We had the honour of shooting with Style Group for The City of Hamilton in a feature focusing on Hamilton’s burgeoning fashion scene.
Hamilton has always been known as a city of grit and steel, which is often why it ends up the backdrop for so many Hollywood flicks ( ie. Guillermo Del Toro’s Oscar winning picture The Shape of Water is literally littered in Hamilton, and there are so many more!), so its not exactly the first city you think of in Canada when it comes to fashion.
But, according to Statistics Canada, Hamilton is in fact in the top 5 hubs of fashion in Canada – so that’s pretty “eye” opening! We are lucky enough to be one of the city’s featured designers in a short video featuring some of Hamilton’s top designers including yours truly, The Eye of Faith!
Here’s a clip they made of especially for our designs! We were really inspired by a 90s Romeo & Juliet essence with this one and wanted to showcase two head turning looks that were from different worlds, but intrinsically connected. Our models Geoffrey William and Danielle Brandino capture the mood gloriously!
On top of this wicked video, photographer Derrick Van Der Kolk took so many awesome shots that capture the vibrancy of downtown Hamilton, and the unique energy we hope to exude with our designs!
I would die for you
I would die for you
I’ve been dying just to feel you by my side
To know that you’re mine
– Garbage, “#1 Crush”
Here’s a taste . . .
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”
-William Shakespeare, “Romeo & Juliet”
Thanks for watching!
Until next time,
{theEye}
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NOTE: We will be getting up some of our original, one of a kind, handmade pieces from vintage textiles online for sale soon, so stay tuned!
Remember, to check out our selection of time traveled vintage styles in our {SHOP}. Use XIXIXI to get 25% OFF.
So, as you may or may not know, in the past two years we have evolved our purveyance of time traveled vintage clothing to creating one of a kind handmade fashions inspired by the {past} to influx the {present} and change the {future} of style.
It really made sense in our mind to make this shift, and has led to some incredible opportunities. While we are making new clothes, many of our materials are still vintage, which makes these pieces all the more special, and perfectly in tuned to our philosophy.
We often say we didn’t choose fashion as a destiny, but it truly chose us!
Which leads us to this video, which is a super wicked behind the scenes glimpse of a vintage inspired photo shoot we had the opportunity of collaborating on with Style Group!
We had the honour of working with photographer Derrick Vanderkolk who helped us transform his Cotton Factory studio into a timeless jetset rock n roll pad, and with the help of Nate Belgrave we have this memorable behind the scenes glimpse of a truly amazing day.
The undeniable Nicole Buston truly gave us some magical moments which we will be sharing on the site, so stay tuned! And of course, we couldn’t do it without the help of our makeup artist extraordinaire Janet Granados.
When people ask us how we’ve been, and we say “Just keeping on, keeping on…” – this is what we mean!
We were given a piece of advise once from the Canadian mentalist Chris Mysterion back in our humble beginnings, who said: “When it comes to being in a creative field, you never dodge at an opportunity to collaborate, to do things, to create”, and we’ve held this mantra close to our heart and mind ever since.
Seems to be working out.
Rewatching these moments makes us know that we are definitely on the right track!
It’s almost that time of year again! Supercrawl is going to take over the streets for three days of music, fashion, art, and FUN. Last year was a blast, and we’re so excited to announce that we will be taking over the Supercrawl Fashion Tent not once, but TWICE this year.
We will be debuting +HOLLYWOOD BABYLON+, our first contemporary collection on Saturday September 12 at 3pm in the Supercrawl Fashion Zone Tent, so mark your calendars and save the day. If you will be around and would like VIP seats to our show give us an email at the.eye.of.faith@gmail.com!
Our collection was inspired by the decadence and decay of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Combining a street chic attitude with the textures and ease of 1930s/40s leisurewear; looks range from a Hollywood starlet enjoying an afternoon cocktail by the pool to dangerous ingenues in metallic evening gowns that put a meaning to “if looks could kill…”
It’s a bit of a departure for us, especially if you have been following our side since the beginning, but we felt this foray into womenswear would be the perfect breath of fresh air for us, as well as a chance to stretch our creative muscles in a totally new ‘fashion’.
Our biggest pull to this collection was in fact Veda Pierce, the sophisticated, driven, and treacherous daughter of Mildred Pierce in the classic neo-noir “Mildred Pierce”. Here is a girl who is striving to be ahead of the norm, worldly and too classy for her own good.
She’s not afraid to do anything to get what she wants in life, and on top of it all she is devastatingly gorgeous and talented to boot. Perhaps a little too dangerous and manipulative for most people’s liking, but she definitely helped spawn our imagination when setting out on this unique opportunity to showcase what we are all about….summoning the {PAST} into the {PRESENT} to help shape the {FUTURE}….
It’s going to be a stellar show, and much blood, sweat, and tears have gone into putting our best foot forward in what can only be described as a bold new chapter in our fashion careers, so don’t miss out! If you’ve noticed that we haven’t been posting too much on our blog this summer- this is why!
Our second show will be on Sunday September 13 in the Supercrawl Fashion Zone Tent from 3p-5p and will be an epic spectacle of vintage fashion aptly named The Eye of Faith Presents A Vintage Showcase!!! That’s right folks, we will be curating a two hour long fashion show featuring nothing but vintage head to toe, and will be taking audiences on a ride through time and into the +BEYOND+!!!
I’m pleased to announce that we will be partnering up with Vintage Soul Geek to create this epic showcase of vintage glory, and will also start carrying some select pieces of our collection in their shop come September so watch out!!! More on that soon…but in the meantime, check out our inspiration mood boards for The Eye of Faith Presents a Vintage Showcase!!!!
Got any looks to share, or must-have inspirations?
Let us know in the comments below!
Can’t wait to start getting back in the swing of things.
Much to talk about. But another time…
Until we meet again,
{theEye}
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++++DON’T FORGET XIXIXI GETS YOU 25% OFF IN THE {SHOP}++++
Here at The Eye of Faith we know that style is a power that can truly stimulate the soul; make you feel mightier, grander, and even more in touch with our truest self.
Choosing vintage is a wise choice for your {style-wise}soul as the pieces you choose all possess a special history, and unique spirit that can help you conjure the +IDOL+ in us all.
Let your spirit free, and take a walk on the +WILD+ side
Getting ready for school or work, you might have noticed that day by day you are submitting to any number of rituals. Whether it’s washing your face or prepping for your day at the mirror, all these little things add up to make the recipe for the spell that will hopefully get you through the day. . .
This is a tradition as old as time itself. It seems so simple at first, almost unnoticeable if you haven’t thought about it, but our daily routines and the simple act of getting ready for the day is as powerful as any incantation.
Focus is key, as you don’t want to invoke the wrong spirit for the day. But if you are able to summon from deep within that one spirit that can transform you, and in turn, how you are perceived by the world, then you have a real chance of winning. But, making that metamorphosis is something only a genuine and true individual can truly take on.
For centuries, hundreds, maybe thousands, of secret societies have existed looking to possess the power of these sacred secret spirits. From the mysteries of Egypt and Ancient Greece, to Yeats’ and Crowley’s “Golden Dawn”, to the secret dormitories of the Ivy League, members of certain sacred orders have endured through the ages and kept alive this powerful knowledge.
The most powerful spirit they hope to set free is that of the ‘Rebel‘. The most courageous and strong of any being. The ‘Rebel’ is fearless and has been able to survive with its’ strong will, determination, and unwillingness to submit to anyone, or anything.
“The mystery religions were instituted in order to protect the marvels of the commonplace from those who would devalue them.”
{Peter Redgrove, “The Black Goddess and the Unseen Real”.}
Long ago, high up in the sky a rebel band of Angels existed, unhappy with their destiny. Instead of sitting pretty playing harps and twirling their fingers through their hair, they followed their leader, the bold Lucifer, and leaped down from the sky and into the river Styx where they still reside to this day, invulnerable to the world, and ready to play as they please . . .
Invoking the rebel spirit is one of the things we do best here at The Eye, and possessing oneself with the invulnerability of the River Styx will without a doubt work in your favor, no matter the circumstance. Who wants to be vulnerable anyway? Instead, own your destiny, and write a place in history for yourself.
We have explored the history of these sacred orders and secret societies and have been entranced by this tradition of rebellion. The deeper you begin to look, the deeper you can understand that we are in fact living in a {Rebel Society}.
+THE SACRED ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN+ is about the invocation of this ‘Rebel’ Spirit, and the traditions of spreading this magical word, and the power imparted onto the individual, once freed from a life of waiting. The answers are all around us, and only the chosen shall see them.
There is a warning, however, in summoning the ‘Rebel’ to pervade the soul: always remember that the ‘Rebel’ spirit doesn’t work for anyone, and once summoned, there is no guarantees how long they might want to stay, or the darkness they might uncover once you are shown the light.
Do you think you have what it takes to invoke the ‘Rebel’ spirit? If so, take a ride with The Eye of Faith and lets aim for Styx!
A journey that started at night, this is a tale of wandering; wandering thoughts, wandering hearts, and wandering souls.
The city can bring together strangers, while it can also tear those closest apart. Amongst the storefronts, sidewalks, lane ways, and hidden passages – you are bound to find that sacred recluse you have been seeking to find.
Inspiration was taken from wild nights had late at night on the street, rebel gang boys and bad girls of the 1950s, “Rebel Without a Cause“, and the work of film master Wong Kar Wai. We threw it all together for one hell of a wild ride on the neon streets and shadows of the Junction.
As promised, we decided to preview some of our women’s collection in this shoot so all our faithful lady friends definitely have something to look forward to! We will be photographing and adding our women’s wear over the next few weeks, so keep your {EYE}s open on our {SHOP}.
We were also lucky enough to have our good friend Lydia join us for a shoot, which was more than a pleasure! She is a fantastic model with amazing abilities, so it was pure magic to have her with us on set. Lots of love, Lydia! Lots of love!
So enough messing around, please take part and check it all out! After all, we made this for you!
Let E.O.F. take you to the “DAZE OF BEING WILD“.
Hope you all enjoy!
Would love to hear your feedback on the photos and looks, so please leave your comments below. Make sure to let your friends know what they are missing!
Greetings followers, friends, and I don’t know you, but Greetings anyway!
As you know, we absolutely love a sense of mystery, a glimpse in the dark at what may or may not have been , and we wanted to combine this unique E.O.F. sensibility in a one-of-a-kind fashion video experience.
We aptly titled it +PARES CUM PARIBUS+ , meaning “Let birds of a feather flock together” in Latin; very apropos for us here at The Eye of Faith, because every day it seems we are growing in strength with our numbers.
So in spirit of our eternal goal +PARES CUM PARIBUS+ was made.
We were inspired by a classic; the ever stylish and silicious Ms. Audrey Horne of a town called Twin Peaks. Knowing that bad girls do it well, we took our favorite model Lydia, and placed her in a dreamy netherworld close to our own, but far enough away that unusual things might start to happen.
And like most cases, we just can’t be sure if The Young Lady could perhaps be but a lonesome ghostly memory permeating through the Universe’s frequencies…
Close enough to home, but far enough away that you could forget about it all together – that’s what The Eye of Faith is about, and that’s where we always aim.
Let us know what you think, and if you share our same feathers please share it in your circles and lets let this vision soar!
+ So sweet is this song that no one could resist it. For in it is all the passionate ache for the moonlight, and the great hunger of the sea, and the terror of desolate places – all things that lure men to the unattainable . . . +
+ Every man that hath seen me forgetteth me never, and I appear oftentimes in the coals of the fire, and upon the smooth white skin of woman, and in the constancy of the waterfall, and in the emptiness of deserts and marshes, and upon great cliffs that look seaward; and in many strange places, where men seek me not. And many thousand times he beholdeth me not. And at last I smite myself into him as a vision smiteth into a stone, and whom I call must follow. . . +
At THE EYE OF FAITH, we are always looking to reinvent the classics. Looking to the past for our inspiration, we sought refuge in classic rebel gear. We bring you a page from our LOOKBOOK to demonstrate our take on a classic.
James Dean’s iconic red jacket, jeans, and t-shirt combo was our immediate go-to, and we decided to give it a bit of an E.O.F. spin to bring it back to life for today.
We found this sick rebel red Member’s Only windbreaker which we aptly named “James” for the collection, and paired it with an +E.O.F. ORIGINAL+ design which many of our peers have noted looked uncannily like a view of the ocean seen from outer space- thus “Mystical Ocean Mystery” became its title! Cosmic ocean rebel, indeed!
A simple pair of vintage pleated trousers in royal blue brings it back to that classic 1950s all-American vibe we were drawing from in the first place.
And our look wouldn’t be complete without our Grateful Dead Converse kicks. A cool tie-dye limited edition shoe to take that classic 1950s feel and make it ‘now’!
Definitely think we made a splash here! Really love the combination, and how easily an old classic can be completely redefined to fit in to today’s world, and no doubt, tomorrow’s as well!
It’s all about the spirit you bring to it, and we’re coming full force with number one original rebel attitude!
And don’t forget to find all your vintage musings and mysteries over at our site THE EYE OF FAITH ——-> theeyeoffaith.com. Hope you are able to come wander with us!
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++ {The Eye of Faith}
Follow us on TWITTER and FACEBOOK
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Sometimes it pays to be bad. Seems like British recording artist M.I.A. is always flipping someone off. Her latest cry of bad girl BADNESS at this year’s Super Bowl, where her middle finger made more of a stir than even her performance.
It was no surprise here at E.O.F. when that illicit middle finger jumped to attention at the end of her verse for Madonna’s single, “Give Me All Your Luvin”, that featured her with fellow female hip-hop star, Nicki Minaj.
After all, M.I.A. has been paving the way for “bad girls” everywhere for nearly a decade now. Did nobody listen to her rap during the song: “I’mma say this once, yeah, I don’t give a shit” ?!!
For nearly a decade now she’s been conquering the landscape for bad girls everywhere.
A little swag, a pop of colour- trust M.I.A. to get it done.
It had been a while since she had exploded on the scene with her dynamic sound. A cool mix of afro, indo, elctro, alternative, and hip hop sound- she is definitely one of the true artists of the past ten years, who also gives a distinct new definition to “World Music”.
More than that, M.I.A. is a constant activist. From genocide in Sri Lanka, to Palestine, and even African Americans in the U.S., M.I.A. is not one to sit idly on the sidelines as the world shatters before her feet. Not just that, but M.I.A. is a warrior of free speech, and an enemy to censorship and oppression. We’re dealing with a woman of power and action, and is that so bad?
With her latest music video “Bad Girls”, M.I.A furthers her frontier as a woman of power and action. The video transforms the rubble and ruin of the desert into a rapper’s paradise.
Rebel women in animal printed silks, vivacious neon, and drag racing desert gangsters. While the song is called “Bad Girls” it’s really about EMPOWERMENT and LIBERTY.
“Bad Girls” are not as much Bad, as they are Free.
All around the world it seems women are taking action into their own hands.
With 55% of the workforce in America being female, and the recent uprisings in the Middle East by women’s rights activists, it seems more and more ladies are grabbing destiny by the balls, and are not afraid to fight for it!
For so long, women’s roles have been dedicated to cleaning the house and caring for the family, and more and more these roles are being switched or lost altogether.
Living in North America it is easy for us to forget the unique advantage we have over our predecessors; things like microwaves, electric irons, food processors, toasters, vacuums, dishwashers, washing machines, television, computers, and cell phones have made our world a much easier place, and have contributed a hundred-fold to the advances in our society towards women’s rights.
However, the concept of “freedom” extends far beyond the idea of voting or going to work. While women have gained so many freedoms, women in nations such as Egypt and Iraq are fighting for their everyday rights and liberties.
Recently Aliaa Magda Elmahdy, a 20 year old media student drop-out from Cairo, posted nude pictures of herself on a personal blog in “screams against a society of violence, racism, sexism, sexual harassment and hypocrisy”- her bold action, in a country that deeply frowns against nudity of any sort, has started an outrage amongst both liberals and conservatives who do not know what to make of her actions. (for more)
Many fundamentalists accused her of being “mentally sick” and urged for her arrest. Others, agree that while her actions sudden, the immediacy of her art and message are powerful and signifying change all over the Middle East.
As Aliaa boldly stated on her blog to all naysayers:
“Hide all art books and smash naked archaeological statues…Then take off your clothes and look at yourselves in the mirror, then burn your body that you so despise to get rid of your sexual complexes forever, before subjecting me to your bigoted insults or denying my freedom of expression.”
Fiesty. Looks like a little M.I.A. has seeped into her.
While M.I.A. surely isn’t the first “Bad Girl” to hit the scene, we have to salute the Rebel Queen for defending the things that should value most: human life, liberty, freedom of expression, and love. Sometimes you have to be ‘bad’ to get your point across.
Living in such a noisy society, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos. So take it on yourself to ask what matters most to you, and to a better tomorrow. Then flip the bird, and promise you’ll fight for it! You are Supersonic! Like Uranium!
Enjoy the pictures. They are a collection of things we really thought brought out the best ideas of M.I.A.’s ultra-wicked new music video. Visit her site for more details.
