Leah Lamarche is a Graphic Designer in the fashion industry that also moonlights an extremely successful Fashion and Beauty blogger! Lucky for us, she decided to sit down and answer a few quick questions about starting her blog, building her success and her next steps! What inspired you to begin your blog? I’ve wanted to blog since I started watching fashion and beauty bloggers on YouTube back in 2012 or so. But I was right at the beginning of school studying graphic design and I didn’t have time to focus on starting a blog, so I promised myself that when I was done school that I would start a blog. And that’s just what I did! I got my first job out of school In the fashion industry about 3 months after graduation and once I was settled in my work routine, I launched my fashion and lifestyle blog in the beginning of 2015. In the blog I talk about what it’s like to be part of the fashion industry in Montreal. The styles that I’m into, the fashion events I go to. And sometimes just random lifestyle things that I like to share! Has your blog given you any cool opportunities to go to events, shows or meet influencers you admire? Yes!! It took a while but having the blog has allowed me to meet a lot of people in the fashion industry in the city and eventually got invited to a lot of event; fashion shows and launches in the city! My very first invite was to Barbe Rose lingerie fashion show back in March 2015. I got to meet the models and the designer and sit in the VIP, It was a really nice experience! In fact they have all been great and I’ve met so manny great people. Recently in the past year or so I have tried my hand at modeling in some fashion shows. Something I never thought that I would do. I’ve found it so much fun and such a rush! It’s nice to be able to experience fashion from a different perspective, being the “object” or “performer” rather than the audience! It’s cool! What can we expect next? To tell you the truth, I’m not sure just yet. I’m sort of going with the flow right now and see where it all takes me! I’m wanting to continue with the modeling for now. I think I would like to take my blog to the next level and get into more edgier fashion and photography. My blog over very everyday fashion lifestyle at the moment, which is great because that is my life lol! But it would be super fun the experiment with some dynamic fashion that I have never tried before! Check out her blog here Follow her on Instagram to keep up with her stylish content @leahlamarche "The blog is not just about beauty, it is about embracing the beauty we are all individually and naturally given. The way we chose to see the world creates the world we see".
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Name: Francesca Di Re
Faculty/Year: Faculty of management, U2 Committee Position: Co-Director of Sponsorship What is your experience with the HIV/AIDS community? What about this cause touches you and makes you want to create change? This is my first experience with the AIDS/HIV Community. I don’t believe that one must be directly affected by a cause to want to get involved with it. HIV and AIDS affect millions of people worldwide. Although drugs and treatments have been developed to help prevent death, a direct cure has yet to be found. My involvement, has more to do with the compassion and heartache I feel for those who are suffering rather than the cause of the suffering. With P[h]assion I saw the opportunity to help create a change within a community and took it. I hope that this year through sponsorship opportunities we can meet our greatest goal yet and donate $10,000 to AIDS Community Center Montreal. I am the type of person that looks to give back and be helpful to others. Knowing that this money will go towards the education for AIDS prevention, counselling, testing and research efforts is all I need to want to get involved as much as I can. Do you believe fashion has the power to affect positive change? Where do you believe fashion succeeds or fails to create real, tangible social action? I think the fashion industry does try to affect positive change but it can do a lot more. Of course, creating a collection and raising money for a cause is a great start but efforts shouldn’t stop there. These collections are often forgotten about along with the issue. Companies in this highly competitive industry should completely immerse themselves in a cause they believe in. They should constantly put efforts in this cause and remind consumers each year of its importance. That said, certain retailers such as H&M or ALDO have raised awareness for AIDS whether it be through the Fashion Against AIDS foundation or their own initiatives. They’re campaign ran for a year and then ended. As I said, these efforts should have been sustained to have a larger impact.. That is what P[h]assion aimis to do; use fashion to raise awareness and donations for a cause in need on a yearly basis. How have social initiates made an impact on your life, or someone close to you? It may be through the HIV/AIDS community or another social/personal issue. My grand-mother was not only affected by breast cancer but ovarian cancer as well. I think that if it weren’t for the support groups that are put into place through social initiatives she would have made it through. Being affected by such a powerful disease can be emotionally and physically draining. I’m more than happy that she had these people to turn to and to understand exactly how she felt. Whether it be cancer, HIV or AIDS, social initiatives make a difference in the lives of people who are affected as well as their families. If a sick person can get even an ounce of help or ease through these social initiatives then they have done their job. Name: Siena Cui
Faculty/Year: Management U3 Committee Position: Clothing Coordinator What is your experience with the HIV/AIDS community? What about this cause touches you and makes you want to create change? My experience with HIV/AIDS community actually started through P[h]assion. I’ve been with P[h]assion for 2 years now, and I remember ACCM came in for a workshop regarding HIV /AIDS and it was really helpful. I felt that there are still a lot of misunderstanding and stereotypes from people towards this community. Engaging with organizations such as P[h]assion definitely helps ourselves and others to close these gaps. Do you believe fashion has the power to affect positive change? Where do you believe fashion succeeds or fails to create real, tangible social action? Fashion definitely have the power to affect positive change, but it’s also true that it’s a double-edged sword. It’s a big industry, meaning that it has the power to initiate large enough movements and influence, examples such as diversity in the models (size or race wise) and emerging new fashion capitals and designs all reflect that. However, at the same time, this industry also largely depends on consumption. Runway collections aiming for social impact can make a change, but probably not as perfect as they aimed for. Do all people who wear the Dior feminist shirts fully understand feminism? Or are they just buying it because it looks “cool” and “trendy”? How have social initiates made an impact on your life, or someone close to you? It may be through the HIV/AIDS community or another social/personal issue. It’s a really really small thing but I took a course in Fashion Buying and learned that the fashion industry is actually the second largest polluter in the world. I’ve seen videos of how fast fashion productions can in fact take other people’s lives away and harm the environment at the same time. Knowing this actually helped me to rethink what my wardrobe are consist of; how much clothes are just sitting there forever without being worn and what alternative brands/ways I should shop in the future. Name: James Terrasi Faculty/Year: U1 Management Committee Position: Director of Choreography Do you believe fashion has the power to affect positive change? Where do you believe fashion succeeds or fails to create real, tangible social action? I do believe fashion has the power to affect positive change. What we choose to wear often goes beyond practicality; it’s a means of personal expression. As such, we are naturally influenced by the brands we choose and the causes they support. When companies we like develop their business models around social initiatives, they have the power to raise our awareness of important global issues. The “one for one” program is an example of this, where Toms Shoes donates a free pair of shoes to a child in need with every retail sale. As our awareness increases, we as consumers can choose to only support brands that we deem socially responsible, creating a virtuous cycle of positive action. Name: Rachael Atkinson
Faculty/Year: Management U1 Committee Position: Clothing Coordinator Do you believe fashion has the power to affect positive change? Where do you believe fashion succeeds or fails to create real, tangible social action? I believe that because everyone participates in fashion in some capacity it has the power to make positive change. For example, many clothing lines have recently released sustainable pieces, from fast fashion brands such as H&M to runway designers like Tom Ford. This movement is something that is accessible to most people regardless of their socio-economic status or even their interest in fashion and for this reason I believe that fashion can work to raise awareness and make change for a variety of issues. How have social initiates made an impact on your life, or someone close to you? It may be through the HIV/AIDS community or another social/personal issue. The way in which I have seen an impact in my life through social initiatives is the sense of community that occurs when like-minded people come together to solve problems and help others. Furthermore, having the opportunity to partake in social initiatives has opened my eyes to some of the issues people face in their lives and has made me a more informed, appreciative and generous person. Name: Deanna Duxbury
Faculty/Year: Arts U3 Committee Position: Director of Media What is your experience with the HIV/AIDS community? What about this cause touches you and makes you want to create change? Last year, my position as Director of Community Engagement really allowed me to experience ACCM and learn more about the HIV/AIDS community in Montreal. I spoke with volunteers and engaged in an intense interview with an individual that lives with HIV. There is so much stigma and injustice surrounding HIV/AIDS purely due to a lack of education and ignorance. Medicine has advanced so far and yet so many people are still ostracised and devalued because of an unfounded fear. It’s more than just contributing to the funding to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, this cause is important to me because ACCM contributes to aiding those that live with HIV/AIDS everyday. I hope that in supporting ACCM and spreading awareness, P[h]assion creates more inclusive and compassionate environment on and off campus. Do you believe fashion has the power to affect positive change? Where do you believe fashion succeeds or fails to create real, tangible social action? The important thing to understand about the influence of fashion is that it is founded through individuals. Fashion is the designers, the influencers, the editors and the shoppers. It moves through real people that have the power to direct awareness, allocate funds, spread truth and gather masses. That power should never be underestimated, but it must be understood that it derives not from a piece of clothing but from an intention and will. The power to make change in society is a human power at heart, and fashion is a vehicle that can drive it. How have social initiates made an impact on your life, or someone close to you? It may be through the HIV/AIDS community or another social/personal issue. Social initiatives have, in many ways, changed my perspective on life. I have a passion for literacy, and support Indigo's “Love of Reading” fund that helps build up libraries for local schools. I’ve worked on the ECOuture Fashion Show to help promote environmentally friendly fashion. I volunteer with the Book Fair that gives every penny to Student Aid at McGill. I’ve made a point to donate to women’s shelters wherever I live and am an active advocate for global women’s rights. Of course, everyone participates in these kinds of things. We’re surrounded by them and drawn to them, in university. What I admire most is actually Hannah Taylor’s “Ladybug Foundation”. It was founded when she was only eight because of a moment of compassion for the homeless. It takes real initiative to carve out a place for social justice in the world and inspire others to build on that desire to make change. In the future, I hope my desire to influence social change can make even a fraction of that impact. I want to do more than contribute. I want to be a force that calls out to others and hopefully then we, as a community, can manifest real action. Name: Madison Frehlick
Faculty/Year: Management U1 Committee Position: Promotional Coordinator What is your experience with the HIV/AIDS community? What about this cause touches you and makes you want to create change? Although I am not personally affected by HIV/AIDS, I believe it is so important to help where I can. I have been privileged in my life with health and people to support me, and now I want to give someone else that same support. It’s easy to take a step back and say “it’s not my problem, it doesn’t affect me”, but if everyone were to become a bystander to a community of people who are in need of help, how could meaningful change occur? Chances are, you know someone who is affected by HIV/AIDS, whether it be someone who is directly affected or they know someone who is. Do you believe fashion has the power to affect positive change? Where do you believe fashion succeeds or fails to create real, tangible social action? I definitely believe that fashion has the power to affect positive change. An example that comes to my mind is the brand Aerie. They have become known to promote body positivity, and it’s showing real results. While scrolling through my Instagram explore page, I have come across photos of girls who are posting unphotoshopped photos of themselves because they saw that Aerie’s models were real women with real curves, shapes, and blemishes. To have realistic body images being portrayed in fashion, I think it’s an incredible thing! Name: Romina Berbari-Daou
Faculty/Year: Management U3 Committee Position: Executive Director What is your experience with the HIV/AIDS community? What about this cause touches you and makes you want to create change? Last year I joined P[h]assion because I wanted to get involved in something meaningful and the club’s model interested me. As a promotional coordinator I got a first taste to the world of the HIV/AIDS community and ACCM. After having learned about the cause and it’s stigma I decided I wanted to help make a change a break the barrier between the HIV/AIDS community and the Montreal one, which is why today I am working with P[h]assion for a second year as executive director. Do you believe fashion has the power to affect positive change? Where do you believe fashion succeeds or fails to create real, tangible social action? Fashion is the way we can attract people’s attention. It’s meant to be looked at, to be appreciated and is many people’s passion. That’s why it’s a great way to open people’s eyes to the cause because they might see “P[h]assion” and think we’re just a regular fashion show, but then when they start interacting with us that’s when we wheel them in and educate to make a change. In this way fashion has the undercover power of making heads turn towards something more important. People are already aware and love fashion, now let’s leverage its influence towards a better cause and make an impact. Social action is whatever action that makes it work, makes a change. If you have a platform with people you can influence, like designers, you can use it to make a true difference and a social action that will have an impact. How have social initiates made an impact on your life, or someone close to you? It may be through the HIV/AIDS community or another social/personal issue. Last year our now Director of Media, Deanna, had an interview with someone that ACCM helps. When I read her article it gave me a more personal approach and insight on the community and that’s when P[h]assion really started becoming meaningful on another level to me, hearing someone with HIV/AIDS speak openly about their experience. |
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December 2017
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