INSPIRED BY….

We get a sneak peek at Ashley Rowe’s Spring 2011 collection.

What inspires a designer most? Anything from art, music, models, television or an era in history could act as a muse to fashion designers. And after chatting with the Toronto-based Ashley Rowe in her Queen West studio recently, we couldn’t get over how much fun the young designer seems to be having. First came her Fall 2010 splatter collection, which caused quite a frenzy, where she splattered t-shirts, jackets, dresses and more and individually baked them to ensure the paint adhered to the fabric. Now, with her upcoming Spring 2011 collection, she’s added her own, artful spin to tye-die. So what influenced such an act of sartorial whimsy? “I saw this painting by Thrush Holmes,” said Rowe. “It’s called ‘Hippie.’ He uses these really beautiful pastel colours, and it really inspired me. I’ve done colour in the past, but I’ve never done a full collection of colour before.”

Other items on the list?

Music: “This collection I heard about this DJ, Wait What, from San Francisco—look up remix XX plus NOTORIOUS. When I listen to it I can really work and focus. I’ve never had that kind of focus in my whole life. And everyone is getting really annoyed because I have it here, in my car, my iPod.”

Film: “The Runaways—I loves the clothes and the music. I really have to get into the ’70s!”

Fashion: “I’m really looking at Chloé right now and what Hannah MacGibbon’s doing. She’s revitalized that brand. She’s very, I believe, minimalist, but with a romantic, beautiful feel. And she’s been in the industry a long time, but this is the first time she’s designing really on her own and I think she’s just rocking it.”

Family: “As cheesy as it is, my dad. I wouldn’t be doing this without him. He said ‘you’re young, make your mistakes now. Do what you want now, before you have a mortgage family, kids, and a whole life of responsibility on your head.’ ”

Friends: “When I worked at Holts I worked for Micheline Burg in the Dolce & Gabbana department there, she was a huge influence. And I see her all the time. She was at our bbq last weekend, She was a huge mentor, always encouraging and telling me how well I’m doing, and she taught me a lot about designers, like I didn’t know about selling and how to sell, and she was the top sales person there, so, I’m glad I had that sales background, because you realize design isn’t about designing, 10% is about design, and 90% is about a million other things, the little things, its about the business, promoting, selling, PR, accounting, marketing, being a secretary, so many things to name I do wish I had more time to spend creating.”

Of Note: Ashley Rowe will be the only Canadian label available at new Yorkville boutique called RAC.