Hong Kong Fashion Week 2012

A shock of red hair

Often under estimated in it’s impact on global fashion Hong Kong has a proven track record of having eager fashionistas who don’t hesitate to buy their favorite dress, cut their hair to perfection and, oh, let’s not forget, brave the highest and most outlandish heels to die for!  

Shanghai based strategist, Paul French described “Chinese consumers are still out there spending like drunk sailors on shore leave”,  TimeOut Hong Kong Magazine Jan 2012.  

Blue hair,, bright red hair, turquoise tights, wedge heels, mini skirts, lace up booties, oversize Jackie O, Yoko Ono, Anna Wintaur eyeglasses, horizontal stripes, big voluminous scarves wrapped around the neck multiple times are all the rage!

New Designer Showcase their
designs on the runway.

Always polished, even with rough hemlines and edges.  The women in HK adore fashion and Hong Kong Fashion week provides the forum to express it.  New designers produced lavish runway shows to woo their audiences.

 I love visiting Hong Kong!  It's an incredible city with the most wonderful culture and people!  I had the great honour of meeting some of the most influential people in fashion today!"  Suzanne Wyman, designer, Yes World Boutique.

Suzanne Wyman with
Angelia Teo, WSGN

Cultivating Creativity Through Grace

Suzanne in meditation

Often, people wonder how fashion designers tap into their creativity.  For Suzanne Wyman, designer of Yes World Boutique and Yes Lifestyle Organics, the process is quite unique.  She uses yoga, meditation song and dance to develop her present moment consciousness.  

It is from that opening that Suzanne reconnects with her creative energy.

Om Shanti Retreat, Ontario, Canada

This cultivation of the creative process goes deep as she taps into her soul to clear out blockages that may distract her from her true passion.  

To bring in the new year, 2012, she went to the beautiful and peaceful  Shanti Retreat


to spend 4 intensive days in meditation, yoga and kirtan singing/chanting with a small group of other devoted individuals.  Wendy, co director of the retreat, started each morning with a heart opening yoga practice.

Diane Yeo

Cradled in the gentle teaching and guidance of Diane Yeo, the group was thoughtfully and carefully lead through meditation several times a day.  

Diane comes from the heart and is passionate about connecting with people and exploring the infinite peace, love and silence within. 

"Clearing my mind opens up so much space for creativity", says Suzanne. 

Heart warming, joyeous, devotional chart artist, Brenda McMorrow created a musical journey that  unveiled and celebrated our true beings through the power of sound.  Singing in Sanskrit to specific chants, the group was supported in their foray into 2012.

Brenda will start her Eastern US and Canadian tour in April, 2012, then she's off to Europe in May/June. 

“Brenda is a powerhouse: a strong and supple voice, sublime songwriting, a compassionate presence, steady wisdom, and a great sense of humor. Traveling and singing with her is incredibly fun. I’d follow her anywhere.”

- Dave Stringer

"Brenda McMorrow's CD Ameya is truly a lush offering in every sense, communicating her abundant devotion in a way which speaks to the heart and caresses the ears with spiritual sweetness and a rich palette of musical diversity"

– David Newman a.k.a Durga Das

2012 New Years Message from Yes World Boutique!

Thank you for your support of Yes World Boutique in 2011. 



It was a year of tremendous growth for us!

We are proud of our 2011 accomplishments, including:

• Expanded distribution in Canada, USA and Africa. We now sell to customers from Nunavut to Nairobi!
• A proud supporter of Off The Mat and Into the World , a non profit organization whose mission is to use the power of yoga to inspire conscious, sustainable activism and ignite grassroots social change.
• Exciting online partnerships with Ethical Ocean, Yipi and Sears Canada!
• A proud member of Fashion Takes Action, a non profit organization that raises public awareness for the benefits of sustainable fashion and responsible consumerism.

To start the year 2012 off right, we're launching a brand new website on January 9th! 

We also have retail space at the Distillery District in Toronto in the new Fashion Takes Action showroom for you to visit!

Look forward to lots of new designs as I continue to move Yes World Boutique and Yes Lifestyle Organics into the limelight!

Blessings for 2012!

Suzanne Wyman

Designer

Yes World Boutique

Yes Lifestyle Organics

Listening to Your Inner Voice

Suzanne Wyman on a visit to London, England

"Follow your spirit and express yourself authentically to the world" are the words of fashion designer Suzanne Wyman.

An old Chinese proverb says "the best time to do something was yesterday, the second best time is today".  Don't think that life has passed you by and that you've lost your chance to do what you love most.  You have the power within to make the change and live your life the way you want.

Suzanne left a 22 year career in health care at the age of 45 after years of dreaming of becoming a major player in the Canadian fashion world swirled through her head.  "It's those passionate thoughts that really fuel us in life.  Sometimes, if we don't follow that passion, we can feel like the walking dead" she says.

"I'm now into my 3rd year of designing clothing and the response has been tremendous!  It fills my heart with joy!

Recently, a customer expressed her love of my designs and emphasized that I should keep doing design and never stop!  It brought tears to my eyes.  It's my pleasure to share what I love most with other women and help them express themselves authentically"

Suzanne's designs under the labels Yes World Boutique and Yes Lifestyle Organics can be found at boutiques across Canada, USA and Africa.  They can also be purchased online at Sears Canada, Ethical Ocean and Yipi.

Dress Yes! Natural Elements Collection!

While on her travels to Africa, designer Suzanne Wyman of Yes World Boutique found inspiration for her newest collection, the Natural Elements Collection!

Suzanne Wyman crossing a very high suspension bridge during a trek in Kenya

"I was deeply inspired by the life, culture, art and landscape of Kenya and transmitted this influence into the designs in the Natural Elements Collection"

Elephants at Amboseli Safari

Evening Landscape

Zebras Grazing

The new prints were influenced by African landscapes and culture. The collection consists of designs that embrace your spirit and give you a sense of freedom and joy! The pieces are made from 100% high quality all natural cotton gauze.

The Natural Elements Collection is now available online at www.sears.ca!

A Conscious Lifestyle, Going Organic All the Way!

Suzanne with Natasha Kyssa
author of Simply Raw wearing
Yes Lifestyle Organics

Living a green lifestyle has been an iterative process for Suzanne Wyman.  Inspired by her vegetarian diet of many years, she began to research organics in both fabrics and foods in an effort to have a lighter footprint on the earth and do her part to reduce environmental destruction. 

 Cotton is one of the major culprits of herbacides pestcide and herbacide use in the world and has a terrible impact on local surface and groundwater in the regions where it is grown.  Using GOTS certified organic cotton in her designs means that the cotton has been grown without the use of herbacides or pesticides.

Additionally, cotton grown with the use of herbacides and pesticides carrys through to you, the consumer who wears the chemical ridden garments.  Dr. Brian Clement and Anne Clement of the Hippocrates Health Institute have recommended organic cotton in their recent book, Killer Clothes as the choice fabric for us to wear as it has the least harmful effect on us
.

Reiki Practitioner Angela Allain Wearing
a Yes Lifestyle Organics Design

Taking a holistic approach to her lifestyle has inspired Suzanne in her organic designs. This elevated consciousness resonates with those who wear her designs. 

Tony "Sproutgrower" an energetic dancer
and sprout grower supreme!

Recently, at the first annual Raw/Vegan Festival in Toronto, she met many inspired people who aspire to live with vitality and integrity. She sees the connection between the food we eat and the clothing that we wear. 

Suzanne with Preet Maharawa of Organic Lives
 

Inspired by the author of Simply Raw, Natasha Kyssa, Suzanne has been moving towards a raw diet. During her world travels she finds new, innovative restaurants that offer a raw menu, including places such as Vancouver Island, Bangkok and San Francisco. 

Her recent raw food restaurant find was during her visit to Vancouver where she enjoyed the delicious raw cuisine of Organic Lives. run by owner Preet Maharawa who wants "To awaken hearts, minds, bodies, and palates to the endless benefits of a plant-based lifestyle and to make that lifestyle accessible and practical within our everyday lives. " 

Write Suzanne an email with your raw restaurant suggestions!

Yes World Boutique at The Clothing Show Runway

Two weekends ago, Yes World Boutique was a vendor at the bi-annual Clothing Show held in The Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place in Downtown Toronto. The show, which is held for 3 days, allows for aspiring Canadian designers to come together, sell merchandise and showcase their collections. The show was a great experience for Yes World as we got the chance to participate in the fashion shows!

The Yes World Boutique booth displayed merchandise from the Yes Lifestyle Organics line, as well as the new Yes World Boutique Spring/Summer collection. The ‘Flowing Goddess’ dress was an absolute hit! After displaying the beautiful dress in the fashion show, many visited our booth to take a look and try it on.

Here’s a great picture of the dress captured by the show’s official photographer, Luis Enriquez:

The Wrap Dress With Soft Pleated Cuffs  were another customer favourite. Many loved the knee length, flowy-sleeved garment for its versatility, as it could worn as both a formal and casual dress. After mentioning the fact that it was made from certified organic cotton, customers felt even better about their purchase.

However, not only were compliments received on the merchandise, customers were also pleasantly surprised at the level of customer service received from Yes World Boutique employees. Each customer was welcomed with a smile as they entered the booth, and then informed of what they could find. This may be the reason why we had a number of repeat customers! Many mentioned that they had visited the Yes World Boutique booth at other events, and wanted to come back and make another purchase.

Overall, the weekend was a great success for Yes World Boutique as we received a great response from customers! Remember that you can find Yes World Boutique at Harbourfront Centre  in Downtown Toronto every weekend for the entire summer! Come by to see the new Spring/Summer collection!