Fashion Hags

Big news! We are still alive and still love you and fashion and podcasts. In other news, French President Emmanuel Macron has requested that the fashion industry get its shit together in terms of sustainability and other "initiatives." So Mr. Salma Hayek himself, Francois-Henri Pinault (of fashion conglomerate Kering) has spearheaded a "Sustainability Pact"  for members of large fashion companies like H&M, Chanel, Prada, etc to present to members of the G7. So wtf does that mean? To us, a whole lot of not much yet. Want to hear us get into it as well as a bunch of other highly important topics (ie: summer, moths), get on it!

Do you ever think about the impact our clothes-buying has on the world? On our culture? On each other? Maybe not. But our guest Jess Montgomery sure has. And lucky for us (and you!) she took some time to come over to the hot hot basement and chat with us about these impacts, how to train yourself to buy things differently, and her project Think The World Differently. It turns out she’s not just super knowledgable and passionate, she’s also an absolute delight to talk to. Give it a listen, you’ll see.

Ever been to a store to buy a thing and all they had at the store was just things to buy? Just go in, get it, and leave? Well that kind of transaction isn't enough for some brands, especially big ones, who want you to have a whole experience while at the store — maybe get a beer and draw a picture, see a DJ do a set, skate on a skateboard. In this episode, we chit chat about the new retail trend of experiential stores. Is it a coincidence that they are coming along at a time when traditional retail is dying and online shopping is easier and more popular than ever? We think not.

Lots to cover this week, Hags! We can’t not talk about the Met gala and all the hits and misses (there were a few) but the real deal is a kiki about line reviews. A line review is basically an internal show for buyers and other members of the production team by the designers for a specific season. Have no idea what any of that means? Better listen in and learn all about it.

It's just about time for the annual MET Gala and we are ready to dish. This year's theme is Camp: Notes on Fashion, based on Susan Sontag's 1964 essay Notes on Camp. It is such a fun theme that is almost impossible to get wrong, although we are pretty sure there will be people that will, which is one of the reasons we are excited to see it all unfold. Plus, we swoon over Beyonce's Homecoming and the usual nonsense. Put on a pink feathered gown and come join!

It's always fun to look back at school and talk about the good times, the bad times, the stress, the rewards, the blood, sweat, and tears, and how we could all do so much better now with the gift of hindsight.

We are thrilled to have academic researcher, blogger, author, networker, lecturer and generally delightful lady Kat Sark join us on this episode! She walks us through fashion networking, the wide world of academia and where fashion fits into it, her city-based fashion history books, impacts of colonialism on fashion and culture, and also starts up a few good giggles. Get ready for some great stories, stuff you never knew before, big words that sound impressive, and of course, obsessions.

Karl Lagerfeld is a name even non-fashion-y people can recognize, and now that he's gone what will fashion look like? His contributions to fashion are unmatched but there are definitely things we are not going to miss. Listen to the tea spilling'!

REBEL REBEL! Fashion has always been a rebellious act, from those who create it, to those who refuse to embrace it, to those who actively reject it. Rebels continually push things forward to new limits and new directions by updating the status quo, but rebellion doesn’t have to be as obvious as wearing a torn jean jacket with safety pins and a mile high mohawk, even though that’s pretty fun. It can be as subtle as buying clothes from a small business run by POC, and, obviously, everything in between. Let’s take a big ol’ dive into it, shall we? Get those fists in the air, Hags! Or not, it’s up to you

Have you ever been seduced by a weird Instagram ad? Or a product some random "Influencer" posted about? The answer is probably yes! But why tho? We dig in and talk about how Instagram is dominating how consumers are shopping these days.

We delve into the aesthetics of "ethical" fashion brands and how they make shapeless sacks and then charge $400 for them. We also highlight the underlying (and often subconscious) ways that racism can permeate how these brands market themselves. FUN TIMES!

Well it's done and gone and over, good riddance, 2018. In this episode, we are taking a look back at the highlights and lowlights of the year, fashion-wise, plus some great obsessions and general tangents. You guys, 2018 is gone forever.

 This episode has been a long time coming. Way back in March (or April? who's counting), Katie met Jenny Amber of Oenone Perfume (pronounced ee-no-nee) and they instantly connected over fragrances, fashion, podcasting, and general good times. Ever since, they have tried to connect to chat with the rest of the Hags about the mystery that is perfume making. Finally, here we are, with the Hags all in tow, and what an absolute delight this episode is. Who knew perfume making was so magical, alchemical, existential, physical, and emotional? Jenny did, as it turns out.

In this week's episode, we are getting down to the real deal of the state of things in the fashion world and should we even care about it. Have things lost their way from the top down? Is anything even fashion anymore? Using Eugene Rabkin's Business of Fashion August 2018 Op-Ed, Whatever: How Fashion Lost Its Meaning as a jumping off point, we are taking a dive into the complicated question of Fashion versus Style in this weird moment of uncertainty - is it really just, whatever as Rabkin suggests? We are going to cover all the bases, talk about all the things, throw all the shade, eat all the Wunderbars. Come on in, Hags!

A little debrief of Evan's recent show HIREATH. We ask about his process, inspirations and motivations for his most recent collection. And of course, Evan makes it all about wigs and witchcraft.

YOU GUYS WE ARE BACK IT'S BEEN SO LONG! Our hiatus is over, Abby is in her new house, we are back on track in the new studio. Thank-you for your patience! Now get ready for an all-obsessions-all-the-time Hag-iversary episode. Buckle up, Hags, we are not holding back.

It is hard to ignore all the craziness going on in the world these days and reading the news can be a triggering and harrowing experience for many. So let’s talk about it, but make it fashion! In this episode, we are spilling some tea on who wore what for what, good or bad (looking at you Melania), and how politics and fashion are so connected. How do people use fashion to their advantage? How do they fuck it up? (Again, Melania…) And what difference does it make? We’ll guide you through a rambling assembly of tirades and do our best to figure it out.

We are so excited to finally have body positivity activist and badass lady Victoria Welsby of Bam Pow Life on super sexy episode 69! Victoria is here to chat about the extreme prevalence of fat shaming, body positivity, social media, clothes for fat girls and a whole bunch of other good stuff, including her brand new book (out Sept 10) called Fierce Fatty. Get it here and get on it!

We get down to brass tacks (and scissors) about our favourite sewing tools this week so get ready for sone intense ruler, stitch ripper and scissor talk, hunnies!

Did you know we have far-reaching correspondents in all areas of the world? Well it's true so don't bother looking it up. One of our favourite contacts around the world is the fashionable and hilarious Sheila Campbell, aka Aunt Sheila, a Canadian transplant in Sweden (and Abby's actual aunt). You may know her from her lovely instagram @shelouise or you may know her from other various podcasts or you may not know her at all. Until now. Buckle up, hunnies, we are taking a trip to Sheila's Europe!

Get the tea on our beloved Evan's spectacular debut at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, his smashing success and how he got a lot of REALLY good press (*COUGH* VOGUE *COUGH*)

We invited an old deign school friend, Madison Reid from Only Child Apparel to talk about the rise of feminism in fashion. Is it just a marketing ploy or sign of a real movement?

Well well well, it's report card season and we are checking in to see how well we've been doing at not being a dumb doofus when shopping for clothes. If you haven't already listened to our Episode 12: How Not To Be A Dumb Doofus When Shopping For Clothes, go ahead and give it a listen (or stream it directly here) or don't, it's up to you, just live your Hag life, hunny. We wanted to see if we passed or failed (we did a bit of both) at being better buyers so listen up and see how we did. How did YOU do? Are you a dumb doofus? (It's basically impossible not to be so ...)

The final in our trilogy of episodes where we try and predict the future of fashion. This week we talk about the garments and the technologies that we will all be using sooner than you think. In fact, we're already using them now! Whaaaaaat?!

Here's what's up. It's Dad time. Our first and biggest fan, Katie's Dad, Chris Garnham has joined us for an episode to talk about shopping for denim, the history of denim from a guy who just wants cardboard pants again, and of course, the major motor vehicle accident. It's almost too much to handle but we're pretty sure you can do it. Come on it, Hags! It's tea time.

This week, the Hags are looking at the shopping floor, digital and otherwise, and what is in store for this massive section of the fashion world. Get ready for some highly informed, very specific, irrefutable facts, and wild predictions from three people who sort of know what they are talking about and aren't afraid to go on and on about it.

Cast your gaze into the crystal ball and see into the future of fashion! OOoooOOO! Or just, listen to this podcast episode instead or whatever. The Hags are talking about what the future of the fashion world looks like (or what it hopefully will look like) when it comes to actually making clothes by dreaming up all the solutions to all the problems. Plus the usual nonsense.

We were ambitious with this episode trying to tackle a "quick" red carpet review and then the "real" topic, but who were we kidding. We just talk about gowns for the entire time.

The Hags are so lucky this week to have Vancouver photographer Lauren Zbarsky in the basement to chit chat about photography, inspiration, fashion, lighting, getting your best angles, and of course, eggs.

Like all businesses and industries, shipping is a huge part of the world of fashion. And guess what, it's not just about getting those Gap tees and khaki's on super sale in time for your swing dance competition next week. In this week's episode, the Hags dish about the woes of the world of shipping and how we actually can't survive without it. Curses!

Are Vogue's print days over? Monthly fashion magazines were a direct line from the insiders of the fashion industry to the public but how can they survive in today's fast paced media landscape? And we somehow manage to fit in multiple Simpsons references.

Special guest Erin Gibbs, a local designer with Danica Studios as well as an artist in her own right, joins the Hags this week to talk about illustration, textiles, an amazing trip to India, and some really great nonsense.

So it turns out counterfeit goods are more than just a crappy knockoff of luxury goods. They are a massively profitable trillion dollar industry that funds terrorists, organized crime, human traffickers, and criminals of all kinds! Jump in for a highly depressing look at what is actually going on here. And please, if you see a guy down an alley selling that cute Chanel bag for $49, DON'T BUY IT.

What's the deal with Black Friday anyway? In this episode, the Hags dig into the whole gong show that is holiday shopping and everyone's favourite day to either completely avoid or completely dive in: Black Friday.

Episode 52 marks the Hag’s two year anniversary! To celebrate, we decided to have a trivia episode to make sure we still know what we are talking about (we do mostly!) so get out your coil notebooks for a pop quiz, Hag style.

In this episode, the Hags get into what exactly licensing means when it comes to fashion. Hint: it's how big companies make the most money by selling stuff other people make! Fun, right? Plus, Obsessions and all the other fun stuff. Get on it!

Fashion and art have long been connected and it's hard to say exactly which came first. Sort of a chicken/egg situation. We decided to crack some eggs and fry some chicken with artist and friend of the podcast Doug Watt to see how far to the bottom we could get on this.

Ever heard of Audrey Hepburn? Or Hubert de Givenchy? Well those two legends are one of the most famous examples of fashion designer and muse and in this episode the Hags kiki through a few examples you might know and you might not.

The Hags are expanding their empire with a fascinating Skype interview with Liz Vastola, costume designer for Jessica Jones, Landline and The Purge: Election Year. Katie talks to her about her favorite tools for the job and her love for 90s fashion.

A listener-suggested topic about fashion school. Was it worth it? Was the transition from student life to work life difficult? Have we wasted our lives?

All you book nerds out there, this episode is all yours. The Hags chit chat about their must-read and must-flip-through-every-page fashion books that do more than just make you look fancy when your pals come over for crackers and cheese (I mean charcuterie).

It is always so great to chat about something we've been excited about for a long time but had to keep under wraps. In this episode, the Hags finally get to spill on Evan's latest (and best, we think) show called "Atavism" at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. You guys! The best!

Listener and Hag Extraordinaire Gabrielle Trach joins us to talk about her Master of Fashion thesis where she got to talk to older ladies about their wardrobes. And of course, a bunch of nonsense in between the interesting bits.

A fascinating conversation with activist and founder of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. She tells us about her time as a model and how she has turned that into community outreach and giving indigenous designers and artisans a platform for recognition. 

The we get to pick the brain of Olivia Hayward who recently got to go to Asia to visit fabric manufacturing companies. It might sound boring, but we make it fun, don't you worry about that.

After months of failures, the Hags finally succeeded in getting our guest Lyndi Barrett of StyleCalling.com into the basement for a hot chat. Turns out all it took was for our schedules to work out! And don’t get too bothered, it was only hot temperature-wise: Lyndi is very cool. And she knows all the best fashion words. Let’s get into it, mmk?

This episode is all about sewing and the love/hate relationship we have with it (and we suspect all sewers have as well).

Guess what?! We are so excited to finally have friend of the podcast and fellow podcaster Alicia Tobin to chit chat about the retail experience among many other things.

One of the most glamorous, stupendous and ridiculous nights in the entire fashion industry is almost upon us - the MET GALA. The First Monday in May is when the high and mighty fashion influencers come out in all their finery and sashay up a giant stairway to get the picture taken (and to raise some $ for the Met Museum, but that's secondary). Got $25,000? Maybe you can go too.

T-shirts. How do they get from soft little cotton balls to your body? This episode we looking into all the steps, machines, transportation and hands that make that happen. It might just be more complicated than you think!  

VERY EXCITING NEWS, HAGS! We officially have a Fashion Hags T-shirt! It is a limited edition tee that is available RIGHT NOW at The Hag Shop (thehagshop.tictail.com). There are 50 available until April 28 at 4:00pm PST at which point they will be ordered, straight up, just for you. Get on it!