Vancouver Fashion eZine - Online Magazine | Meghan Munro

Like so many great artists Meghan Munro started her love affair with fabrics and sewing at a very young age - six to be exact. Her parents enrolled their daughter in sewing classes after sports, dance and other extracurricular activities proved of no interest to the budding designer. Using a booster chair of cushions in order to see the machine high on the adult size table, the young girl practiced her skills creating outfits for Barbie and friends in Medicine Hat, Alberta. At ten years of age she sent ripples through the much older sewing community when she won a blue ribbon at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede for her entry. Her blouse with pearl buttons stole the coveted prize.

For Munro's next design adventure she took her creations to the world of eBay, selling one-of-a-kind pieces and reworked garments on-line. Experiencing frustration over the bidding process of the sales, Ms. Munro was eager to further her skills. This led to extensive research over the many fashion schools in Canada and ultimately landed her in Vancouver with acceptance at the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design. Having recently graduated in December, she now eagerly waits for her collections to be showcased at the Annual Graduation Fashion Show held in early July.

Without giving too many secrets away, her collection is inspired by the ultimate day in California. Using white leather, burgundy silk, gold satin and hints of lingerie, the designer imagines her muse on a motorcycle, driving into the sun with this fabulous get up from head to toe. And who is her muse? Like many designers, herself and her surroundings are her main stream of inspiration. Not being a fan of the rain or cold she usually designs for a warmer climate. Her esthetic has hints of the 40's and 50's, Tokyo Street independence, and tattoo culture, embracing things that are colorful, bright, and sexy. Being quite tattooed herself, she now counts the hours she has spent in the chair rather than the number of actual tattoos on her body. It is no surprise she likes her clothes to make bold and brave statements, "I am prepared to make a statement and stand behind it", she says of both her tattoos and her clothing.

So what is the next adventure for this talented, young firecracker? Munro would love to obtain an internship with designers like Betsey Johnson but only if in a warm climate stating she is not built for New York's cold. For now she is happy to continue her custom work in Vancouver until her graduation fashion show and then will see where the wind takes her. One certainty is that when Munro does have her own label she does not aspire to conquer the fashion world but instead strives to have a smaller successful brand. She always wants to be very hands on, doing what she loves everyday in her niche market rather than seeking global recognition. This is a similar creative stance taken by Jessica Louise or Toxic Vision, two labels that have always inspired her.

Whether designing for herself or someone else, we are sure Munro's well-honed sewing ability, her unique illustrations and thought provoking designs will take her far and fast in an industry that clearly has chosen her.