Vancouver, Canada; home to Ryan Renolds, the 2010 winter Olympics, and endless amounts of torrential downpour. But that’s not all Vancouver has to offer. As the infamous “California” of the west coast, Vancity is home to countless creatives and businesswomen alike. I was lucky enough to chat with 3 young female entrepreneurs straight from Vancouver and explored all the peaks and valleys of being your very own boss in the great “rain city”.
1. Lucia swim
After years of daydreaming designs and fantasizing about fabrics, Gabriella Tognetti took matters into her own hands and made her visions a reality. With small batch eco-friendly products and packaging, and to die for vintage designs, Lucia is the must-have swim for this summer.
What was the catalyst that finally made you decide to start a brand of your own?
“Last spring when covid hit I knew it was the perfect time to change the path I was on. I was so unhappy with my program at Uni and knew I needed to shake things up. For forever I have dreamed about starting my swim label and this was the perfect opportunity. I finally took the first step and decided to dive into this new adventure. I knew absolutely nothing. So after months and months of research, I learned where to manufacture, how to budget, which fabrics I wanted, and then came the fun part; the designs. I’m a super visual person so that area came supernatural to me”.
What makes Lucia stand out from all the other swim brands?
“I think Lucia sets itself apart from other swims because the suits are made with such high-quality fabrics, putting them on par with many of the big swim brands, but are made in super small quantities which can ensure less waste”.
Tell me a bit about the design process?
“The design process is my favorite part. I take a lot of inspiration from vintage magazines and retro travel images. I also just tap into a lot of the colors and styles I love when designing”.
When creating Lucia, why was an awareness of sustainability so important to you and your brand?
“The simple answer is basically why not? I decided that if I was gonna take this jump and create my swim brand; I was gonna do it right. Growing up by the ocean, and being lucky enough to often travel, I felt a responsibility to try to help protect the environment in any way I could, so future generations can enjoy it the way I do.”
Biggest lessons you have learned from Lucia thus far?
“People often offer their opinions before they offer their support. Trust your gut and be confident in your decisions. I don’t think I would love Lucia as much as I do today if I was constantly being dragged down by the opinions of others. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reaching out to friends and family for a shoulder to lean on will make the process eliminate stress and let you enjoy the process.
What’s next for Lucia? Any new designs or campaigns in the works?
I’m hoping to get out a small drop for winter break! Manufacturing takes months and months so there will be no more new swims for this summer, but I’m hoping to have a whole new collection and possibly some more accessories or clothing pieces for the 2022 season.
Click here to shop Lucia Swim.
2. FINCH by MJ
16 year old Vancouverite Mackenzie Jagger built her very own pajama label based on her love for friends, fashion, and of course… sleep. With soft bamboo cotton and a dreamy range of shades and colors, a slumber party would be totally incomplete without a pair of FINCH pjs.
How did FINCH come to be?
“It was grade 6 when I started my first business selling scrunchies! I designed, sewed, and sold scrunchies for about 2 years until it was time to switch it up. I wanted my product to be something a little more special, practical, and personal. My friends and I were constantly having sleepovers and slumber parties, always comparing, trading, and styling out pjs. It was the perfect fit. After 2 more years of planning, researching and sourcing, FINCH was born”.
Where do you find inspiration?
As I said earlier, the core of all my inspiration stems from my friends. Their style, their personalities, their likes, their dislikes, and everything in between. Additionally, I take advice and inspo from other female entrepreneurs, and specifically ones living in the Vancouver community.
Favorite part about running FINCH?
“The best part about running FINCH is most definitely the photoshoots. I love to plan, prepare and organize the shoots to perfectly correlate with the look and the vibe of the PJs or the collection. My friends model, we play music, have the camera rolling; it’s such a fun time”.
How do you handle FINCH finances?
“FINCH has made me so much more aware of my spending habits. I had saved up from previous jobs and my scrunchie venture, but really when it’s about finances it all comes down to trial and error. Messing up, trying different things, and then messing up all over again”
Biggest learning lesson from FINCH?
“Nothing is gonna be perfect on the first try. Failures are important and specifically, being willing and being open to failing! I can guarantee I have grown more from my failures than my success”.
Is there a specific element or moment in your journey with FINCH that you are most proud of?
“A milestone moment for me on my journey would be when I was asked to speak about FINCH for an assembly at my school. I was so honored and proud to share with my friends all out in the audience and to be a role model for other students who want to start creating their own business”.
What’s in the future for FINCH?
“Right now I’m in the process of moving all my inventory and fulfillment to be out of Toronto where I’m currently living and studying. I can’t spill too much but get excited for more new and exciting products to come soon”.
Click here to shop FINCH by MJ.
3. Miscellaneous by Maggie
Miscellaneous by Maggie, is an absolute staple in your jewelry collection for summer 2021. Each piece is handmade with passion and love in Vancouver by Maggie herself. Designed with freshwater pearls and handpicked beads, Miscellaneous by Maggie strives to bring out the wearer’s beauty in every sense of the word. Each and every piece is completely unique and can be dressed down for a beach day and then quickly dressed up for a girls night out.
Where does your love for handmade art and specifically jewelry stem from?
“I grew up in a very artistic family. Where it was art, music, fashion you name it, we were all very creative and very involved. I love creating. Especially when it means I don’t have to splurge all my money on something I could make myself. During quarantine especially, I began to get into beading. Miscellaneous by Maggie didn’t even begin as a business. My friends and family just started asking me to bead for them, and telling me to start selling them and we grew from there!”
Where do you get inspiration for designs from?
“I never hunt or search for inspiration. For me, it completely ruins the unique and authentic reflection the art should have. I find inspiration when I stumble upon it. Whether that be in nature or just my everyday life, it’s the lens the world sees through my eyes.”
Favorite material to work with?
“I LOVE pearls. They’re so classic but so personal at the same time. I use them in every single piece I make. Recently I have been liking Abalone, Keshi, or baroque pearls for my pieces.”
Favorite piece you have created?
“My favorite piece will be released in a new mini drop/collection in the near future, so keep an eye out!”
What was the process like of designing and creating your website?
“My sister has an eye for this stuff and was a huge part of this process. We used WIX which is a program I have learned to love because you can get way more detailed and creative with it in comparison to other software. We worked together to design and layout the site, editing and playing around with the look”.
Biggest tips when styling jewelry? Best piece of advice?
“I feel like when you pick a piece that reflects your personality and is something you genuinely love, it will go with any outfit. It sounds cliche but it’s true.”
Click here to shop Miscellaneous by Maggie.
