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THE INSEAM VOL. 21: STANDING ARMED

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Tiffany May

According to Lindsay Walsh, clothing has the power to change one’s character. It is fitting then, that she chose to name her collection Standing Armed. Although it has only been in business for a year and a half, the label has made waves in the local fashion scene for its classic, easy and feminine appeal.

I meet Lindsay in her charming Gastown studio, where we chat about her beginnings, her travels and her latest collection.

Valerie Tiu: Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Lindsay Walsh: I’m originally from Vancouver, but I went to design school in Toronto. I graduated from Ryerson in 2005 and when I finished school, I was a little burnt out and needed time apart from the fashion business. So I moved to England and I lived there for a while. It was great because I could travel and it was a really good base to explore Europe. I moved back to Vancouver in 2007, and started working with Lululemon. I loved that; it’s such a great company to work for.

In 2010, I decided that it was time for me to do my own thing. I love clothes and I love Lululemon, but it’s not something that I’m personally going to wear out to drinks with my friends, and I don’t get super excited about it the way I do with dresses. It’s my own thing and I get to create whatever I want from it.

VT: What’s the story behind the name “Standing Armed”?

LW: It was actually a name that I thought of a few years prior, when I was thinking about doing something totally unrelated. When I started thinking about doing my own clothing line, I came back to it because I really think that clothing can change who you are as a person. If you put on a 4000-dollar ball gown, it’s really going to lend you different characteristics, a different aura. So I really think clothing has the ability to be that kind of armour in a really beautiful way.

VT: How would you describe your design aesthetic?

LW: Very classic. I like classic cuts but one or two really great details that make the piece unique. I use a lot of natural fibers and I pick cuts that are flattering for the body. I pick a few key details each season that I want to toss in. It’s quite understated, so people can take them and style them to make it their own.

VT: Where do you get your ideas from each season? Can you take us through your design process?

LW: It changes each season. I don’t have a consistent method because I like to wait until I get inspired. That can be from anything – travel, something that I am reading… so I don’t have a real process for it. Inspiration hits you one day and then that’s it. Sometimes you don’t see it coming and other times it develops for awhile.

For the Spring/Summer 2012 Collection, I was really inspired by Morocco. I travelled there and it’s one of the top places that I want to go back to. I was inspired by the colours and the vibrancy of Moroccan markets, but I knew that I wanted it against a stark, ivory background. I wanted to combine different senses of colour, texture and print in a way was really wearable. I was really inspired by travel in this case.

VT: Does living in Vancouver influence your approach to fashion?

LW: Yes and no. I would say not so much in terms of inspiration in the concept for the line, but I certainly consider what Vancouverites wear. We’re not as out there as Paris or London; we are very West coast and casual. We’re getting a little bit dressier but I certainly do consider what Vancouverites would wear and what is appropriate.

VT: Where do you see your line going in the next few years?

LW: My goal is to build Standing Armed in a sustainable way. I started really small with Fall/Winter 2011 with just seven looks, and already that’s grown. For Spring/Summer, I showed 16 looks, so I’m adding on. I started with just dresses, and I’ve gone into separates as well. For next Fall, I’m even doing pants, so I’m branching out a little bit. Possibly accessories down the way – it’s something that I love. As a designer it’s hard to separate that because I get excited about how I’m going to accessorize the outfits, so if I can control that, even better! I just want to make sure that I can do what I am doing well. I don’t want to go too fast and sacrifice something, so I’m doing this slow and steady.

VT: What makes Vancouver awesome?

LW: Mountain and oceans. I grew up in the mountains and I learned to ski when I was about two years old, so that was always my second home. When I left Vancouver, the thing I missed the most was the ocean. It’s such a perfect combination. We have everything here.