Founded by Toronto-based yoga instructor Candice Mayers last Fall, Orijin – a jewellery brand with pieces that take inspiration from celestial moments to paper clips – just released a new set of pieces that celebrate today’s full moon (the first of the year).
The offering includes a made-to-order 10k gold ring, and a selection of silver items like studs in the shape of a crescent. The collection’s standout, though, is the Luna Mae pendant necklace; handmade in Ireland using an Ancient Egyptian technique called the “lost wax process”, it captures the contours of the moon’s surface and is named in homage of Mae C. Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space.
Mayers plans on launching a new collection with every following full moon, and it’s no surprise she’s as into astrology as the rest of us. But the foundation of her brand comes from a more grounded influence.
Photography courtesy of Orijin.
Recalling a pre-pandemic family trip last year, Mayers says she brought along some beads to make crafts with her kids. “I used lettered beads to make a bracelet with the word ‘Om’,” she says. Adding that she loved the nostalgic vibe of the trinket, Mayers was inspired to cast the bracelet in gold on the advice of her two brothers-in-law, who are both jewellers.
She began wearing the precious piece while she taught her yoga classes, and people quickly took notice. Mayers happily realized she could flex her creative muscles with a new jewellery endeavour, and eventually, Orijin was born.
Mayers notes that the last year’s boom in online shopping has been a boon to her fledgling brand, and she’s thrilled to be able to give her customers a happy-making boost these days. “Where are we getting good feelings from,” she says when asked why she thinks e-commerce has thrived above and beyond necessity. “You’re waiting for your package to come, and that gives you some dopamine.”
Photography courtesy of Orijin.
A purchase from Orijin contributes to communal well-being, too. A portion of proceeds from sales of its Om Collection pieces go toward supporting artists in low-income communities and organizations like The Well Collective, which champions BIPOC wellness entrepreneurs. “I definitely want to give back to the community I’m a part of,” she notes.
From the vastness of the galaxy to the centering of yoga, Orijin’s influences speak to the idea of things that have expansiveness and endurance. And Mayer says that it’s satisfying to consider that what she creates could be passed on to future generations one day. “The things we thought were a luxury before have become unattainable,” she muses, reflecting on the impact of COVID and how it particularly relates to her brand’s future. “It’s the little things that become a luxury.”
With its continuous stay-at-home orders keeping us in a steady holding pattern over the past several months, the pandemic has seen many women of colour with afro-textured hair leave their regular relaxer treatments, weaves and protective hairstyles behind and embrace their natural curls and coils.
If you’re new to the natural hair game, crafting a hair routine that will help your spirals achieve their utmost potential in terms of health and curl definition can feel like a (literal) handful. But don’t fret; we’re here to help. Ahead, we spoke with Toronto-based hairstylist and Maui Moisture brand ambassador Janet Jackson for some of the top natural hair tips she gives her own clients embarking on natural hair journeys so that your mane can thrive this winter and beyond. And for those who are not newly natural, this article is a great reminder and reference.
Hairstylist and JouJou Hair salon owner Janet Jackson.
Reach for deep conditioners, especially right now
Rocking free-flowing curls during the winter means keeping up with regular deep conditioning treatments, which can drastically help strengthen curls. “This time of the year, natural hair is a lot more dry and brittle and can break because of that. I suggest using a hair mask once every two weeks — minimum once a month — especially now,” says Jackson, who recommends picking up Maui Moisture’s Revive & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask for tighter coils. “What’s really nice about this one is that you can also use a little bit as a leave-in treatment if your hair feels like it needs more hydration or slippage for styling,” she adds.
When it comes to washing curls, which are naturally drier, less is definitely more: Many hairstylists recommend only lathering up with a gentle, non-oil stripping hydrating shampoo once a week to every two weeks, especially for thicker spirals, and, if needed, rinsing with conditioner in between instead. But achieving ample curl definition often relies on the layering of different styling products, like leave-in conditioners, gels and curl butters, which over time will inevitably create build-up on the scalp that your regular go-to cleanser likely won’t be able to remove, even with the most diligent shampooing. This product build-up can clog pores and weigh your curls down, says Jackson, adding that after a while curls will become limp and lifeless and unable to hold a style. “Because of that build-up sitting there, your hair won’t respond to treatments and to curling products.” None of us want that, so to properly freshen up your tresses, Jackson recommends implementing a good clarifying shampoo that’s designed to remove the build-up that regular shampoos don’t into your routine at minimum twice a year. If you’re one who layers a ton of different products into your hair on the regular, up that usage to once a month.
Detangling your spirals in the shower while they’re well-coated with a hydrating conditioner is an ideal curly-girl strategy to avoid breakage, and whether you’re using your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to work through knots, “understand the importance of detangling in sections,” says Jackson. “That’s huge for textured hair.” With natural hair tending to be on the thicker side, working in sections (note: always begin detangling at the ends of your hair and working your way up) really allows you to get down to each knot. Sectioning is also a game-changer when it comes to ensuring a thorough product application, especially when applying curl-defining products, notes Jackson. “Sectioning is key when it comes to great definition,” she says.
For the best curl definition, play around with trusted techniques
When you’re blessed with natural hair, you’re often dealing with various curl patterns
on one head of hair, meaning that uniform definition and bounce post-shower — even with the help of styling products — isn’t guaranteed. And the tighter your natural hair is, the less distinct your curls will be, even when the hair is in a wet state. So if you’re seeking an extremely defined and looser curl look, try testing out some tried-and-true curl defining techniques on natural hair that’s been freshly shampooed and conditioned, suggests Jackson. Now, we’re not going to lie: these techniques can be time consuming. But the best part is that the style results can last up to a week with the proper maintenance.
Popular techniques to define and stretch out coils include finger coiling, which, just as it sounds, requires taking small sections of hair, adding some product and twirling the strands around your finger to help form and hold a uniform spiral. Once one spiral is created, move on to the next section.
Courtesy of Imaxtree.
Another fave, especially for elongating the look of kinky coils, are two-strand twists outs. The method requires grabbing a small section of hair, finger combing it, applying a styling product, separating the section into two and twisting those parts around one another like a rope until you’ve reach the ends. Allow the twists to set overnight and unravel them the next day to reveal a wavier pattern throughout your mane.
Jackson also recommends the shingling method, which starts with separating the hair into four sections and applying leave-in conditioner evenly to each by finger-raking it through from root to tip. Next, using your thumb and index finger, a curling cream or gel is applied and smoothed over individual curl strands within each section. Once you’re sure hair is well-saturated with your styling product, move on to the next sections.
For each method above, continuously working on wet hair is key, so keep a spray bottle near by and spritz hair whenever necessary to keep it nice and damp. To help with all that sectioning, opt for plastic clips to keep parts separated and to hold hair out of the way. Most importantly, don’t touch. After completing a technique, leave your hair alone so it can dry thoroughly without any disturbance.
Make the most of your curly hairstyle
After going through all that detangling and styling on wash day, nothing is more frustrating than going to bed with a head of beautifully styled curls, only to wake up to a flat, ruffled head of hair. A trusty hair bonnet, which works to reduce friction and retain moisture while you get your Zzz’s, is an essential for preserving your natural hairstyle or curls, says Jackson, adding that trading in your regular pillowcase for a satin or silk option is also great for avoiding dried out strands and hair snags. If day-two hair is in need of a refresh, Jackson recommends giving it a spritz with a curl refreshing spray. “If you don’t have a refreshing spray, you can put a little bit of your favourite conditioner in a spray bottle with water and shake it up,” she says.
LUS Brands Infinity Spray Bottle, $20.
Most importantly, don’t hate on frizz
When you’re used to sleek hairstyles, frizz has a really bad rap. But when rocking natural hair, stop trying to wrestle with nature. “One thing that is very important and that I’ve been stressing a lot lately is embracing frizz. It’s part of textured hair’s DNA,” says Jackson. “If you’re always trying to get rid of it, you’re not going to get the styling results that you’re looking for.”
Feel-good fashion moments come in many forms, and this week’s Canadian fashion moments prove it. From Cara Delevingne hitting the streets of Paris in a cozy piece from outerwear brand Moose Knuckles, to Sandy Gill playing mix master in traditional South Asian attire and sweatpants, you can’t ask for better examples of the diversity in local design we have available to us.
The British supermodel and actress popped up in Paris sporting a utilitarian-chic jacket by Montreal-based brand Moose Knuckles. Delevingne was in the City of Lights to walk in the joy-sparking Fendi Haute Couture Spring 2021 show, which was designer Kim Jones’s debut for the iconic house.
Making a case for finding new ways to wear your favourite pieces, content creator and designer Sandy Gill paired bright yellow track pants from her recently-launched streetwear label, Tuff Bandit, with an embellished top from Brampton’s Sahiba Fashions.
Playing dress-up during lockdown has been a preoccupation for many; web personality and coffee entrepreneur Emma Chamberlain went full-’90s this week in a spicy, Spice Girl-worthy set that was complemented by a chainlink necklace by Toronto accessory brand, Jenny Bird. The label recently made the news with the launch of its All Love collection, which sees a portion of profits being donated to the LGBTQ+ youth resource, The Trevor Project.
As we settle into the winter season and inch closer and closer toward the one-year mark of lockdown — part 1, at least — we’re grateful for any instances of excitement and beauty these days. The Couture Spring 2021 shows in Paris could not have come at a better time, and while Couture Week certainly looks quite different than in past years, designers still found ways to whisk us away from our current everyday lives — via video, lookbooks and more — to deliver some much-needed joy, extravagance and optimism.
Below are six things from the Spring 2021 Couture shows that made us smile.
Kim Jones made a splash at his couture debut for Fendi with a cast of famous faces walking the runway. Demi Moore, Kate and Lila Moss, Christy and James Turlington, Adowa and Kesewa Aboah, Cara Delevingne and Naomi Campbell were among the A-listers to strut down the elaborate runway wearing a mix of ornate and tailored pieces. Dangling earrings designed by Fendi family member and the brand’s jewellery creative director, Delfina Delettrez, hung inches past model’s shoulders.
There’s a new It model in town. White horses seemed to be trending this week, with both Chanel and Dior inviting equine friends to appear in their presentations. Maybe it’s the impact of Shonda Rhime’s show Bridgerton (we can’t deny some the Regency influence in the opulent fashion) or perhaps it’s a reference to the iconic image of Bianca Jagger at Studio 54 on a majestic white horse in the ’70s (who among us isn’t dreaming of being in a packed nightclub right now, after all?). Either way, the horses stole the show(s) this season.
Debuting AZ Factory, Alber Elbaz returns from his fashion hiatus and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it. His new collection focuses on wearability and embraces body positivity with curve-hugging knit dresses in size XXS to XXXXL, and pieces were worn by models of all ages and sizes. The result? Couture that feels fun, inclusive and forward-thinking.
From the elaborate head pieces at the tarot-inspired Dior show, to the transparent fish skeleton nail extensions (yes, you read that right) at Iris van Herpen by nail artist Eichi Matsunaga, to Pat McGrath’s total commitment to glamour at Valentino courtesy of full faces of gold glitter on some models’ faces (eyelids, lips and all), escapist beauty via enchanted, surreal makeup, hair and nail looks took centre stage at the Couture Spring 2021 shows.
Iris van Herpen and Viktor and Rolf incorporated sustainable materials into their collections, embarking on a new definition of quality-wear. Van Herpen worked with Ocean Plastic fabric made from up-cycled marine debris, and Viktor and Rolf repurposed materials from past collections and vintage pieces from their private collections to create this season’s looks. “As if the separate elements that constitute [the outfits] were picked up from a pile haphazardly and put together in haste by a flock of party people who can’t wait to go clubbing, knowing quite well they cannot, as of yet,” wrote the brand on Instagram.
Like the shoulder-dusters seen at Fendi, the Schiaparelli collection made a major statement with larger-than-life earrings. The entirely surreal and sculptural collection showed a variety of enormous earrings that included beaded tassels and thick gold ear-shaped pieces with hoops. One dramatic piece even meshed accessory and garment together, as gold loops below the ears held a cascade of pink fabric making up the model’s gown.
Since launching in 2013, Knix has become one of the fastest-growing global intimates and underwear brands, thanks to innovations in categories like period underwear, sportswear, loungewear, postpartum-wear and more. Today, Knix enters a brand new category: shapewear! After consistently being one of the most customer-requested items, the brand has launched Love Your Shape-Wear, a line of 18 pieces in three cuts (a High Rise Shaper Brief, a High Rise Shaper Short and a Shaper Bodysuit), each available in black and five different shades of nude. Unlike traditional shapewear, which can be restrictive and uncomfortable, the Knix Love Your Shape-Wear line is comfortable enough to wear every day and works to enhance the shape of your body, rather than hide or contort it.
“The history of shapewear is that it’s a product that changes the shape of your body,” says Knix Founder & CEO, Joanna Griffiths. “What we realized at Knix is that there is an opportunity to transform this narrative to empower women to embrace their body versus trying to shrink it.” The goal was to create painless shapewear that offers subtle compression, rather than squeezing into shorts that are two sizes too small. The brand wanted to move away from the idea that shapewear results had to be extreme to be amazing.
“The fabric technology used in our shapewear products incorporates breathable, targeted shaping zones that provide firm but comfortable lift and compression, along with seamless edges that prevent dig-in and panty lines,” explains Griffiths. “By using targeted zones, we’ve developed shapewear that is effective without being bulky, hot or heavy.”
Knix Shaper Bodysuit, $110, knix.ca/shapewear
Knix has also done away with the idea of the mandatory ‘before and after’ shots that we’ve grown accustomed to in shapewear campaigns. Instead, the Knix Love Your Shape-Wear campaign focuses on how customers feel in the products, above all else. “Shapewear made a big comeback in the early 2000s thanks to one of my icons, Sarah Blakely, [founder of] Spanx,” says Griffiths. “However, it wasn’t until recently that this second-wave revival started to take off.” This revival includes the removal of the taboo around the topic of shapewear, and instead framing the category as a layering tool — one that celebrities are also beginning to speak openly about as a staple in their closets.
“Shapewear should not be something that women feel pressured or shamed into wearing, but rather [something they feel] empowered to wear if it makes them more comfortable and confident.” You can shop the Love Your Shape-Wear collection starting today at knix.ca.
Since its founding over a decade ago, Montreal’s Atelier New Regime – helmed by Creative Director Koku Awuye – has become a leader in exemplifying the potential in statement-making streetwear. The brand’s collections boast graphic-laden garments and accessories that explore concepts of identity and strength through considered and conscientious design. And this aspiration continues to grow; for example, the Fall 2020 line was its first to be produced in Portugal – which is renowned for maintaining a proud heritage of craft techniques.
Attention to detail is of utmost importance to Awuye, a graphic and web designer whose foray into fashion started with creating a selection of slogan t-shirts. He now oversees a globally-recognized brand with a boutique in one of Montreal’s busiest shopping districts. “It was a platform for self-expression,” he says of why he started with such apparel. “[The pieces] had messages that we thought were important to share. It grew into a brand, and then a lifestyle.”
While he notes that his aim wasn’t always to manifest a destiny of being able to create something of meaning every day within the fashion space, Awuye says he’s grateful for the opportunity to uplift and inspire others through the brand’s pieces. And what a point in history to do so.
In fact, the timing of Atelier New Regime’s Championship collection, set to launch tomorrow, couldn’t be more relevant. The offering, which encompasses the elevated athleisurewear the brand’s fans covet – in addition to a standout item, a logoed 14kt yellow gold “Championship Ring” – was meant to launch early last year as a testament to making it through the trials of 2019. However, the COVID crisis quickly took over, and plans to introduce the collection were delayed.
Now, the pieces memorialize one of the toughest years in human history. “Everything is a matter of timing,” Awuye notes. “We’ve just managed to go through a lot of troubled waters [but] we’re still here to win. Everything we went through last year motivated me to go into 2021 fearless and ready to take on new challenges.”
However, as confident as his outlook is, Awuye still confronts a burden felt by Black people around the world; and he recounts an experience that came with an especially unique sting.
On a morning in 2018, while driving to work, Awuye was stopped by police for a traffic infraction right in front of the Atelier New Regime shop. Realizing he’d left his ID in the store, Awuye pled with the officers – who harassed and accused him of being under the influence – to allow him to enter it so they could see his license and registration.
Photography courtesy of Atelier New Regime.
“I shed tears in my shop,” he recalls. “I’m just trying to live my life and get by.” He adds that racial injustice is just another motivating factor in his eagerness to succeed, as well as inspiration for messaging found on the brand’s designs.
“It’s the best feeling to be able to show that it’s possible to overcome adversities,” he says. “The feedback that we get is that we inspire people. That’s what keeps me motivated. As long as I know I’m able to spark something in someone else’s mind and maybe open new doors for them, that makes it worth it for me.”
And Awuye shows no signs of slowing down as we enter 2021; in addition to the Championship collection launch, Atelier New Regime will introduce new additions to its Havana Club collaboration in the coming months. Awuye is also working on a community-focused project with the City of Montreal; and an art exhibition is also in progress.
“I’m super excited to take on this new year,” he says. “I had a mentality switch in mid-2020, which was, don’t underestimate your value. Know your worth when you’re going into situations – you have what it takes.” No arguments here.
“The name touches my heart and reminds me of my connection with Prince,” says Carmen Electra over a Zoom call. She’s referring to her new skincare line, GOGO Skincare, which launched in November 2020. The brand is named after Electra’s single “Go-Go Dancer” off of her 1993 self-titled debut album, which was famously produced by Prince.
The actress, model and singer admits that back then, she wasn’t exactly a skincare and wellness fanatic. “I’d definitely fall asleep with makeup on and end up with super dry skin and breakouts. And I used to only drink soda,” she laughs. “If you look back on paparazzi photos, I always had a Coca-Cola in my hand. I probably had eight or nine [cans] a day. Over the past few I’ve started drinking water and I’ve noticed such a big difference in my skin.”
Speaking of water, Electra, a self-proclaimed “city girl” was forced out of her home due to a flood at the beginning of 2020, and headed on a road trip to Palm Springs, where she says she “started to pay attention to nature, which is not like me at all. I started to appreciate the environment and even water,” she says with a laugh. Her Palm Springs mini getaway, and her newfound appreciation for the outdoors, kicked off the conversation about starting a skincare line. “The colour of the packaging actually represents water.”
GOGO Skincare follows the “less is more” approach that many new brands are taking, and is made up of only three products: Glow serum, Awaken eye cream and Nourish moisturizer. The unisex, cruelty-free, vegan products speaks to Electra’s simple skin philosophy.
GOGO Skincare is available to purchase now for $149.95 USD or $99.95 USD for a subscription that includes special insider perks.
This may come as a surprise to anyone who grew up on YouTube beauty gurus and Instagram makeup tutorials, but there was a time when the launch of a new beauty brand wasn’t a weekly occurrence. While we love keeping up with all of the newness in the industry, and reporting on the wide range of brands and products available for consumers to shop, we’d be remiss not to take a moment to appreciate the beauty brands — and brand founders — who have helped shape the industry into what it is today. There are, after all, only a select few beauty brands who have truly stood the test of time and remained relevant and innovative through the years.
One of those brands is Elizabeth Grant Skin Care, founded in 1948 by Elizabeth Grant, during a time when women were rarely at the helm of a beauty brand. The brand went on to create one of the first skin serums on the market, and the first one for home use in the beauty industry.
Read our interview with the one and only Elizabeth Grant (who turns 98 today!) below to find out what she’s learned after an astonishing seven decades in the beauty industry.
What are some lessons you’ve learned over the years about starting and running a beauty brand?
“I’ve tried to create a beauty brand where women of all ages can feel beautiful regardless of how many birthday candles are on their cake. So [I had to] believe in myself in order to create skincare [products] that other people believed in.”
What advice do you have for up-and-coming brands in terms of remaining relevant and innovative for years to come?
“Create something you truly want to use and feel the need for. Your first customer is always yourself. What’s nice about today’s world is that there’s always an audience. They may not turn out to be your customer, but there will be someone who will listen to you and hopefully guide you to your dream.”
Knowing all that you know now, what advice would you give to yourself when you first started the brand?
“Have a sense of humour. If you can make someone laugh, you’ll be more memorable, more approachable, and easier to work with. A no-nonsense attitude will get you through the door, but what’s going to keep you there is being personable and reminding someone there is a person behind the idea and the brand. When someone realizes you are a person [and not just a brand], it’s a lot harder to forget about you.”
What did you learn as a brand founder in the ’50s, when not many women were at the helm of brands?
“In the ’50s I made mistakes. I had to learn that I had my own voice in a man’s world. If I learned that sooner I think I wouldn’t have been so trusting of the men watching over the finances of the business. I would have been able to trust my gut more than listen to the seeds of doubt being planted that said I didn’t know what I was doing. I did know what I was doing, I was just being pushed to second-guess myself. After 72 years, I can confidently say I am no longer just nodding my head yes, but I am leading a company where we build everyone up and help each other grow.”
What lesson about running a business do you wish you learned sooner in your career?
“Keep good financial records; that way your bank can be an ally in your business. In the beginning, I had someone handling the financial side of my business and I quickly learned I should have been the one handling it.”
What was your Aha! moment that made you realize you needed to start the Elizabeth Grant brand?
“I was a makeup artist at Elstree Studios in London, England. Unfortunately, my skin was damaged during World War II and I truly believed my career was over. I fell into a deep depression. On a mission to fix my skin for no other reason than to go back to work, I discovered our proprietary ingredient, Torricelumn – a blend of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, amino acids mixed with our harvested specialty sea kelp. I had no intention of starting a beauty empire; Torricelumn just fixed my skin after about 8 or 10 months and I was able to go back to work. One day I was working on a famous actress at the time, who complimented my skin and asked what I was using. I sheepishly went into my bag and handed her my personal miracle, my Essence of Torricelumn, and she asked where she could get more because she loved it. That was my lightbulb moment. I could help women — really help them — love their skin again, the way that I did.”
How has your experience with the brand been shaped by the fact that you work with your daughter-in-law and granddaughter?
“Having Marion, my daughter-in-law, who was married to my late son, by my side is beyond words to me. She wouldn’t let me retire; I thought I had to and Marion reminded me that retirement is a choice. Margot, [my granddaughter], has been in my makeup chair since she was five years old. It was always my dream to have her work alongside me, but her choice to do so made it incredibly special to me. When she came on in 2003 […] we made the brand more approachable so our younger audience would want to use it, and men would love to use it, too. At the end of the day, we are family, which to me is the most important thing about the business – succeeding together while bringing our customers into our family, too.”
