Maark Abenir's Beautiful To Vain

I have been involved in the fashion industry here in Calgary for some time. There is some serious talent, like designers Paul Hardy and Haithem Elkadiki, that have made a name for themselves and stuck through our industry’s toughest times. If you can even call it an industry before 5 years ago. And I’ve always said that this city runs on word of mouth. And when social media made it possible for that word of mouth to spread even further, our industry started to make a name for itself.

Amongst those trying to make a name for themselves is young designer Maark Abenir. He may be young in the game, but a designer who knows how to put on a show. His dark and artistic vision to his work is what grabs my attention every time. What's fashion without pushing boundaries? I seriously appreciate a designer who knows how showcase what inspires them. If you can see their vision so clearly in their designs and their presentation, that is what makes a real designer in my mind.

Maark premiered his latest collection with us here in Calgary on March 8th, 2014 at YYC Fashion Week's Fashion Preview. Which I have a few images below to share with you, but before you browse the photos or wonder about the prosthetic makeup on the models faces, be drawn into the idea behind his work and visualize from the designer's eyes...

"My vision started with a girl who only sees beauty in her surroundings. Everything that surrounds her is magical. Until everything turned against her and slowly comes more evil. She transitioned from a lovely girl into an evil witch and manipulates things around her. A girl can be beautiful but when she becomes to vain, her soul becomes ugly and devastating." - Maark Abenir

All photos provided by YYC Fashion Week photographers PhotoArt4U & AYuen Photos

If you have the chance, I suggest you get a seat at his next showing, WCFW on April 2nd to see the video he had created to open and run with his show. It absolutely grabs you and inspires you.

Fashion in Calgary: A Growing Industry

We can all agree that Calgary is very much in a "baby stage" still when it comes to the fashion industry. Those of us highly involved in this industry, know that. Those outside this industry or this city for that matter, and especially those who do not follow Calgary's fashion industry, do not relate Fashion and Calgary at all. That's okay, I'm here to teach you all otherwise! :)

We may be in a baby stage for industry standards and expectations, however this city has fashion. It really does. I have been so blessed to be a part of a growing industry for years now, and like a mom watching her child grow I am so proud of the success that I see in some of our designers, and other fashion industry members. We are also slightly more recognized by some for fashion than we ever were when I first started in this industry only 5 years ago.

I remember hosting a fashion blogger meetup with my old Calgary Fashion Meetup Group just a few years ago and there were maybe 5 of us! lol Now, we have so many fashion bloggers based here in Calgary and some are have become quite successful, like my dear friend Becky Kung of Velvet and Vino, and the adorable KD Faustino of The Girl With The Messy Hair (who was one of those 5 bloggers at that blogger meetup BTW), both are Fashion Magazine Style Panelists and so much more.

Now I can admit there have been some questionable events that have caused people to doubt our fashion industry. But I am sure you all agree that there will always be mistakes made along the way in any industry. Babies always fall when first trying to walk, but they get back up again and again until they get it right. Our best lessons are learnt from our mistakes.

Continuous passion and strive to really put Calgary on the map for fashion is within so many of us. We will continue to grow with budding fashionable people either born and raised here or those new comers from outta town who catch on to what potential is right here in Calgary. I appreciate ALL who strive to make a difference.

I will end today's post with a little advice: For those of you who are thinking of making your mark in Calgary's Fashion Industry, or for those already budding into the scene now, remember to do your homework, research and plan before jumping too quickly with your creative ideas. Even just making a rough plan will create better results, then success and respect will easily follow. We are all a part of Calgary's fashion reputation, so make us all proud!