BULA

CE

MA

GA

ZIN

E $

14.5

0

97

36

57

25

37

9

19

CONTENTS

75

TOP 3 CANADIAN JEWELRY DESIGNERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

ABOUT!

6

MONTREAL DESIGNER DANIEL BEAUDET DIS-CUSSES INSPIRATION

AND THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

10

we travelled to Nepal to catch a

glimpse of paradise

62

FASHION THAT SAVES LIVES

SULTRY Parisian film producer, Layan Mahshi, shares the heroic tale of redemption that inspired her latest documentary. ndustry

66

22

56

32

20 THE 5 BEST CANADIAN DE-SIGNERS TO GET ON YOUR RADAR, NOW!

THE PERSISTENT PASSION OF STEPHAN CARAS

TIMELESS REFERENCE FOR THE WELL DRESSED WOMAN52

FASHION

EDITORIALS

NORTHERN LIGHTS

MOVEMENT

NOSTALGIA

HIGH SOCIETY

SIMULATION

56

26

42

12

36

EXTINCTION82

75 MINIMALIST

© olly - Fotolia.com #64321699

LETTERFROM THE

EDITORAn entire year went into creating this issue. It was a labor of love that never ceased to surprise and enlighten me. Although I cannot say that every experience on this journey was positive;, I could divulge that even the most challenging of occurrences proved to be a form of encouragement. This issue features some of Canada’s most talented artists and personalities. There are so many amazing designers right here in Canada that we wanted to dedicate our first issue to Canadian fashion. Our editorials touch base with a lot of themes that are currently popular internationally. Supermodel Yasmin Warsame is the face of this issue. Meeting this effervescent beauty was truly a rewarding experience that ended with pleasant memories. I have to say I’m quite pleased with the way our introductory issue turned out. I’m happy that I have the opportunity to work alongside my best friend, John Hou, who managed to turn every day at the office into an episode of ‘The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’, while still managing to get the work done! I do hope you enjoy this introductory issue. We had a lot of fun making it. I look forward to hearing your questions and feedback. Cheers to the next issue!Email us at:

BULACEEDITOR IN CHIEF: Rachel Seaforth

MANAGING EDITOR: John Hou

FEATURES EDITOR: Julissa Greenspan

BEAUTY EDITOR: Maryam Denali

COPY EDITOR: Nora Shychuk

ART DIRECTOR: Jean-Robert Olivier

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Carrie Campbell

BEAUTY STYLIST: Clara Prevost-Lapointe

HOUSE STYLISTS: Jessica Emmanuel and Maro Goranitis

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: Lorna Cantalare

Editorial@bulacemagazine.com

Eilat, Israel

THREE CANADIAN JEWELERY DESIGNERS

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Regularly spotted in leading magazines and worn by fashion bloggers and celebrities, Jenny Bird’s statement-making pieces in-stantly amp up an outfit. Interesting shapes and textures are used to create luxurious yet accessible looks with a timeless quality. Her designs are carried at over 600 retail-ers...and the line is only continuing to grow.

Jenny Bird

CANADA BOASTS A PLETHORA OF NOTABLE FASHION DESIGNERS, BUT

CLOTHING ISN’T THE ONLY AREA WHERE WE SHINE. JUST IN TIME FOR

THE MOST SPARKLING SEASON OF THE YEAR, WE’RE SHARING SOME

NOTEWORTHY CANADIAN JEWELERY DESIGNERS HERE.

Inspired by a trip to South Africa, Dean David-son launched his jewelery line in 2007. His jew-elery is now sold all across the world. His un-derstated yet fashion-forward designs have a fluid quality that allows them to enhance an outfit without overwhelming the wearer. His unique pieces have been featured in the pag-es of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as on A-list fans like Jessica Alba and Olivia Wilde.

Dean Davidson

By Jessica Padykula

FASHION

6 7

Started in 2004 by Toronto native Corrine Anestopoulos, Biko em-bodies an edgy aesthetic that is also warm and down-to-earth with a few whimsical elements tossed in the mix. Vintage-inspired pieces are handcrafted in Toronto and created by using natural stones and mixed metals. The bold, boho-chic designs are easily incorporated into any look, from casual to formal.

Biko

FASHION

8 9

From a famed piece of art to a box of photos to a runway of clothes—such is the inspirational process of Daniel Beaudet, the designer behind Leinad Beaudet. At the 2014 Montreal Fashion Preview, Beaudet presented his second spring/summer collection called Cepheides. The collection is named after the Claude Tousignant painting, from which Beaudet drew his initial inspiration.

“I was curious about the name and discovered that Cepheid is a star that astronomers use as a mark to measure the [star’s distance from the Earth]. So I decided to dig into [my] souvenir box and [my] photo box and take some pictures and use them as a mark. And so all the garments in the collection start from a souvenir and the association I made from that. It’s not the

Montreal Designer

Discusses Inspiration

and the State of the

Industry

...IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE IN MONTREAL TO TRY TO FIND NICE FABRIC, FIND PRINTS—IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE...

straight and narrow of what the people were wearing in the picture, but most-ly what it made me feel or made me remember, or the ideas that came with the picture.”

A self-styled dreamer, Beaudet grew up in Villeray enchanted by the fanci-ful designs of Jean-Paul Gaultier and Yves Saint Laurent. Despite his passion for Parisian designers, he felt called to Antwerp, Belgium, where he enrolled at Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

“I was feeling that I maybe needed to be [broken] into something else. So that’s why I chose that school. Also, Linda Lop-pa at that time was considered by Time magazine as one of the 50 most influen-tial people in their domain[…]and so I was just like, ‘Okay, I have to go where that woman teaches.’”

After Belgium, Beaudet did a brief stint in Laos where he worked with Tiao Nith-ankon Somsanith, who taught him the art of gold thread embroidery. When his work permit expired, he returned to Montreal and spent several years as a teacher before deciding to start his own brand and line of design.

In November of 2013, Beaudet launched his first spring/summer collection: All About Georgette. Never discouraged by

the difficulties of the North American fashion industry, Beaudet was deter-mined to create a line of clothing that spoke about Quebec and the Quebecois sensibility.

However, as he admits, it is far from easy to be an independently funded fashion designer.

“Trying to find the fabric—it’s a big chal-lenge in Montreal to try to find nice fab-ric, find prints—is almost impossible. I’m just starting. I just can’t go and see an agent and order 500 meters, Or or-der 300 meters from Italy.”

Given his economic constraints, Beau-det has had to be creative in putting to-gether his looks.

His latest collection focuses on black solids and light grey and white prints, evoking a resemblance to black and white photography.

Financial restrictions aside, Beaudet has big dreams for the future. He sees Lein-ad Beaudet as becoming more than just a clothing or accessory brand; he wants to create a Leinad Beaudet universe. Al-though he’s not prepared to say exactly what this universe will entail, you can bet that this imaginitve designer has plenty of fantasies in store.

Leinad Beaudet launches second collection at 2014 Montreal Fashion PreviewBy: Amanda L. Shore

FASHION

10 11

High SocietyVibrant hues, Monochromatic colors and texturized fabrics breathe life into this season’s most decadent corporate attire.

photography by: Hoyin Siu styling by: Jessica Emmanuel & Maro Goranitis model: Mikayla Mifsud hair: Rob Pizzuti makeup: Esteban Schmale

Dress: Madame MojeShoes: AldoEarrings & Ring: Dean Davidson

Dress: Stephan CarasShoes: Aldo

Earrings: Jon de PorterBracelet: Jon de Porter

Dress: Stephan CarasShoes: Aldo

Earrings: Jon de Porter

Dress: Madame MojeEarrings: Jon de PorterBracelets: Dean Davidson

Dress: Caitlin PowerNecklace: Jon de PorterRing: Dean Davidson

Suit: Caitlin PowerShoes: Ron WhiteNecklace: Jon de Porter

THE 5 BEST QUEBEC DESIGNERS TO GET ON YOUR RADAR – RIGHT NOW

It’s been a “crazy, fun, emotional journey,” says Lezlie Karls, the design prowess behind her year-old brand. New (yet no less-qualified) in the game, her upcoming F/W 2015 collec-tion speaks to the admittedly less edgy “earlier 30’s to 50’s Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Good-man” woman. It reinvents skin and craftsman-ship through colour (a serious departure from earlier all-black-everything Hektor) and fur, leather and more fur. She runs the company from Montreal but manufactures everything in NYC with a leather specialist who has worked with Coach, and Alexander Wang. “It’s in the heart of the fashion district. If I need a button I can walk down the street and get it,” she says.

Mackage makes outerwear sexy, and that’s no easy feat given our usual Polar Vortex climate. Eliran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan, the Montreal duo behind the 15-year-old outerwear (and bag!) label based in NYC, has a huge celebrity following, are nom-inated for a Canadian Arts and Fashion Award this year, and all for good reason; their marriage of genuine Italian leather, texture and unexpected bright hues (see their F/W 2014 collection) sets the framework for a winter we wish lasted all year.

Corey Shapiro, the brains behind the venerable decade-old brand, is on everyone’s lips now that he’s finally opened his Montreal flagship l’Ar-chive store this November. The celebrity sun-glasses purveyor makes being a four-eyes pretty much the coolest thing ever. “Glasses allow you to become something different…We’re fash-ion historians. We want people to have a good time,” Shapiro says. While his collection of over 250,000 glasses currently ranges from vintage to designer, his ability to bespoke his specs to flatter every face is very much in line with the needs of his vast – and high class – clientele.

Travis Taddeo is your back-to-basics kind of guy – but that doesn’t mean he isn’t playful. Always manipulating jersey and leather in a way that’s functional, his two-tiered label boasts a wilder, strictly catwalk-friendly side, too. The latter per-sona, he says, is “bold, fierce, original and they don’t like looking like everyone else.” While some of his ideas are far-fetched (see a leather crop top layered over a hoodie in A/W 13), there’s a lev-el of maturity and minimalism that anchors the wild factor. As an ode to the multifaceted nature of all of us, his collections “play off each other but are beginning to get more separate,” he says.

Hektor Mackage

The Vintage Frames Company

Travis Taddeo

Architecture is often associated with buildings, but Hourani, who manufactures in his home-town Montreal and showed at Paris Haute Cou-ture Week in 2012, says we’ve got it all wrong — it applies to his clothes. His latest lines are rife with angles, clean lines and fabric manipu-lation, and they’re constantly evolving. So, how did he hone such a calculated grasp of style? “Organically,” he said. “I never studied fashion, I just figured out how to create. I’m very mathe-matical so I had this sense of functionality and creativity at the same time.” The creator of the world’s first high-end unisex line initially creat-ed “auto-analytic” collections with no plans of selling them. We’re glad he changed his mind.

Rad Hourani

FASHION

2120

FASHION THAT SAVES LIVES

T he world of fashion has often been scrutinized for its use of fur. In par-ticular, the idea of killing animals for the sake of fashion has been in-creasingly cruel and troubling to animal rights groups, including the well-recognized organization PETA.

The Canadian company Harricana Recycled Fur is on a mission to save animals and help the environment by making up-cycled fashionable

clothing and accessories for men, women and children.

Harricana Recycled Fur, founded in 1993, has mastered the art of taking old furs and giving them new life. Using previously-owned furs, they create high quality fashion ap-parel such as one-of-a-kind fashion coats, silk and cashmere scarves, and even wedding gowns. In the last 15 years, they have saved the lives of over 800,000 animals and many precious items that would never have been worn again.

Some of the furs used in the up-cycling process are fox, fisher, ermine, weasel, skunk, hare, rabbit, squirrel, coypu, marten, chinchilla, wolf, lynx, beaver, otter, raccoon, musk-rat, badger, coyote, mink and sable.

By Tweety Elitou

FASHION

22 23

2524

Movement

26

Hair: Louise Olsen Makeup: Lisa-marie charron

Combat boots and hardware accents add an intriguing twist to this season’s most glamourous ensembles.

photography by: Alexandre Paskanoi

Styling by: Jessica Emmanuel and Maro goranitis

Model: Catherine (montage)

Dress: narcesboots: le chateau

Earrings & ring: anzieHair: Louise Olsen

Makeup: Lisa-marie charron

27

bustier: line knitwearSkirt: joseph helmer

shoes: aldobracelet & necklace: charlotte hosten

Bolero: marie saint pierreRomper: melissa nepton

boots & bag: aldo

28 29

vest & skirt: marie saint pierrebracelets: anzieshoes: aldo

dress: oscar mendozaearrings: anzieboots: aldo

30 31

“Creativity is like oxygen.”

There is a romance to those words that immediately display the images of iconic fashion.

The latest line from Stephan Caras pre-sents a picture of a dalliance between designer and raw material, resulting in a hedonistic masterpiece intended to en-hance a woman’s sensuality.

Aptly named “Luminous”, it is a brilliant combination of bold, radiant fabrics that offers an inspired, timeless brand, punc-tuated by bright elegance.

Prominent in his collection is the rare blend of counterpoised soft and sculpt-ed elements.

Modeled fabrics with supple injections of chiffon or organza create a floating look that accentuates femininity and re-finement.

“I like the float on the garment, it always gives you more elegance. It gives you a little more femininity on the way it looks when the woman walks,” explains Caras.

Born in Greece and educated in Austral-ia, Stephan Caras found his way to Toron-

The Persistent Passion of Stephan Caras

...“A LOT OF PEOPLE DISAPPEAR BECAUSE THEIR EGOS ARE BIGGER THAN THEIR SIZE.”...

to indirectly and originally, without plans to stay.

“Somebody offered me a six-month job to do two collections—one collection in To-ronto and that’s it.”

After having lived and worked in four oth-er continents, Caras decided to come to Canada for one basic reason: adventure.

His resumé exudes fashion royalty, having designed the clothing for winning con-testants in Miss Universe, MIss Queen of Pacific and Miss Teen International—as well as Miss World and for various stints with Guy Laroche and Hermes in Paris.

While working at Hermes, he was often asked to supervise the fittings of former United States First Lady, Jacqueline Ken-nedy.

Yet despite the awards, international ac-claim and notable experience, Caras re-mains a humble artist connected to the roots of his passion.

FASHION

By Brian Grasso

32 33

“A lot of people disappear because their egos are bigger than their size.”

Perpetually looking to the horizons of new achievement, Stephan Caras has now set his sights on helping his son go beyond his own legacy.

Kyriako has been by his father’s side for 30 years and defines their relationship as akin to a successful marriage.

“He’s my best friend. We really do un-derstand each other, and obviously so many years with him, I understand his artistic expressions.”

Kyriako played an inspirational force in creating “Luminous” and, like this leg-

endary counterpart, finds insight and vision within the chemistry of the fabric itself.

The creative process begins by disre-garding trends and shapes, thinking only of the ultimate capacity to achieve beautiful, feminine and sensual looks that will offer women the feeling of the exquisite.

To become iconic, one cannot rest on past accomplishments or the triumphs of yesterday. There is a certain consist-ency, a perpetuity of excellence that ac-companies each and every new artistic creation.

After “Luminous”, Stephan Caras is certainly not going rest on laurels. His goal is to keep going with his design career and provide a vibrant and timeless collection that speaks to the heart of his greatness.

FASHION

34 35

SIMULATIONvertical lines and Geometric shapes take style to the next level

photography by: jean valade styling by: Jessica Emmanuel and Maro goranitis

models:: Lamie (montage)

Hair: Stephane Scotto di Cesare

Makeup: Sophie Brassard

dress: iris setlakweshoes: rudsak

ring: marmod 8

36 37

(Marie-christine)Shirt & skirt: brit wacher

necklaces: mohawkiboots: rudsak

dress: impairshoes: aldoring & bracelet: marmod 8

38 39

stdress: impairring: angela marzinotto

boots: rudsak

dress: brit wachershoes: aldo

ring: mohawki

40 41

Canadian designers love experimenting with vintage themes. Follow models Marie-Christine and Stevo as we give a modern spin to the flapper style of the 1920s.

Nostalgiaphotography by: Thierry Quenette styling by: Jessica Emmanuel and Maro goranitis

models:: Marie-christine (montage) & Stevo (lcp models)

Canadian designers love incorporating vintage themes into their collections. Follow us as we revamp the glamorous style of the 1920s, with this editorial all about coats!

42 43

dress: melissa neptonhat: ophelia hats

jacket: valerie dumainenecklace: charlotte hosten

shoes: le chateau

dress: impaircape: melissa nepton

necklace: charlotte hosten

Hair: Stephane Scotto di cesareMakeup: laury-anne morel

44 45

(Marie-christine)dress: christopher paunil

hat: ophelia hatscoat: dominique ouzilleau

earrings: le chateau

(Stevo)

coat, shirt, vest & tie: le chateau

46 46

fur Shrug: pink tartanearrings: micalla

48 49

(Marie-christine)

skirt: dystropolisBustier: marie saint pierrecoat: dominique ouzilleauearrings: charlotte hostenbracelet: le chateauclutch: le chateau

(Stevo)

jacket, pants & gloves: philippe dubucshirt & tie: le chateau

49 50

TIMELESS REFERENCES

FOR THE WELL DRESSED

WOMAN

Y ou’ve seen that girl - a bona fide archetype of elan and class. She is someone who leaves a strong im-print in your inner psyche of style. She can combine paradigmatic pieces with contemporary ones,

and come out looking like an exemplified fashion icon each time, every time. She sighs at the way a few people dress with a type of sloppiness or a garish overemphasis of body parts. Most likely, she is born with a keen eye for good fashion, but still not immune to the power of It items.

She has the understanding of what works for her and does it all with a certain je ne sais quoi. The good news? Knowing the value of style can be learned. Aside from being in tuned with what works for your specific body type and searching for the best colors that work well for your skin tone, start building a collection of well-made clothes that will transcend through time.

From button down dress shirt to a cot-

ton tee, a white shirt is a proverbial piece

that can be worn in infinite ways. It is

the perfect compliment for a dynamic

black suit, full ball gown skirt, or a pair

of curtailed pants with varnished finish.

Barbara Bui

by Len Cruz

FASHION

52 53

Signiature FLATS

Spring is on the horizon. Step into the woe-free zone with a duo of sharp flats! Properly constructed shoes with an indisputable glam will defi-nitely rise to any occasion. Bespoke loafers and scrunched low-risers are the perfect pairs to inject into just about any type of fashion pairing.

Roger Vivier ‘Gommette’

Del Toro ‘Leopard’

FASHION

54 55

NORTHERN LIGHTSPastels paired with retro tones, boyish Silhouettes and fur accessories highlight this season’s most playful trends.

Photography by: Jean Valade

Styling by: Jessica Emmanuel & Maro Goranitis

Model: Mari Eve

Makeup: Laury-anne morel

Hair: Stephane Scotto di Cesare

Dress: Michel Desjardins

Shoes: John Fluevog

Vest: Rudsak

Ring: Marmod 8

56 57

Jacket & Top: Line Knitwear

Pants: Michel Desjardins

Shoes: John Fluevog

Earrings: Biko

Rings: Vitaly

Shirt: Dystropolis

Skirt: Line Knitwear

Shoes: John Fluevog

Earrings & Necklace: Mohawki

58 59

Shirt: Impair

Skirt: Melissa Bolduc

Boots: Rudsak

Rings: Angela Marzinotto

Cuffs & Necklace: Mohawki

60 61

Stairway to Nepalese Heaven

Imagine this: you are flying low over the Earth; green fields, blue water and houses sparsely thrown anywhere and everywhere pass beneath you. Suddenly the pilot is speaking over a fuzzy, crackly radio. ‘We will be landing soon. Please put your tray table in the upright position”. You try to pinch your-self, but you are already awake. This is real!

You didn’t even get the time to shout for a taxi before you are being hurled towards one. You fall into your seat, interested in the life that passes you as you make your way to your hotel. Cows, people, taxis, cars, and truck dot the scenic drive. The streets are more than crowded. Every centime-tre is taken up before you, but in a surpris-ingly orderly and polite fashion. No vio-lent words or actions are exchanged; this is just the way they do it. Fast. Colourful. You drop your bags in your room. A quick

shower is in order, then you are ready. Soon you find yourself back in the bustling streets that are no wider than a car. With a popu-lation of over thirty million, you would an-ticipate feeling squashed and overwhelmed, but somehow, this is quite the opposite. You venture into a world filled with exqui-site smells and bright, decorative buildings. The world around you is alive and excited. It’s like the best party- and you’re invited.

Sultry heat engulfs you as you venture past the safety of Thamel, the “touristy” quar-ter of the city. You see all there is to see, each place a new, surprising journey with a history of its own. You discover the real Kathmandu, a place filled by overwhelm-ing friendliness and the warmest smiles to lift every soul. Swayambhunath is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal, dating

By Sean Geaney

LIFESTYLE

62 63

© XtravaganT - Fotolia.com #60289712

to the 5th century. Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning travelled here to worship a lotus; he envisioned a settlement and cut a gorge at Chovar.

The water drained from the lake and the Kathmandu valley appeared. The lotus transformed into a hill and its flower bloomed to become the Swayambhunath stupa. The “Monkey Temple” is riddled with just that: monkeys. Then you look up and a marvellous gilded dome is visible. To the North, west, east and South, Buddha’s eyes glare out, balancing and protecting Nepal. Countless pilgrims flock here each year to see what you are gazing upon now.

After a few more days visiting the beautiful

temples of Durbar Square in Kathmandu, the time has come for a new adventure. You catch the bus to Begnas, a little village in the region of Pokhara. After seven hours, perched on the side of mountains and following the Trisuli River, you finally get dropped in the middle of nowhere, with only the hope that the bus you have been promised will pass. If not, at least you have the beautiful scenery to keep you occupied.

The once gloomy sky now clears; you are balancing with all your will on top of the local bus, ten Nepalese by your side. Thankfully, your ride pulled through. Far off in the distance stands snow covered mountains: the Himalayas.

Green grass at your feet as buffaloes roam and goats bounce in and out of every hole they can find along the path. At the top of one hill, about a thousand metres high, you walk through a bamboo gate. As you look out in front of you, you feel like you have reached the place where you should have been all your life. Coming to welcome you- with a smile as wide as the Himalayas- is your new family.

Surya and Saraswati are a couple of farmers that have welcomed travelers into their home for many years. Based on the principle of WWOOFING (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms), they offer you bed and board in exchange of a few hours of your time to help them with the maintenance of their farm. You cut the grass with a knife, clean the rice,

and harvest the corn and coffee. But beyond the work, you hike along the hills and visit the lively towns around you. You chat with your remarkable hosts as well as new friends, learning about their culture and way of life.

There are thiousands upon thousands of plac-es you can travel. However, Nepal possesses a natural richness surrounded by unimaginable old world beauty you have to see to believe. You will feel welcomed and at home as soon as you arrive and, trust me , you’ll consider never leaving.

64 65

After having a gun pointed at her when she was just a child, Layan grew to realize what’s important in life. “What really really matters in life,” Layan confides, “is just to have the people you love around you and to actually live in the present moment with them.” Although Layan lived through many hardships in her youth, she shows no signs of being bitter. In fact, she appears to be just the opposite: unabashedly happy and even grateful. “It toughens you up,” Layan determined, “I wouldn’t have the same perception of the world as I do today.”

Everything changed for the Mahshi family when Layan’s father moved the family to Paris for his job. Layan and her siblings were put in one of the best schools and lived free of the obstacles they had faced in Palestine; obstacles like not being able to go to school or get food and water. “France was the complete opposite of Palestine,” Layan mused.

WHERE IS

HOME?

Photographed by: Alesya Kornetskaya

Styled by: Claudia Sabbagh & Moe Vitiello

Hair: Laurie Deraps

Makeup: Ekaterina Ulyanoff & Marie-Pier Maurice

By RACHEL WOOD

Parisian film producer, Layan Mahshi, shares the heroic tale of redemption that inspired

her latest documentary.

Dress: RALPH LAURENShoes: BCBG

Earrings: COKLUCH

66 67

Dress & Jacket: RINACINAMENTOClutch: CHRISTOPHER KONShoes: ALDOEarrings: & Bracelet: TOSHI

Dress: BEDOShoes: TOPSHOPEarrings & Bracelet: TOSHI

68 69

W hile France pro-vided Layan with many opportuni-ties, she experi-enced racism and bullying. As one of

the few Palestinians in the school, Layan was an outsider. Once again Layan de-termined that it just toughened her up.

Returning to Palestine after living in France, Layan found herself a stranger in her home country. She was judged and bullied, but Layan still found growth. She revealed, “You understand the es-sential of life…how to build sympathy and empathy towards other people,” an ability Layan has clearly mastered. Now in Toronto, Layan flourishes. “I wish for the whole world to be like Toronto,” ex-claimed Layan, “They truly know how to be one.”

Layan’s world turned upside down when her family was exhiled in the summer of 2013. “It was a great shock for my fam-ily and I…They just revoked our IDs,” Layan lamented. Layan and her family were made stateless. Layan refused to give in and accept her exile from Pal-estine. After being told that media coverage could help her family’s case, Layan began to create her documen-tary entitled, “Where is Home?” Layan’s passion for fighting exile extends to a desire to help more families than just her own. Her selflessness and hon-est desire to help others is inspiring. “I really want to take this to a personal

level.” Beyond helping others to under-stand what’s going on in Palestine, Layan seeks to unite her audience as fellow hu-man beings. “I want them to think about what this world really means to them,” Layan announced, “Hopefully they will change the way they see the world. Hopefully they will start loving the peo-ple around them instead of hating them for their differences.” I have to say, if more people in the world start thinking like Layan, it will definitely be a better place.In response to what she would want to tell all the women of the world Layan answered, “Powerful people are try-ing to make us feel guilty for not be-ing the perfect image that they impose on us.” Immediately I felt as though my eyes had been opened. Layan is a per-fect example of how simply being the best version of you can lead to some-thing tremendous. Layan concluded, “Every single person just has to find the power that comes from within them.”

Venducit atemodicab ipis explam, consequ

iatur, tecto voluptatio quasser cipsamus

re pores magnis sequias et quaeped ut et

officim olorrovit voleniet.Officia ventis rae

volupta temqui nullacculpa quam verovit

ulparum quam aped moloris tinus.

Powerful peo-ple are try-

ing to make us feel guilty for not being the perfect image that they im-

pose on us.

Shirt: COKLUCHPants: IMPAIREarrings: TOSHI

FEATURE

70 71

Yasmin Warsame

game

changer

A mother, model and philanthropist, Yasmin Warsame

has traveled the world, worn clothes by internation-

al designers and appeared as a judge on Canada’s Next Top

Model. Her latest project has given her a new title—one

with a little less glamour but a whole lot of importance.

by: Ilona Kauremszky Jewelry: Dean Davidson

Dress: Sid Niegum

Hair: Adriano (Plutino Group)Makeup: Esteban Schmale (Esteban.ca)

72 73

Yasmin is the ambassador for The Af-rican Future, a non-profit organization that provides social assistance in African countries. The Somali-born Canadian supermodel is no stranger to a jet-setting lifestyle, having flown to exotic locations and worked for renowned photographers like Steven Meisel and Mario Testino. However, she admits that her biggest fo-cus now is to help those less fortunate in her home country.

“I really fell in love with the simplicity and the directness of TheAfricanFuture.org,” says Yasmin. “There’s no middle man, no admin fees, whatever we raise goes straight to the projects, to the locals.”

The African Future is currently work-ing with four doctors to develop a men-tal hospital for women in rural Somalia, many of whom suffer from postpartum depression (PPD).

“They don’t understand mental issues and a lot of women are cast away from their families,” explains Yasmin, who came to Canada at the age of fifteen.

Yasmin recently collaborated with Whit-ney Linen, a Canadian design house, this past fall to launch an exclusive five-piece linen wrap collection. Twenty percent of the proceeds will go to the charity.

The scarf line is called Hido, which in East Africa means tradition and culture. This expression is conveyed by the rich reds and browns used in the design of

the scarves, evoking strong images of her homeland. With the same electric ener-gy that surges through her iconic fashion shoots with Gucci and Chanel, Yasmin is using this verve towards her activism projects.

“I would like to link another five [Hido] scarves with schools and children. The idea is they make a piece of art and I have that creation printed on the scarf. The sales would be through The African Fu-ture. We would give all the funds toward the school and the children.”

As a volunteer with The Somali Youth Coalition in Toronto, her philanthropy goes beyond helping youth in her home country. Additionally, The Somali Youth Coalition helps young people who have fallen astray to remain in school and off the street.

“I try to get [the Somali immigrant par-ents and their kids] to open up the com-munication channels so that they can come together and parents can under-stand them and their children a little bit more,” she says. “I had to learn growing up where I fit in. I’m a perfect combina-tion of Somali and Canadian. I think I’m lucky.”

Looking to the future, Yasmin plans to continue her dual career in modeling and humanitarianism. There is no doubt that her ongoing efforts are proving to be an inspiration to women and girls around the world.

Hair: Adriano (Plutino Group)Makeup: Esteban Schmale (Esteban.ca)

MinimalistAsymmetrical dimensions, Minimal Accessories, and Metallic Accents

Photography by: Anthony Turano Styling by: Jean Robert Olivier & Derrick Dixon

Dress: Sid Niegum

Shoes: Aldo

FEATURE

74 75

Dress: Matthew Gallagher

Shoes: aldo

ring & Earrings: dean davidson

shorts & Jacket: stephan caras

necklace: dean davidson

76

Shirt & skirt: brit wacher

Shoes: aldo

bracelet: dean davidson

dress & cape: sid niegum

Shoes: aldo

necklace: dean davidson

78 79

THE

RAW DIET

The mixer masque product is not only ve-gan-friendly, synthetic free, gluten free and free of artificial fragrance, but contains precious clays and botanical extracts that are designed to leave your skin feeling and looking its best.

THE NATURAL SKINCARE MOVEMENT IS THE LATEST TREND TO CAPTIVATE THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY.

If you’re looking for a simple and tradition-al way to help cleanse your skin of make-up and all the day’s impurities, then Ro-cia Naturals’ purifying cleansing cake bar may be your skin’s perfect match.

The circular bar contains a blend of rare glacial marine clay and essential oils that help with the deep-cleaning and detoxifying of the skin.

This 100% natural cleanser by Rocia Naturals is great at removing makeup at the end of the day. It’s gentle on the skin and leaves your face feeling clean, healthy, and refreshed.

Balance Cleanser

Mixer Masque

Purifying Cleansing CakeRocia Naturals

Rocia Naturals

Rocia Naturals

For all skin types

For oily/ acneic skin

For all skin types

80 81

Photography by: Thierry quenette Styling by: CLARA PREVOST-LAPOINTE

Model: tARA STRUNGA Makeup: TAMSEN RAE

Hair: DOBRINKA KUYUMDZHIEVA (SALON KAAZ)

EXTINCTIONCosmetics by ROCIA NATURALS

Vierge Publications 2015