All studio visitors must report to the office!

The lovely Steph, who is off learning the art of motherhood, came for her first studio visit with baby Oliver! We have been waiting patiently for them to make the trip, and now we have all had our baby holding fix. Thanks you two! Steph did a little shopping, we are all happy. We've missed you Steph.

Studio Update: Sustainable Plant Fibres

Photo by emrank

Hama Hama Top by Smoking Lily

Here at the Smoking Lily headquarters, we have been hearing the buzz from our customers that sustainability and ethics in the clothing they choose to purchase is equally as important as design and aesthetic.

Our creations are cut, sewn, and silk-screened in-house, right in our hometown of Victoria, BC. We are very consious of sourcing our fabrics and supplies locally, within BC, or within Canada (in that order!) whenever possible; "shop local" applies to us, too, and is always at the forefront of our minds. With more suppliers and mills offering eco-friendly fibres, more and more green choices are becoming available.

Recently, some of our favorite fabrics to use are hemp, organic cotton, and bamboo. Hemp is sustainable in that it is fast growing and requires very few pesticides and no fertilizers. Organic cotton comes from non-genetically modified plants, grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, so there is no contaminated surface run-off, and, post-harvest, yields thicker topsoil with higher organic matter content, thereby considerably reducing soil erosion.

Bamboo is one of the most prolific and fast growing plants: it can grow up to one meter per day!! It regenerates on its own quickly after harvest, requires little irrigation, and no pesticides or herbicides (partly due to its naturally occurring anti-microbial and anti-fungal qualities). It improves soil quality, minimizes CO2, and generates up to 35% more oxygen than an equivalent planting of trees. Because bamboo fibres are short, however, they do require processing similar to rayon to be turned into fabric. This process does involve chemicals, but the market is starting to demand cleaner practices, and a handful of companies have led the way into the future by switching to a closed-loop process which captures and reclaims nearly 100% the solvents used; it is only a matter of time before other factories adopt this model, or are left behind.

Some of our current creations that include these sustainable fabrics are: Hama Hama Top, English Bay Dress, Garden State Dress, Suzuki Garden State, Suzuki scarves, Men's Suzuki Shirts, and some of our Onezies and Baby Hats.

Stay tuned for many more of the eco-friendly pieces we are working on for Fall!

More Spotlight!

It's been a few years since we made a fuller skirt, so we decided it was time. The Cypress Skirt is a linen/cotton blend, all-over printed, with a wide fitted waist band and pleated skirt. Nicole and Jo-Anne are modeling our current prints: pistachio with teeth and leaves print, and teal with tea flower and bees. It is widely rumored that there is a brilliant fuschia color on the verge of surfacing next! $128.
We also have a new shirt, the Ribbon Tee. Cute, simple cotton lycra jersey tee, completely reversible with ribbon tie rouching on one shoulder. Currently available in florescent seafoam green, black and navy. $42.

Studio Update: Sneak Peek

I'm going to let you in on a secret...are you ready?? We're working on a potential second Wanderluxe replacement! (If you are wondering about the first replacement, the brand new "Mount Pleasant" has just been added to the website, with more colors to come soon).

Now, nothing is anywhere near finalized at this point, so the finished product could be entirely different, but at present this fleece creation has a cuffed half sleeve, and a very versatile 3 button collar that makes you want to spend hours in front of the mirror, buttoning, unbuttoning, figuring out your own favorite way to wear it.

Here's a photo of the current sample:

Stay tuned to see what the finished product turns out to be!

Spotlight: Smittens

Well, December crept up very, very quickly this year. I've been a busy little elf, and after sewing all day at the studio I have been going home everyday (well... almost everyday... okay SOME days, let's be honest) and cutting and sewing loads of Smittens for my own label, Skeptic.

There are awesome new colors this year: fuschia, brown, moss green, black, peacock blue and denim. I've also tried out a new applique, a sweet little bird who gets along real well with the other embellishments, especially the squirrel; I imagine they are great friends. There are many different combinations available, so ask about current stock. They are made of a cozy boiled wool and are fitted, but still stretch nicely.

Now, these Smittens are limited--I will be making a few more short runs, but time (and fabric) is running out, so get 'em while you can.

Studio Update: New Nightie

A month ago, we wrote a blog asking YOU what awesome Christmas item you would love to see in the stores this year. And here it is.... it's a .... Nightie!

Made of 100% cotton, this light and soft little number has an empire waist, with an adjustable velvet ribbon drawstring in multiple colors. The somewhat plunging neck has a sweet lace detail, which provides enough coverage to be comfortable. Currently available in a winter white tone on tone with delicate leaf print, $78.

Lily Home: Blanket in the works

When I came into the studio this morning, I noticed something that wasn't here the night before. I guess Trish has been keeping busy, (or maybe procrastinating about paperwork) and started sewing together some cotton fabric remnants to make a blanket. Looks good so far!!

Lily Inspiration: The Wilderness Downtown

One of my friends posted this as "easily one of the coolest website I've seen all year!" I agree.

Go to the link, type in your childhood home address and watch your own personal music video for one of Arcade Fire's new songs "We Used to Wait."

http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/

Studio Update: Donkadonka Coat

Well I guess fall is almost here, and we have been sewwww busy making new things for the stores. Here is a new exciting addition to our fall line up, the Donkadonka Coat. Made of a boiled wool blend, this 4 buttoned, pocketed jacket has a pretty printed undercollar, cuff and facing. It can be worn so many different ways! They are fresh off the sewing tables, still warm with the love from its maker. In stores today (or tomorrow in Vancouver).

Lily inspiration: Dogs

For the past few weeks, I have been walking SPCA dogs with my husband Ben. Ben has always wanted a dog, and because we couldn't get one in our small apartment, he decided to start volunteering at the SPCA. He talked about it so much that I decided to start tagging along a few weeks ago and I love it! The dogs are so excited to see you, and you can walk a different one every week. Here are some of my favorites!

My favourite is Loki, a pitbull mix who is super friendly and sooo cute!


Tawny is a really friendly pitbull, maybe lab cross, and she was still waiting for a new home earlier this week!!

This is Ben with Lenny, a husky mix, who had lots of energy and excitement, and a beautiful coat of hair. He's was still at the SPCA earlier this week too!


If you want to volunteer, donate or help, please go to www.spca.bc.ca for more info.
Also, if you were wondering, all 43 of the chihuahuas have already found new homes.

In the spirit of dogs, here are some running greyhounds one of our freshly made duvet sets available in the Vancouver shop.

Lily Home: Apron in the works...

In the midst of her ironing, Liz decided to try on the new apron we're working on for fall. It's a linen cotton blend, printed in navy all-over flies, trimmed in a geometric print japanese cotton. The waist tie is obi-inspired and adds to the feminine shape. 

This apron is sadly not available just yet, but it should be in stores by fall!

Lily Cuteness

Here is a quick addition to yesterday's blog, this super-smiley girl is Willa. Her mom says she dresses her in her Tiny Dancer when she wants to impress other moms. We love it!

Lily of the ages: Bon Voyage!

Here is another beautiful vintage Lily piece, the Bon Voyage Dress, circa 2007.

Made of a vintage looking dotted navy cotton, with a striped band detail at the hem, this dress is light to wear and great for a hot summer day. Top that off with cute cap sleeves and a sleek crossover neckline, and you've got a great dress for the summer nights as well. Nicole has paired it with her sweet red peep toes and one of our new leather Cameo belts.

Spotlight: Prometheus Pants

The past couple weeks I have been endlessly sewing pants trying to 

keep them in the stores. Good thing I like to sew!

 

They are made of a stretchy linen blend and are available in black or olive. They have a comfy lined waistband (printed on the inside), great slash pockets and an awesome exposed antique brass zipper at the side. Here is Rachael smiling in her new pants and Calamity Jane top.

The littlest seahorse

Last night I saw the cutest picture in the world! And even better I am sharing it with all of you!! This is my niece Georgie in her adorable seahorse onsie. Just when I thought she couldn't get any sweeter...

Steph gets Married

Steph's Dad Ray, and her Mom Deb walking Steph up the "aisle"

We are proud to announce that a little while ago, on June 27th 2009 Steph (one of our Lily designers as well as seamstress) married the love of her life, Ben. We are so happy for them, it's nice to see a reunion of such a perfect couple. Ben and Steph have known each other since they were teenagers, and (as Steph has admitted) she always knew he was the one. They got married in Beacon Hill Park, here in gorgeous Victoria. Steph wore a breathtaking white silk duppioni dress (hand made by her of course) and Ben and all his groomsmen were decked out in plaid ties (made by you guess who.) Everything was wonderfully romantic (with nice touches that still let us know it was infact Steph getting married), with the trees and the flowers as a backdrop and a bagpiper to lead them to and fro the "alter" (urns of flowers). Afterwards we had a tasty dinner in the backyard of Steph's parent's in law, good company, whitty speeches, a few drinks....and dancing of course! It was a marvelous wedding, and they will be contiuing the fairytale romance in a few weeks on their trip to India, bits of Asia and other equally jealousy worthy places. We wish all the best to Ben and Steph for their future of married couple-dom! We love you Steph!
P.S. Awesome job on the napkins. I felt bad wiping my mouth.

"You may now kiss the bride!" Sorry, we didn't have a shot of Ben's face.
Kissing is more interesting anyway.

Nicole, Trish, Steph and Rachael at the Reception

The Offical G.S. Tote

So we have officially started production for our upcoming Garage Sale! Everyone at the studio has taken on a project; from printing tee's, sewing skirts, or designing new accessories, we're all very busy!
This year, Steph has designed an amazing G.S. Tote. Made from hot pink vinyl and lined with anatomical hearts, this bag is the perfect tote for your G.S. finds or just to carry about town. The best thing about this new bag? The "skull and scissors". Steph you rock!