Establishments, Fashion, Fashion & Beauty, Movers & Shakers, Social Media, theshineprjct, Toronto, women & entrepreneurship

Studio Fitzroy Dress Rentals in Toronto

I’m proud of these ladies because from a vision they had they created a very savvy business for fashionistas wanting to spruce up their look for multiple occasions. Looking for a few dresses but don’t wanna spend more money? You get to spend more money on makeup, shoes, a handbag and hair! Not just any kind of dress-but very high quality, high fashion on trend pieces.  I walked in there and it looked beautiful. Right away I saw Carrie Bradshaw’s closet. Racks and racks of beautiful dresses.Flowers,velvet,chiffon,silk. Absolutely, Amazing!

 

Studio Fitzroy’s assistant asked me where I was going, when I was going and what my size was. She pulled together two racks of items and offered me some Champagne. On a lazy Sunday afternoon-why not? There were dresses in the pile she gave me that I felt right away I didn’t wanna try AT ALL-but she urged me to try. I tried the ones I didn’t like first. Surprisingly they all looked amazing.The assistance is great! The two dresses I chose: For Love and Lemons Ornate Velvet Mini Dress 100.00 CAD for (4 days) and retailing at $800 and Glamourous UK’s Dynasty Dress at 60.00 CAD for (4 days) retailing at $150! Excellent choices for the holidays!

 

When was Fitzroy established exactly and why a dress rental biz?

Fitzroy is 5 years old, but we’ve only been a rental business for less than a year. We were previously just a regular clothing boutique selling clothing online and at seasonal Pop-Ups several times a year. Our first one was in Yorkville back in September 2011, and since then we’ve been hovering around the Queen West and Ossington area where we’ve established a good following.  Over the years as social media’s influence grew, we noticed women didn’t want to wear the same thing twice anymore, and that they were sick of spending a ton of money on dresses that would just sit in their closet taking up space. So we decided to test out the rental concept and it turned out there was a huge demand.  It’s more fun,more affordable,better for the environment ; just makes more sense for so many reasons, so making the switch seemed like a no-brainer!

How is Fitzroy different from the others in Toronto? (i.e. Rent, Frock, Repeat, Rent The Runway)

We definitely have our own unique style, we call it boho-glam. There are certain brands we carry that have that edgy, cool-girl bohemian vibe for sure, a very Californian / Australian look. We’re also different in that you don’t need an appointment to come in and try on the dresses, just pop in anytime during store hours!

I visited the shop while it was a pop up located on Ossington. Why go from a Pop-Up to a full-fledged shop? (the new shop is beautiful by the way!!!!!!)

We’ve been a Pop-Up for 5 years as I mentioned, trying to figure out what we wanted to do with the brand. Once we landed on the idea of rentals we knew we needed to find a permanent home for the collection and create a welcoming, intimate space where women would feel comfortable coming in to try on the dresses. We wanted to make it feel like you’re at your best friend’s house trying on dresses, and that’s the feedback we get about the space most often – it makes us so happy!

What brands do you carry and how do you choose? Do designers approach you or vice versa?

It works both ways but we are very picky and selective about what brands we carry.They all have to fit in with our unique style/vibe, and each piece needs to be something special and unique, that you wouldn’t necessarily see everywhere.

Who’s your target market? Who did you anticipate that would become your target market-any surprises with the types of customers you’ve attracted?

Our target market is largely the same as when we were a clothing store; 20 and 30 something young professional women with a packed calendar and social schedule and a great sense of style.The Queen West girl essentially. However we’ve also had lots of dresses rented by younger and older women – which we love! Fitzroy is for everyone, and we’ve had clients in their teens up to their 70s!

What kind of events do people rent dresses for?

All kinds! Weddings are the most popular in the summer when everyone has at least a few on the horizon, then there are Birthdays, Bridal Showers, Bachelorette Parties, Engagement Parties, Photo Shoots, Trips, Awards shows, Film Premieres (we were slammed for TIFF), Charity Balls, Galas or just something as simple as an anniversary dinner or date night.

Who are your fave local designers?

We love Marika Brose, we have a ton of her pieces, lots of super fun details like feathers and sequins! Also Narces has some beautiful feminine pieces and Jordan de Reuiter makes the most beautiful tulle dresses – we have a few different styles.

What are your fave fashion pieces? Dresses and fashion accessories? (A must have for you.)

My personal go to is a 70s Kaftan! I have quite the collection that i wear in summer with sneakers and big sunglasses. In terms of the shop, we love really flowy, easy to wear pieces in fun colourful prints. The racks are a rainbow of colour when you walk in, and that’s just how we like it.

What’s in store for Studio Fitzroy for 2017?

We’re working on getting in some new styles, definitely more gowns and dressier pieces and a lot more options for our large and plus size ladies. Stay tuned!

To check out what they’ve got before you go try on what they’ve got visit them over at https://www.shopfitzroy.com/collections/rentals. Follow them on social IG or Twitter @studiofitzroy

Dresses can be booked in advance or same-day, either in the studio, online or over the phone at 416 901 6572.

Studio Fitzroy Dress Rentals is located in Toronto at 1227 Dundas Street West, Upper Floor The SHINE prjct wishes Ang and Jules all the best this year and beyond!

 

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Biography, DJ Culture & Music, Establishments, events, House Music, Movers & Shakers, Music, promoters, Reflections, Social Media, theshineprjct, Toronto, women & entrepreneurship

House Music Series -Typical Cat…everything bass. turntables only-LOCAL-Installment 6 (Toronto)

 

Typical Cat

It’s amazing to have a blast from the past……a lady I met about 7-8 years ago we talked about turntables and vinyl. We stayed in touch. Look at what she’s up to now…..

Who are you? DJ Typical Cat

What’s Her Story?

As far back as she could remember her Dad was a drummer. He collected records. Her aunt was a country music singer. ‘When I was younger I was listening to House Music and stuff…I’d turn on the radio and I would just feel it in my heart…stuff like Electric Circus or Much Dance…you know that kinda shit?’ When she first heard something she liked she says, ‘I felt it in my chest, I felt it in my heart…. in high school about grade 8 or 9, Freaky Flow was the first guy I heard of when it came to Jungle or Drum N Bass. In high school I heard his ‘World Domination’ album  and it got me hooked. I heard Nelly Furtado on a track with the drums and bass and I wanted to understand this type of music more. So I got into guys like Andy C, Dj Craze, Dj Hype. I’d always loved this music without knowing what it was. I wanted to know about it and I started to go to raves by myself and I just knew that I wanted to DJ and I was just there for that.

About her first gig…. Her very first event and it was bigger than she expected. This was one of  her very first BIG events at Velvet Underground. ‘I was nervous as hell but I had fun with it and opening up for Plastician was a huge deal for me because he was a DJ, I looked up to in so many ways.’ She noticed that people loved what she was doing. She mentioned that this is something that women go through. She remarked that women should be confident especially when wanting to pursue a thing like Dj’ing. Some people will like that. Focus on the positives.

About raves….I wasn’t going to party and do drugs. I would just watch what the DJ was doing- I just knew that I wanted to DJ.

What did you do the first time around? In grade 9 my mom asked me if I wanted to sign up for-those program books for summer classes. And right away I was like I’ll take that! Then in grade 11 when I had enough money, I bought tables!

How were those classes? What did you learn? ‘I took that class and actually Oscar ‘DJ Grouch’ was the first person to teach me how to use a turntable. He taught me VERY basic stuff-he taught me motions like scratching and stuff, not cuts but feeling it out with drums and using levels. He was an awesome connect because he’s pretty big in the city. Knowing him made me feel like I was on the right path. He wasn’t just some guy turned DJ. He was part of the scene, he was a great teacher. He would even give me records. I started with Hip hop and I went from that to Jungle.

 What kind of music do you like? ‘My heart’s with Drum N Bass. I love listening to the radio. I love top 40. I love funk. I love listening to things I’ve never heard. My sound right now is Bass.’ She plays unreleased dubs straight from producers-I love things that are brand new!

How’d you find your style?  It was a journey. It’s taken her a few years to know her musical taste. She plays a more Housier Bass style now but for awhile she went through a Jackin’ House style even. But really, mostly ‘I need that Heavy Bass…I think I found my sound at Plastician-it has the same BPM as House’ (Yes, it does.)

Working with Alan Lam-what’s that like? Her partnership with Alan Lam (Stranjah) didn’t just happen, It came after some time. ‘He’s got a wikked business sense and very passionate about his work. I’ve thrown parties with him and I know there’s a huge following. Regardless of that-I love this music! She is grateful for her crew because they know what they are talking about. They are pioneers of Jungle. It makes her feel confident.  When they’ve produced tracks he asks her opinion. She never questions his decisions when putting together events or tracks. She recalls her first ever event headlined party with Demuir which was a huge success.

About Vinyl and Serato ‘I really need to learn not to carry records everywhere that I spent so much money on. I went switched to Serato. It’s the next best thing. It’s like faking records. So now I just stick with Serato. It’s funny cuz I feel like I’m stuck in the past with all of this. People are all up on their shit with CDJs and all that. There are USBs wherever you go. Something about the CDJs are just not my thing….I’m a record and turntable person…it’s not the same feel. I need to feel it. People now know that if they’re booking me I won’t show up without turntables….I made it that way.’ She doesn’t care that it’s a hassle. ‘People have told me I wasn’t gonna make it anywhere because I insist on turntables. So many people say it’s not industry standard.’ She thanks and shouts out club owners who come through with turntables.

About Old Skool tunes…. Some old heads have said that they’ve heard some parts of her mixes/sets. They listen to her mixes and they say that the samples or funk records are from back in their B-Boy days…..’If I hear it and I like it and it’s usually from an older genre’.

Vocals? No vocals? ‘I like some singing but not too much of it. It must be subtle….not too overdone. It’s hard when you have a set with too many vocals. Actually, it’s just not my style. Sometimes I like vocals every 2 or 3 tunes. I usually like vocals at the beginning of my mixes because it draws attention to the crowd.’

How do you prep for a gig? ‘You overcome your nerves. Even if the bar is empty I used to get nervous but like always I’m still riding off of it. The rush you get from it is amazing. You break walls after the first gig. You reach out to people you don’t even know. People tell me they’ve downloaded my shit and bump it in their car. And I’m thinking…. I did that just for me….I’m still riding off the gig I did 2 nights ago’ lol

Your Mom and Cousin were at your last gig…..

She told her Mom to wear black to fit in. She thought it was everything that her Mom felt it would be. I talked to her about what my mother said also. It was something out of a movie. ‘I didn’t think my cousin was gonna stick around but she stayed ’til the end of the show!’ She remembers how her mom used to yell at her because all she would hear is Bass shaking the entire house and she’d tell her to stop. Shockingly she kinda yells out ‘Now she’s coming to my parties?!!!! It was very weird. I haven’t even heard her opinion yet. I’m so scared. I don’t even think she has an opinion it was just something for her to experience in the moment. It was amazing. My mom would ask me back in the day about the Bass shaking the walls. I think my mom was very proud of me.’

Cat, who do you wanna work with? She wants to work with anyone specifically with the people who throw Promise parties. She wants to bring her sound to Costa Rica. She sees herself in Europe. (Anywhere in the UK) and many of the people she works with are always touring there. We talked about the Underground and how our scene is quite different from across the pond. For example how progressive and genre flexible the musical tastes are.

Any advice to those in the creative field who want to venture into production, promotion, Dj’ing anything related to the industry/scene? (As a woman to the ladies out there what would you say?) Throughout our talk she kept referring to the old her…’. I was so concerned what others thought about the music I played-now I don’t give a shit’….You don’t always have to play for everybody else just play for yourself. The people who like it will enjoy it….!

How about people who have an original skill/sound….We talked about upcoming female producer Wondagurl she comments ‘I can guarantee you she’s doing shit she loves. I’m not big time nothing but I’m just doing it cuz I love it. I wasn’t ready for it before. I’m ready now. And all the things I’ve always wanted are coming to me. I love this music!’

Cat emphasizes….‘I can’t stress enough…you need to stop caring what other people think of you. Just do it. Reach out to whatever connection you have-because not everyone has them-and if you know even one person that’s into the same thing as you or if you know one person that you’ve looked up to, reach out to them’. She’s reached out to people from across the world on Facebook alone…. ‘It’s that easy, some are flattered and will do everything they can to help you. Take the plunge and just ask. She realizes that she’s the only person holding her back and if it’s meant to be it’ll come’.

Typical Cat spins next at Round Venue in Kensington Market, August 25th 2016

 

Thanks, Cat!

Check out her set Typical Cat – Live @ Rumpshakers Present AMIT + COMPA – July 2nd, 2016 on SoundCloud!

Vinyl Rainbow

 

 

 

 

Biography, DJ Culture & Music, Establishments, events, House Music, Knowledge, Music, Offering Recordings, promoters, Reflections, Social Media, theshineprjct, Toronto, Travel

Boddhi At Bunda Lounge in Toronto

Boddi Satva (Offering Recordings)

Lights dimmed, incense burning (precisely Nag Champa), music is just right- Late night date? No, not at all. It was the Toronto leg of DJ/Producer Boddhi Satva’s Canadian tour. I had been wondering about Boddhi the artist after stumbling on a podcast a few years ago and was assigned his latest ‘Ancestral Interpretations Pt. 2’ (for review).

I had a chance to sit down with Boddhi Satva last Saturday to discuss the album, the journey, the collaborations and most importantly; the person. He had a lot to say……..

About Being African: Born and raised in the Central African Republic and being well exposed to other parts of Africa and his approach to business and interaction with people in general- this is an integral part of who he is as well as the music he has chosen to share with the world. He is proud and says….’I’m African don’t get it twisted-I’m mixed but anyone who knows me knows I’m more African than any African’

On Being signed to Vega Records: Louie’s got a great heart, he’s family-oriented in business and in life. Our friendship is beyond business….it’s a team effort. He allows me to express my identity. It’s opened many doors for me…it’s definitely increased my credibility. People recognize me for my talent first and foremost……’

On his climb forward: ‘It was very slow, it was and still is lots of work….there are still challenges. Just because you tour, travel, have a label backing you up-the work never stops there. Money is a means to be able to direct your work but it’s not stop….I’m grateful for the all the opportunities awarded. I’m so blessed’

Collaborations with other artists: He’s always wanted to do this! In fact he says,’I wanted to collaborate-it’s the smartest way to get your brand out, it’s all about team work, I can’t have an ego when I know it takes a lot of collaboration with others….

On respecting those that paved the way: He sites Louie Vega, Alton Miller, Kai Alce, Osunlade among many that he has looked up to, worked with, those that have designed the music industry in a way that makes House what it is today….he lists tons of other producers from everywhere-‘I believe in Pan-Africanism especially with art/music’

On African artists namely (Oumou Sangare, Ade Alafia, Yuba, Mangala Camara) and their support of Boddhi Satva using their vocals for ‘house’ consumption- ‘They give me props, she (Oumou) is in full support and respects what I’ve done. The support is mutual-the connection is organic’

On the South African House Invasion: ‘No doubt that South Africa is a hub for house music but EDM in Africa has reached other African countries….Angola has been a runner-up for a few years now and Senegal’s hip hop music scene is stellar. Botswana is another heavy-hitter’

Music to look for: (For those looking for things he’s fond of….music and artists he mentioned during the interview……Paul Randolph (Soldier), Mara TK, Salif Keita, Jose James (Vicadin), Rancido, Offering Recordings vocalist Marie Jolie, Orgasm EP feat.Ade Alafia, Teedra Moses (My fave :D)……

Music as a spiritual connection: ‘Music can move a grown man to tears…..it can heal someone’s spirit, it invokes feelings…it can be sensual in nature’

Working with Promoters: ‘It can be tricky sometimes-my name has been used on events that I didn’t know about….you want to visit different cities but promoters don’t always come through’

On the future of Offering Recordings: ‘Offering Recordings is set to be persistent in providing quality music’

Advice to those on their hustle to succeed in the industry: ‘Stay true, work hard, collaborate, never forget to respect yourself, be grateful for all opportunities’

Impression of Canada (Canadian Tour cities): Winnipeg was happening. The festival (Manitoba Electronic Music Festival)…it was fireburn…a very organic city really peaceful. Lots of street art. Big ups to Winnipeg!’….He describes Toronto as ,vibrant with a mixture of people’ and, ‘good peoples’……’I hear Bunda’s the spot’

Expectations for that night’s (August 17) show (At Bunda Lounge): ‘I hear that Solid Garage and Booty Lounge are pretty good…..(laughs) I don’t have too many expectations but I plan to take the crowd on a journey’

Needless to say, the night was a journey. He traveled the world with music and brought tunes from countries where rhythm rules….no matter the language or dialect….you heard and felt the beats! Dancers of all ages and colours shook their butts (myself included) lol

Afrobeats and Eurobeats ran the night. The interview was as eclectic as the set that night….Boddhi, thanks for the visit!

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