The new mentors talk about change.

To do good things so that good things happen.  To be a better person.  To have an impact on the world. To leave a friendlier footprint for the future.  To forge a future where there is possibility, inspiration and invention. These are words that song writers sing, that poets dream and make the kind hearted weep. These the are words of a new generation of leaders who are at the gates of their time, ready to forge a path not yet broken. 


This generation of singers, songwriters, students, poets and artists are teaching us a new language of responsibility and expressing it with remarkable fluency.  They are the sons and daughters whose parents coveted the board table and supported creators of profitablity.  Many of them have experienced the benefits of economic freedom and prosperity.  They have the confidence to dream and envision, they are compassionate, and they are not afraid of the edge of the ledge.  


Somewhere along this journey of one-size-fits-all educational philosophies, latchkey kids, corporate efficiency initiatives and working parents, a value shift has occurred in the undercurrent of this generation. But the value shift is rising as they prepare to take their place in the world.  These visionaries are not schooled in board room practice, but they understand the elements of business - strategy, risk management  and communication - at the core. 


 Their connection to the environment allows them to see the impact on the environment when we abuse our resources.  Their compassion allows them to recognize the plight of the forgotten and the un-free if we do not change. They fearlessly act, calling out to the mainstream and challenging us to rethink a better future. 

In our little province under the sun, I recently met the young woman who started Fin Free Regina. She is a wildly creative person who has the depth to care, and the courage to dive in and help the ocean from dry land.

A fashion show - Glide: A runway event four our oceans  - will be held in Regina on February 23. Eco - fashion designers from  Seed Sustainable Style and Regina born, Vancouver based designer, Sara Armstrong will be represented. Proceeds will be put toward Shark Fin, an organization that is speaking out against shark finning, a process whereby the fin is harvested on site and the rest of the fish is thrown back into the sea to die. 

Photo taken from Shark Fin's Website

We are on the ledge of a collective value quake that shakes us to the core of how we define ourselves and the future.This inspires me to think about this ledge of our own making and choices that need to be made with the rest of time. The challenge is how to help make this quest for sustainability sustainable and to determine how to make it mainstream so that it can become the way we will be.

An old soul resurrected.

She is an old soul, with a passion for making art with history and integrity and she is going to be famous.

After completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Regina in May 2010, Sara Armstrong moved to Vancouver to study fashion design at Blanche Macdonald. One year later, her design is featured on the cover of Blanche Macdonald's fashion design graduate show, entitled "Colour Couture."

She took with her 21 years of artistic experience that included dance, painting, sculpting, video and multi-media creations. To Sara it seemed, the medium did not matter, so much as the message.

I like to think of Sara as the Marshall McLuhan of her time.

Whatever the medium, her creations tend to be arresting and soulful with a statement. For example, the 8 - foot headless mannequin dressed in depression black skirting and a metal chest plate that stood out in a field was a haunting yet respectful statement about how the great depression affects the psyche of women today.  Reaching out to her deceased grandparents whom she never knew, Sara created a turn of the century communication machine to send a message to them. 

She is talented. No doubt.  But having talent is only part of the patchwork of success.  One needs to have a head for business and marketing, be focused and determined, and be prepared for work.  Since moving to Vancouver in July 2010, Sara attended school, worked a part-time job to supplement her income, and interned for  Shelley Klassen, a Vancouver designer and owner of Blushing Boutique, who continues to teach her about the business side of the fashion business.

In between school, work and interning, Sara also volunteered to work fashion shows to gain behind-the-scenes experience. She took classes to learn how to felt wool and how to make shoes.  Sara, along with friend  Kelly Cairns, started Motel June,  an eco - fashion clothing line. 

Sara's new line that will be featured at the show carries the eco-fashion message as well, with each piece of fabric being created by Armstrong herself or resurrected from another previously loved and lived garment, right down to the shoes.

Every year, Blanche Macdonald provides the springboard for a new generation of talented designers to begin their journey into the wide world of fashion.  The School is the launch pad for many successful careers in the fashion industry including Shannon Wilson, owner and designer of lululemon athletica, Tenille Magnusson, head designer of Aritzia's and Canada’s favourite line, Wilfred, and Lisa Malcic whose Beba Bean line boasts A-list celebrity clients and is sold in top retailers including Barneys New York and Nordstroms.

On November 23, a new generation of designers, including Sara,  will launch their careers and their visions.  I will be there in the front row with a camera.

A Glimpse at the Future