Adhesif Clothing Company
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I recently sat down with the talented designer and owner of Adhesif Clothing Company.
Located right at 2202 Main Street, the store is a magical jewelry box of hand made, eco-friendly, fashion items. Including the namesake clothing line, Adhesif.
I first got introduced to Adhesif at Eco Fashion Week, the collection that was show cased there really impressed me. I have been wanting to sit down and chat with Melissa ever since.
After a quick once over of the store, we started chatting.
Posing in Vintage: What does Adhesif mean to you?
Melissa Ferreira: Fashion is the Adhesif to my changing moods and daily self expression. Like putting on and taking off a daily persona.
PV: How long have you been in business?
MF: I have had Adhesive Clothing since 2003 and the shop is turning 5 this year.
PV: How did you get started?
MF: I started out as a vintage buyer for several local company over a span of 8 years. From that, basically there was a lot of discarded vintage that was still great. So I started taking some of that home and started giving those pieces a modern redesign. So the concept just started from that. However, now we are not so much refurbishing designs, instead we are making pieces using vintage fabric.
PV: That's great to hear, do you have a fashion design background?
MF: No I am self taught. My mom is a seamstress and I used to hang out with her at her factories and that was sort of a second home for me. I would help the designer sort buttons and sit with them so fashion design has always been a part of my life.
PV: Where do you get the inspiration for your pieces?
MF: Mostly from the street, for me it's not about what you are wearing, but how you wear it. So whenever I see someone put together something in an interesting way, I take note. So definitely, some of my inspiration comes from street style. Aside from that, vintage clothing, items from the 50's and 60's, also 20's and 30's, the design and craftsmanship is amazing. I wish items are still make that way today, the attention to detail, thought process and intricate construction is endlessly inspiring.
PV: What's your favourite era?
MF: Oh it's hard to say. I kind of bounce back between the 20's and 60's. And I feel like they are closely related in a lot of ways, the freedom of expression and women's liberation. Both are quite wild and expressive decades, I would say they are on par.
PV: How many designers help create the Adhesif line?
MF: I am the main designer and I have 2 assistant designers that help with pattern drafting and cutting. I recently just hired another part time employee to help with production and running the day to day of the shop.
PV: And everything is locally made?
MF: Yes, everything, I have a team of sewers that help put everything together as well. Everything is hand made too.
PV: What are some more popular pieces?
MF: Every spring/summer and fall/winter season we do a new collection that consists of 8 to 12 new designs every 6 months. From those collections, there are always 1 or 2 that becomes our best selling items that we continually make. Right now for summer we have the Twisler Dress which has been a popular design for over a few years now. So it's got a 20's shift look with a reversible obi belt and exposed shoulders. It's super easy to wear and super elegant. That's one, and our multi coloured, up town vests is another.
PV: Are most of the designers in your store Canadian? Do you see yourself incorporating more international artists?
MF: All artists are Canadian and right now that is my primary focus. Right now the shop is trying to promote a sustainable mind frame. And anything local and handmade is as close to sustainable as you can. Not to say that there aren't amazing global designers I love. But right now I am focused on promoting the local scene, there are a lot of amazing local talent, so why not. Everything is handmade and we stock items from over 40 artists. Mostly from Vancouver and some from Montreal.
PV: Do you have any advice to budding designers?
MF: The main thing is dedication. Sacrifices need to be made and focus on what you want to do and dedicate your whole self to it. Find your own voice, something special, don't be so concerned with what's on trend and what others may be doing, find your own style and hone in on it and make it your own.
PV: Finally, where do you see Adhesif going?
MF: It seem to be that I am tapping more and more into the European market. I do go to Germany every December and I have gone for the past 4 years now. We are doing all of our Fall/Winter photoshoots there now and making a lot more connections with the people in the fashion scene there. My goal is to get into Berlin Eco Fashion Week. I definitely want to focus in more on the people of Europe. I feel there is a general understanding of my brand over there. There is a big eco fashion scene over there, it would be a pretty cool place to be and focus for the future.
Good thing we don't have to travel far to get our hands on some of these amazing pieces as Adhesif is fresh home grown talent.
Adhesif Clothing
2202 Main Street
Vancouver, BC
Phone 604.568.4905
Email [email protected]
Hours~
Tues-Sat 11-7
Sun 12-5
Monday Closed
Web www.adhesifclothing.com
Blog adhesifclothing.blogspot.ca
Twitter @adhesifclothing
Facebook adhesifclothing
Instagram adhesifclothing
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