I made a trip to Toronto over the holidays and had the pleasure of meeting Rose while there. My friend Joel introduced us and once I found out about all the projects Rose had on the go I knew I had to profile her on Third Looks. I was struck immediately by her outgoing and positive energy but even more impressed by her accomplishments. She c0-owns a vintage shop called Bridge and Bardot and runs a studio where her and a small group of friends work together on their art.
How did your personal style develop into what it is today? Do you have a style philosophy you subscribe to?
I don’t really know anything about the fashion world. I like clothes a lot. I’m really cheap and have always had to be creative by vintage shopping. Most of my clothes are under $10 and all of them have been altered. I get bored of my clothes and cut them, stud them, dye them, and make them new again. Like every girl, I’m a sucker for a cheap H&M item every so often, but I make sure to re-style it by pairing it with vintage. I also love sweatpants. A LOT.
Explain the concept behind Bridge and Bardot and how it got off the ground.
B+B began with 2 years of pop up sales out of our storefront studio. Sisters, Gurjeet & Gagan Bassi and I transformed used clothing by up-cycling it and presenting it in a fresh new way. With promotional photoshoots and weekend long pop up parties, we got a reputation for having one-of-a-kind affordable clothing, and our cliental eventually pushed us to get a permanent location. Our boutique has been open for 6 months now. We pair local handmade accessories with our vintage pieces, in a one-stop-shop.
Where did your love of vintage clothing come from?
I’ve always been a Goodwill hunter, it’s such an exciting way to shop. It’s also a more sustainable and responsible way to shop. It also allows you to get creative and see the potential in a $3 shirt. My mom is an amazing seamstress and I was influenced by her growing up – always altering my clothing. The incredible fabric and quality of vintage clothing is incomparable!
More after the jump
Between running the shop, perusing creative projects and running an art collective studio how do manage to fit it all into your life?
It is pretty full on! I make sure to take time with my family – especially my niece & nephew. Children put everything into perspective and allow you to slow down time.
What is exciting about the downtown scene in Toronto currently? How would you like to see the city develop in the future?
Like many metropolises right now, Toronto has a mass wave of “shop local”. I know where my coffee was made. Who my necklace was made by. Which chef is making my dinner. It’s pretty amazing to watch people move away from “big box” and into handmade craft.
I would love to see Toronto push it’s art scene, as we haven’t hit the map so much with that yet. We do have amazing galleries popping up, which is exciting!
What lessons can you share with our audience about starting your own business and following your dreams?
It’s not glamourous. Being an entrepuener is 10x harder than you think, but 100x more worth it in the end. You will mess up and make many mistakes, but you will learn from these and be better for it! There is NO rule book and it’s hard to carve your own path, but if you do it honestly and with a good heart it’ll work out! Wow, that sounded so cheesy… but for real!
If you’re in Toronto drop by her shop Bridge and Bardot at 1138 Dundas Street West.
Photos by Joel Lee. You can more photos on his site 35Combos.
