Studying Fashion Design at Blanche Macdonald was such a wonderful experience! I was able to learn from and talk to teachers who have diverse experiences, including sustainable fashion. My journey within the fashion industry started back in 2018. This is around the time I began learning how to sew, establishing Price & Co. Studios shortly after in 2019. At the time I was living in rural Saskatchewan. I received plenty of support from my community and it didn’t take long for me to start picking up commissions doing minor clothing alterations.
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Meeting people from all over the industry was one of the best parts of studying Fashion Design at Blanche.
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As time progressed I truly started to fall in love with creating clothing and started to teach myself more fashion skills using the internet as a guide. My skill set developed as I gained experience creating performance wear for dancers, and Halloween costumes for my friends. I conceptualized my first-ever major piece during the summer before attending Blanche Macdonald’s Fashion Design Program; a gown constructed entirely out of previously-owned jeans.
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I decided to pursue fashion as a career during my senior year in high school and applied to Blanche Macdonald, the best fashion design school in Canada. Meeting people from all over the industry was one of the best parts of studying Fashion Design at Blanche. Another important aspect for me was the inclusive environment the school provided. We were given the creative freedom to explore our interests and ideas. In my time at school, I went on to create several garments, a highlight being a silk taffeta babydoll dress.
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Going forward in my career it is crucial that I acknowledge how my work affects the environment. Things like sustainable fabric sourcing, ethical manufacturing, and waste management became more of a priority. This will remain a priority going forward.
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Throughout my education, I was consistently trying to discover what area of the fashion industry I best fit into. I also started to develop a love for sustainable and ethical fashion. Sustainability in fashion and ethical practices started to mean more to me. The world is becoming more aware of the climate crisis and how the fashion industry contributes to those issues. Going forward in my career it is crucial that I acknowledge how my work affects the environment. Things like sustainable fabric sourcing, ethical manufacturing, and waste management became more of a priority. This will remain a priority going forward. In my current pieces, I do my best to focus on upcycling and reusing previously-owned items. When using new materials, I try my best to reduce waste as much as possible.
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In my current work, I have now begun to focus on upcycling garments to create unique streetwear pieces. My personal favourite fabric is denim. I have also had the opportunity to create pieces for performers and continue to take commissions when I can under my own label Price & Co. Studios.
Since graduating from Blanche, I’ve done my best to push into the industry. I started working as a Warehouse Assistant for a local Vancouver fashion-sustainable company. Frankie Collective is a local rework/ vintage company that promotes sustainable fashion and inclusivity – things that matter a lot to me. They focus on upcycled and vintage clothing while keeping fashion sustainability and ethics in mind. My time with the company has been awesome and it is only the beginning. It is an amazing opportunity being able to learn the ins and outs of sustainable fashion production.
While I am still exploring my future career possibilities, I am excited to take my time to learn as much as possible about the industry that I love and work in.
