasonal SS10 collection (color, colour, couleur!)

It may be time to pack up our summer wardrobe for the brisk breezes of fall and Aime Seasonless 10/11 will be available online to ease the transition - stay tuned!

AIME EATS ... GREEN EGGS & HAM

2010-07-30T09:09:00.005-04:00

As a child, one of my fave authors was Dr. Seuss - I loved his crazy characters, imaginative illustrations and rhetoric rhymes (albeit I didn't realize it back then!). My top two Dr. Seuss picks still are The Lorax and Green Eggs and Ham.

The Lorax - a metaphoric, environmental tale of the greedy Once-ler who chopped down all of the beautiful Truffula trees to make Thneeds.

Takeaway: the 4 most important lines in the 24 minute clip below:

"I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees.

I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues,

...

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

nothing is going to get better. It's not.

Green Eggs and Ham is about a nameless character's refusal to try something new - green eggs and ham - but by the end, tries it and enjoys it.

Dr. Seuss's simple stories help us realize that conscious consumer choices are important for our community.

Did you know you can now check just how 'green' your eggs are? I buy Verified Cage Free Vegetarian Choice eggs from Whole Foods. You can trace your eggs and find out information on the bird welfare and food safety. Things to look for:

Produced by hens that receive a vegetarian diet of fine grains and supplements that are non-medicated and free of hormones and animal byproducts
Produced by hens that are free to roam about an open-concept weather sheltered barn, where they can roost, nest, perch and feed freely
Produced in accordance with HACCP Based On-Farm Food Safet Programs, observing all Bird Welfare aspects of the Recommended Code of Practice

Love yourself and love others.

- M

AIME DRINKS... GOOD EARTH BANROCK STATION FINE WINE

2010-07-24T13:31:00.009-04:00

At Aime, we love Good Earth Banrock Station Fine Wine. Their philosophy is inspiring "Help us Help the Earth" which parallels with what we strive to achieve at Aime.

Love yourself: Enjoy a glass of Banrock Station's Pink Moscato. It's light and fruity with hints of aromatic melon, grapefruit and lemon. We love the pink colour and adding in our own fresh fruit to make sangria. With a 5.5% alcohol content, we recommend sprucing it up

with Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka.

Love others: Part proceeds of every bottle of Banrock Station wines help support environmental projects around the world - even Canada! They help save salmon in Lake Ontario, and their winery in Australia uses sustainable techniques in their vineyard. Poland's Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka also plants trees to show their love for the environment.

Travel Tip: Visiting South Australia? Banrock Station has a Wine and Wetland Centre which is certified for eco-tourism. Learn how they are reversing the effects of a century's worth of destruction on the wetland.

AIME BAKES...VEGAN ROOIBOS de PROVENCE TEA CUPCAKES

2010-07-21T15:49:00.008-04:00

The girls of Aime love to eat out + in, so we're testing out different restos + recipes to share so you can love yourself & love others.

Love yourself: Indulge in Vegan Rooibos de Provence Tea Cupcakes with Butter Cream Lemon Frosting! We updated a recipe we found on the cute blog, Batter & Beat, that used Earl Grey Tea. We made both and found that our version had the elegant, delicate flavour of lavender, rose petals, and dried blueberries - tealicious!

Love others: By using soy milk instead of regular milk, and soy yogurt instead of eggs as a binder, these vegan alternatives uses no animal by-products.

Ingredients to make 1 dozen cupcakes:

Rooibos de Provence loose leaf tea from David's Tea (Creative Director Monica Mei's fave)
1 cup soy milk
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup plain soy yogurt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 stick of unsalted vegan butter
2 cups of powdered sugar

For the cupcakes...

Preheat oven to 375º and use silicone cupcake liners for your muffin tin. Heat the soy milk in a saucepan. Before it boils, remove from heat and add tea leaves (either in a tea ball, or strain out the tea leaves afterwards).

Use a hand or power mixer to whisk together oil, yogurt, sugar, vanilla and tea mixture until smooth. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into wet ingredients and whisk until the mixture is velvety. Scoop mixture into tins and bake for 16-20 minutes. Then do the toothpick test to ensure it's ready.

For the frosting...

Cream the butter and slowly add in the icing sugar until the mixture is very fluffy. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice and mix until smooth. Spread or pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes and top it off with a garnish.

The Aime Rooibos de Provence Tea Cupcake - a perfect summer treat!

Do you have a fave recipe that you'd like to share? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter!

AIME TRAVELS...TO KENNEBUNK

2010-07-19T10:27:00.013-04:00

Here at Aime, we love to travel and discover new things. Aime Creative Director, Monica Mei, recently traveled to Kennebunk, Maine in search of some R&R and came across a few surprising finds.

SEE: Nick's Chance Whale Watch. This whale watch tour takes you from Kennebunkpo

rt to a feeding area to see a variety of whales including the Blue Whale and the endangered Right Whale. Bonus: Monica also saw seals sunbathing near the Boon Island Lighthouse, playful dolphins "wake boarding" the ship's waves, and a thousand pound tuna!

DO: Maine is known for its selection of antique shops. Monica found some great wooden crates, a typewriter from the '20s, a turquoise

glazed pot, and an MJ Thriller album at an antiques barn along Route 1. ECO-TIP: Antiquing is a great way to love Mother Earth. Why buy new when you can re-use someone's once-loved treasures?

EAT: After a morning of antiquing, re-fuel at Capt'n Hook's Lob st ers. This lobster bake shack is a cheapie place to get your fresh Maine lobster fix. With picnic benches surrounding the lobster tanks, the atmosphere is like eating in your friend's backyard. The steamed sweet corn is a do-not-miss with its lobster butter - delish!

STAY: Monica stayed at the historic Beach House Inn which has a gorge view of the ocean. ECO TIP: The Inn has free bicycles, helmets and lock available for their guests. Monica says leave your car in the lot as Kennebunk is a perfect town for cycling. The ride to Walker's Point (George Dub's summer home) is picture perfect.

AIME CITY GARDEN DIY

2010-07-16T10:24:00.007-04:00

The Aime studio has been growing our own little city garden - sweet basil, Italian parsley, mojito mints and red lettuce - all on our juliet balcony! This simple DIY project is a great way to ensure that your fruits, veggies and herbs are 100% organic and locally grown. It's also a way to greenify your space!

Love Yourself: edible gardens are easy on your wallet and beneficial for your health.

Love Others: Growing your own vegetables and herbs is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint.

Another way to reconnect with nature is to check out a Green City Workshop. Tomorrow, Saturday July 17th, there will be a workshop on Edible Native Landscapes at 550 Bayview Avenue where you can get tips on eco-gardening in the city.

Do you have a suggestion for an eco-DIY? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

MEET TEGAN: SHE LOVES...

2010-07-14T16:23:00.010-04:00

Aime intern Tegan enjoys weekends at The Evergreen Brick Works Farmer's Market. Open Saturday mornings 8 am to 1 pm throughout the summer, she says it's the perfect place to grab a deliciously organic breakfast or lunch with an assortment of fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy and prepared foods from local farmers (you can also peruse crafts made by local artisans!) Ride your bike to the Toronto Brick Works as it's conveniently on The Don River Bike Trail. Not only is this a fun weekend activity, it's also a great way to practice environmental sustainability and to support local farmers.

Do you know of other fun, eco activites? Let us know via Twitter: @aimeluxury

LOVE YOURSELF AND LOVE CANADA

2010-06-30T11:49:00.015-04:00

LOVE OTHERS: In celebration of Canada Day, Aime will donate 5% of sale proceeds from Enviius.com to The Nature Conservancy of Canada which protects Canada's most threatened natural habitats and the species that call them home. The NCC is a non-profit conservation organization that is dedicated to protecting Canada's natural heritage so that it can be enjoyed by future generations across this beautiful country. Since 1962, NCC and its supporters have protected more than 2 million acres of ecologically sensitive and diverse land nationwide.

Here's an invitation for a free membership. The 4-day sale begins now at Enviius.com!

You can also donate directly through CanadaHelps.org here.

HAUTE COUTURE FOR HAITI

2010-02-10T11:13:00.005-05:00

LOVE OTHERS: Valentine's Day is this weekend and the fashion community is showing our love and compassion for the victims of Haiti at the Roosevelt Room this Thursday February 11th @ 8 pm at CosmoTV's event 'Haute Couture for Haiti'. Spring/Summer 2010 fashions will be on the runway from Toronto's top fashion designers including David Dixon, Lucian Matis, Vawk by Sunny Fong, Jessica Biffi, Brandon R Dwyer, Franke, and of course, Aime!

Buy tickets to the event here and show love for others in Haiti.

LOVE OTHERS- Pepsi Refresh Challenge

2010-01-13T14:28:00.013-05:00

HAVE AN IDEA? Pepsi invites you to submit ideas you think will positively impact those around you. Whether you are an individual, business or non-profit organization- YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Pepsi is awarding grants of all sizes in categories affecting health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighbourhoods and education. 1000 submissions are accepted every month and grants are awarded by casted online votes.

AIME REFRESHES:

At Aime, our philosophy is to love yourself, love others, and love luxury. Loving others is about fortifying the communities around us and giving back.

Here's a hint at what new projects the Aime team is up to this year:

Aime @ The Holiday Pop-up Boutique

2009-12-02T21:47:00.007-05:00

Sip, shop, and share!

Gather your girls for a festive treat at the The Holiday Pop-up Boutique @ The Loft!

Sip some bubbly.

Shop 4 Canadian designer lines including Psalms 91:1 jewelry, Brazen Hussy dresses, 442 McAdam bags, and of course, our latest Aime holiday collection.

Share the holiday cheer as 10% of the proceeds will go to support Dr. Roz's Healing Place, a centre for women empowerment and healing.

Take a peek at the post from For Those About to Shop that highlights fashion with a purpose - what we try to do here at Aime.

Happening Dec. 5/6 from 11 - 7 pm @ The Loft: 52 St. Lawrence Street #324 (King St.E/St.Lawrence near Queen St. E/River St)

Ottawa & Montreal Bound

2009-11-06T00:25:00.002-05:00

After a successful SS10 runway show in Toronto for LG Fashion Week Beauty by L'Oreal, the Aime team is heading to Ottawa and Montreal this weekend!

First off, we're showing again in Ottawa this Saturday night at 7:00 pm for Fashion Cures a la Mode - there's still time to purchase your ticket to support the Ovarian Cancer Society!

Then, we're showing love for Montreal until Monday for press and buyers. Message me if you'd like to make an appointment to take a closer peek at the SS2010 collection.

THANK YOU TO THE AIME TEAM AND SPONSORS

2009-10-23T14:14:00.003-04:00

A big THANK YOU to the Aime team and sponsors/partners for making the latest SS2010 runway show a hit!

To my Aime team: Michelle, Katerina, Solange, Lauren, Laura, Stephanie, Lucy, Jayson, and Mark - your efforts for the months, weeks, days, minutes and seconds leading up to the show is much appreciated!!!

To my sponsors/partners:

Red Scarf Equestrian: your eco-leather bags traveled from Cannes/Monaco to Toronto and exudes the jet-set lifestyle of the collection!

Town Shoes: thank you for providing the show with another season of amazing footwear!

Lisa Canning Design: your painterly Expressionist set was the perfect backdrop to my Mediterranean collection; and thank you for assisting me the day of the show!

Tongboy Animation: Jeff, thank you for animating Lisa's artwork to show how Aime can go from day to night.

Psalms 91:1 - Sally, I had so much fun collaborating each piece with you and thank you for re-working the pieces to my demands! :)

Lara Vincent: The Dali ruby-lip inspired headpieces were so cute and fun and added that bit of whimsy to the collection.

DJ Vaneska: as her tag line suggest, she's your next favourite DJ! Thank you for turning the tunes to fit our fun, upbeat mood!

A special thank you to Ron Prosserman, Lorie Goldfinger, Farhia Warsame and Caroline Rueben!

Again, thank you ALL - there would be no show without everyone's support. :)

HELP SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST OVARIAN CANCER

2009-10-19T13:00:00.000-04:00

Love Others: Join Aime in Ottawa as we participate in Fashion Cures a la Mode from November 4th - 7th. Check out the Aime runway show and even bid on an Aime piece in the silent auction! See you there!

Aime's Tweeting!

2009-10-02T15:57:00.004-04:00

Tweet, tweet! Get filled in with the inside scoop of what's happening in and out of the Aime studio via Twitter.

Last week I was in NYC for September market, now it's crunch time to prep for the upcoming Aime runway show at LG Fashion Week.

Follow me through the fashion trenches!

Aime Inspiration FW09

2009-09-02T12:09:00.003-04:00

Last March, Aime showed its Seasonless 09/10 and Holiday collection at LG Fashion Week in Toronto. The collection was inspired by my travels to Paris where one of my favourite things to do in the City of Lights was to eat!! Not only to taste the delicious delicacies, but the bistros, cafes, and markets had such a buzz where friends, families, and lovers would enjoy each other's company for hours on end. It reminded me how important face-to-face communication is during the current phenomenon of online social outlets (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). The Parisiennes have got it right - the lifestyle of loving and living life!

The idea of sharing and gaining knowledge is reminiscent of Post-war Paris where intellectuals would meet and ponder life's unanswered questions a la Sartre and de Beauvoir.

Going to Paris? Popular places include Cafe de Flore and Angelina's Tearoom, but also read NYT's list of new bistros.

OCAD MYSTERY ART SALE

2009-08-25T12:32:00.005-04:00

Love Others: I love art and go to as many galleries / museums / exhibits as I can, so I was delighted to be asked by the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) to participate in their annual mystery art fundraiser. Besides designing for Aime, I enjoy painting and photography, so we'll see what I come up with!! The fun, mystery part comes in to play, where the identity of the artist is only revealed after the work is purchased, so the piece could be by students, artists, or designers. All proceeds from this event will go to support the OCAD creative environment. Hope to see you there!

VERVEGIRL!

2009-08-24T15:28:00.012-04:00

Aime was featured in the July / August Issue of Vervegirl with our girl, Stacey McKenzie, on the cover (the international model came to our show for CFW last year)! Vervegirl highlighted Aime's natural colour palette from the latest seasonless 09/10 collection in its fall 2009 forecast!

Look for the featured Multi-Cut Dress and the Draped Poet Cardigan in stores soon.

AIME RUNWAY SHOW!!!!!

2009-08-24T14:10:00.007-04:00

The Aime studio is excited to present our upcoming seasonless 10 and spring/summer collection on the runway at LG Fashion week in Toronto. We just received confirmation from the FDCC offices, our show will be on Thursday, October 22 at 4pm in the downtown core - so save the date! Official invitations for press, buyers, and fans will be sent closer to the date.

Want to come to the Aime runway show? Become a fan on the Aime Facebook page for exclusive invites to our events!

"COLOUR FOR CANCER" BLACK TIE DINNER AND FASHION EVENT

2009-08-24T12:32:00.004-04:00

Love others: On Saturday, October 24th, Aime is proud to be supporting the new Walker Family Cancer Center fundraiser at the "Colour for Cancer Black Tie Dinner and Fashion Event" hosted by HGTV's Ambrose Price. We're excited for a night filled with open-bar cocktails/drinks, a special chef-designed dinner menu, and of course FASHION! See the new Aime holiday collection on the runway at the Hilton Niagara Fallsview Resort. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the It's Our Time Campaign. Click here for ticket information.

GET CREATIVE WITH AIME

2009-08-13T13:36:00.006-04:00

Toronto-based photog, Jenna Wakani, used the detachable bow belt from her Aime dress (that she wore to a wedding) in a recent photo shoot styled as a head piece! Thanks for opening our eyes to the headband Jenna - it looks great!!

Send us pictures of how you wear your Aime and we'll post it on our blog!

YUPPIE LOVE PART TWO!

2009-08-09T11:46:00.000-04:00

Danah (blogger of Yuppie Activist) sent us a pic of how she wore Aime to a destination wedding in the Middle East. We met at the Burroughes sale and she needed a dress that was fashionable, yet at the same time, not over the top where she could wear the piece more than once!

Aime knits travel really well and are designed to be versatile - go from day to evening with a quick change in accessories! See how the oh-so-fashionable Danah dressed up her royal blue Aime Gala Dress - she looks amazing!

A BREEZY, BEAUTFUL DAY IN THE CITY!!

2009-08-05T15:21:00.010-04:00

Summer in the city is my favourite thing - enjoying the weather on rooftops, patios, and balconies (aah, heaven!)

This downtown cool outfit is weather appropriate for the steamy hot morning and chilly cool evenings.

Tackle the finicky weather in our Aime pull-on silk knit jersey shorts with gathered pockets, paired with an Alexander Wang Tencel Rib Ruched Sleeve Tee. When the breeze comes in, top it off with a classic 3.1 Phillip Lim Double Breasted "Garconnet" Blazer. Make this look your own by adding an array of funky accessories. We are eyeing ACB's recent collection that mixes leather with chain. Complete the look with Pour La Victoire's 'Ella' T-Strap Sandal in Black Boa Snake, perfect for a sunny day!

Going from Ossington to Bloor? Posh it up by switching your accessories!

Transform the look with the same Aime pull-on silk knit jersey shorts and tuck in a Fendi Flower Top. Anchor the look with an embellished pair of Dries Van Noten Heels. Finally, top off your chic look with a Hermes Scarf worn as a headband.

How do you wear your Aime? Send us your pics and we'll post it on the blog!

AIME JOINS INDIGO SHOW ROOM

2009-07-17T13:23:00.002-04:00

Last night I attended the launch party of Indigo Showroom. It was packed with a wonderfully mixed crowd (UES socialites and LES hipsters) - similar to my aesthetic of Aime that can uptown prim and downtown cool. Buyers, stylists, and press can visit the showroom at 545 8th Avenue - 14th Floor, New York or email: laura [at] indigoshowroom.com and call +212-695-2722 to view the Aime seasonless collection!

AIME IS A FASHION FUND FINALIST!

2009-07-13T12:16:00.002-04:00

I was just informed Aime is a finalist for the Fashion Design Council of Canada's Fashion Designer Development Fund alongside Andy The-Ahn, Lucian Matis, Travis Taddeo, and Philippe Dubuc. The FDCC will announce the winner in October during LG Fashion Week - looking forward to hearing the results!

YUPPIE LOVE

2009-07-13T12:01:00.005-04:00

I met girl-about-town Danah (and blogger of Yuppie Activist) with self-professed talents such as outdancing and outdressing her friends at The Burroughes sale last week when she picked up the royal blue Aime Gala Dress to attend an upcoming wedding. Check out her blog post here.

(photo credit: Danah Abdulla)

HELP SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST OVARIAN CANCER

2009-07-09T14:13:00.003-04:00

Love Others: Aime joins the fight against ovarian cancer by participating in Fashion Cures a la Mode . The proceeds will go to Ovarian Cancer Canada. Fight cancer with fashion.

LOBSTER LOVE

2009-07-03T07:45:00.004-04:00

Love others: Indulge in delicious lobster at Ultra on Monday, July 13th to support the Liya Kebede Foundation. Its mission is to "reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality and to improve the health and well-being of mothers and children around the world."

The boys of Canadian design talent Greta Constantine will be serving at the bar along with Holt's Natalie Lecomte.

Lobster, fashion, and charity - can it get any better?

LUXURY FASHION HOUSES GO GREEN

2009-07-02T11:30:00.002-04:00

Although some call it "green washing", I find it nice that luxury fashion houses are thinking about Mother Nature and making active changes within their businesses. The WSJ wrote an article about the topic recently.

I feel it is important to spread the message that being green isn't a trend, but is necessary in slowing down the harmful effects that we have all contributed to Mother Earth. Don't you think now it's time for everyone to also share the responsibility to preserve her?

All-Canadian Designer Collective Sale

2009-06-25T22:13:00.005-04:00

Aime has been invited to participate in the All-Canadian Designer Collective Sale alongside Joeffer Caoc, Evan Biddel, Mercy, and Jessica Jensen (there are 21 designers involved!) happening this weekend.

Friday, June 26: 4 - 9 pm

Saturday, June 27: 11 - 9 pm

Sunday, June 28: 11 - 9 pm

Where? Burroughes Building (639 Queen Street at Bathurst - 3/F)

Sip some bubbly as you peruse the Aime collection now on sale!

Flare.com blogs about the event today.

FLARE'S CANADIAN DESIGNER DIRECTORY

2009-06-25T14:04:00.001-04:00

Aime has been added to Flare magazine's Canadian designer directory among the likes of DSquared2, Todd Lynn, and Jeremy Laing!

LOVE OTHERS: RIGHT TO PLAY

2009-06-23T10:05:00.001-04:00

"Love others": Show love for others by volunteering for one of these great causes to support Right To Play.

Already involved? Tell us about the notable charitable cause that others should know about!

ALUMNI MAG - TOP 30 UNDER 30 SIDE BAR MENTION

2009-06-20T14:54:00.002-04:00

Got a mention on the sidebar of Ryerson's Alumni magazine's annual Top 30 Under 30 list. A fellow sidebar mention is the award-winning photo journalist, Dominic Nahr. We collaborated when we were both students, where he shot my Flare competition entry in 2007.

STILETTO MURDERS INTERVIEW

2009-06-19T10:49:00.002-04:00

I met blogger Steph Shao when she attended the F-List Designer Spotlight series last month. I could tell she had a passion for fashion with her insightful questions about the industry. Check out the interview on her blog, Stiletto Murders.

HOLT RENFREW

2009-06-18T20:32:00.004-04:00

I had an amazing meeting with Holt Renfrew's VP of Fashion Direction, Barb Atkin, and Natalie LeComte this morning. They both expressed "love" for Aime and our philosophy to "Love yourself. Love others. Love luxury." They particularly LOVED how Aime is about responsible luxury with our sustainable design and business decisions, and seasonless dressing that can be worn year-round. Aime at Holts in the future? We'll see!

AIME JOINS BLOGGER!!

2009-06-17T11:21:00.005-04:00

The Aime designer collection has started blogging on Blogger! Look forward to constant updates about our collection, industry trends, and input from our team at Aime. Look below for some of our previous posts and stay tuned for many more!

AIME FASHION FILM SHORT

2009-04-18T13:15:00.002-04:00

Aime debuts our fashion film short shot by Joseph + Jaime. The SS09 collection in the film is now available in stores.

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

2009-04-01T15:36:00.005-04:00

Check out April's edition of City Life magazine as it highlights pieces from the seasonless collection on its article on slow fashion.

AIME RUNWAY MUSIC

2009-03-20T12:22:00.000-04:00

I collaborated with one half of the local DJ duo Tuff Ghost (aka Jen Reinhardt) of Tuff Meat . Together we selected fun French tunes to go along with the "Paris, Je T'Aime" entitled Aime runway show at LG Fashion Week here in Toronto. I'm very inspired by music, so take a listen to the ones we used below to transport to Paris:

1. Moi Je Joue - Brigitte Bardot
2. Comic Strip - Serge Gainsbourg
3. Living Room - Paris Combo
4. Touch to Feel - Girl Talk
5. Paris - Friendly Fires
6. Paris s'enflamme - Ladyhawke

Update: Nathalie Atkinson of The National Post understood our music selection to the tee - check out her review of the show here .

AIME RUNWAY SHOW

2009-03-19T11:35:00.006-04:00

LG Fashion Week has come and gone - a BIG "Merci Beaucoup" to my team! I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support in helping make the debut of Aime at LG Fashion Week a success!

Lucid Communications - thank you Michelle and Kelsey for your amazing PR-prowess!

Croma Designs - thank you Ryan, Amy, and Michelle for transforming the runway - it was absolutely breathtaking!

Bobbette & Belle - thank you Allyson and Sarah for the delicious dusted pink French macarons with the edible gold leaf M logo - it really transported my guests to a Parisian cafe!

Le Petit Beret - thank you Danielle for collaborating with me to create Tres Petit Berets in my silver and gold silks with the birdcage veils - they completed the Uptown Prim looks!

Jenny Bird - thank you for providing me with your new jewelry line - the gold and hematite pieces complemented the collection beautifully!

No Guff Productions - thank you DJ Tuff Ghost for collaborating with me on the runway music!

Pink Sushi - thank you Cory from the LA-based illustration/film/fashion company for your sponsorship!

WGSN - thank you to the leading online trend research website for your gift bag sponsorship!

Enviius.com - thank you to the new online boutique for your gift bag sponsorship!

Phantom Hoisery - thank you for providing the hosiery for the runway and gift bags!

Next Models - thank you Lorraine, Lucy, and Katie for the gorgeous models!

Town Shoes - thank you to stylist Alexis Honce for styling the footwear!

Volunteers - thank you Katerina, Laura, Michelle, Jessie, Adrienne, Mark, Alissa, and Jane - your help backstage was God-sent!

LG FASHION WEEK

2009-03-15T11:39:00.004-04:00

Fashion Television cameras follow me as I prep for the Aime debut at LG Fashion Week!

I have been busily prepping for the debut of my third collection for the runway of LG Fashion Week in Toronto. Fashion Television has been my shadow lately coming out to film the whole process of how to get a show together - from my look book shoot at the beautiful Le Select Bistro with photog Jason Wills, my concept meeting with Croma Design who has designed a beautiful set, the casting call with my exclusive with Next Models, the fittings with my collaboration with Le Petit Beret and Jenny Bird jewelry to make Aime Tres Petit Berets for the show, etc, etc! Catch the episode in a couple of weeks!

CAPITAL FASHION WEEK

2008-11-22T11:40:00.001-05:00

Aime Luxury’s runway show at the inaugural CFW.

I was delighted to be invited to take part in the first-ever CFW event in Canada's capital to support the Ottawa Cancer Society. It was an honour to be selected to show alongside top Canadian designers such as David Dixon and Marie Saint-Pierre! I'll post the video soon, so check back in the new year. Look who came to support the show - Project Runway Canada's Stacey McKenzie!

A special thank you to Ron White who sponsored the beautiful footwear. It was a great partnership as we both design pieces for the same woman who want to be stylish yet comfortable at the same time! Check out his boutiques at the Manulife Centre, Sherway, Yonge/Eglinton, Oakville, Bayview Village and online at www.ronwhite.ca!

GUEST SPEAKER AT HOLTS

2008-11-17T22:21:00.001-05:00

It was my honour to be the guest speaker for Ryerson's School of Fashion Awards hosted by Holts tonight. The reception in the mezzanine followed by the awards presentations on the second floor was buzzing with fresh, talented students from my Alma Mater. I hope my little speech gives hope to the soon-to-be grads that they too can start their own line! Otherwise, I'll have to recruit them to join the Aime team. :)

FASHION TAKES ACTION'S GREEN GALA

2008-11-08T11:42:00.003-05:00

It was a pleasure to take part in Fashion Takes Action's Green Gala in Toronto's historic Distillery district. This year's theme was "Midnight in the Garden" where Fashion Television host Mary Kitchen is seen modeling Aime! She loved the dress so much that I gave it to her. She is also wearing my corsage Samsung Cleo cellphone wristlet that was auctioned off. The audience texted in to vote the best accessory where I initially tied with Evan Biddell of Project Runway fame.

The Fashion Television cameras came by the studio the day earlier to film a segment. It'll air in the new year, so be on the look out! Thanks Kelly Drennan (FTA Founder) and Sarah Jay (stylist extraordinaire) for asking me to participate at this wonderful event to support Environmental Defense.

It was a glamourous evening which proves that you can be environmentally conscious, socially aware, and still be luxurious and fashionable at the same time which is my goal for Aime! Currently, I only use all-natural fibres that is biodegradable; however, after this fabulous event, I have decided to also use sustainable fibres such as bamboo and lyocell in my upcoming collection.

Canadian designers in the front row admiring each other's designs (Thien Le, Jason Meyers, Zoran Dobric, Damzels in this Dress, myself, and Carrie Hayes.) On the other side of the runway: Nada Yousif, Thieves, Evan Bidell.

Top: The VIP bar

Bottom: The Green Gala bar

Photo credit: Dominic Chan

THE BEAUTIFUL MINDS GALA

2008-06-21T23:16:00.006-04:00

Love others: Aime donates $1376 from the pre-sale of the first capsule collection to Hong Fook Mental Health Association at The Beautiful Minds Gala tonight. This program provides space for mental health consumers to connect, and it promotes healthy living options through mutual learning and support.

I personally lost a dear friend to depression, so this was a worthy cause close to my heart.