Inspiration Monday | Rise

RISE

There are some people who were just born with a want, a need to make the world a better place. What if I told you there is a person out there who is not just trying to make the world a better place, he is trying to make it look better too? Well, he exists and no, this man is not Bono. It’s Sayan Sivanesan.

This young entrepreneur with a conscience as big as our collective carbon footprints originally happened upon the idea one day as a project idea for his UBC marketing class. With encouragement from a few professors, Sivanesan decided to use his passion for fashion to save the world. The fashion movement is called “RISE”. What Sayan Sivanesan’s ambitious project is all about is putting recycled materials, vintage fabrics, haute hand-me-downs in local designer hands and seeing the fierce fruits of their labour.

The deserted duds are then turned into quality, well-made pieces that I would describe as if H&M and Ralph Lauren’s consumer conscience baby was now a teenager. From the dresses and croptops to a perfect pair of summer shorts; Mama sees a bit of Madonna, a bit of the 60′s, the roots of the 90′s and H&M trendiness fit for a mod-hipster. Each article of clothing is also embellished with a cascading red feather, symbolizing a phoenix in motion, rising out of it’s ashes. This of course, being a great metaphor for what these talented tailors do with scrap pieces of clothing.

The roster of designers that assist Sivanesan’s project: Annie Garnet, Andrea McDonald, Jamie Carlson, Stephanie Gagne and Rheanne Segstro all have three things in common:

1. They are all native to BC as local designers

2. They all come from quite impressive backgrounds from having their own successful previous collections or being veterans in the French fashion biz.

3. They all have one message, to have the Red Feather be a proud emblem of shopping second-hand. It’s cool. It’s better for the environment to reuse and recycle. Thrift thrills.

This winning combination and should-be patented formula of inspired and courageous youth have began something that has thrived over the years, and you will be able to witness this first hand at their website http://www.launchthemovement.com or possibly one of their future shows. To buy these “green” garments, go to their online store http://riseupcycling.com or follow them @riseupcycling on Twitter.

So maybe, Vancouver, there is a happy ending for us after all. If we can try to look at fashion as not just a way to be sensual and sexy but to sustain, as well. Sivanesan’s message also speaks to knowing where it comes from, where it’s made, how it’s made.

Knowledge is power. And apparently, it is fabulous as well.

With love and style, Leroy Wan