The Rage: Local Designers Unite

Took advantage of the gorgeous weather today to hit the streets in Kensington Market and take part in another successful Pedestrian Sunday. Roads were closed down, but as it turns out, I spent a lot of time on the usual sidewalks checking out all the interesting stuff for sale on the lawns of local shops.

One set-up that really caught my eye was the table parked outside The Rage (at lucky 13 Kensington Av). The vintage here was not the standard dirty old uniforms and New Kids on the Block t's but some pre-worn-now-re-made items fresh off the sewing machines of local Toronto designers.

I had the chance to step inside the shop, which has only been on the Kensington strip for a matter of weeks, and speak to Sarah Campbell who was running the show.

Aside from a brief history of our lives, we got to talking local fashion and Sarah showed off a few items and explained how it's all a work in progress. There were still more designs (and designers) from around the city she hoped to include on the racks and, of course, there was still some decorating to do.

My fave items (which I promised to go back for 'cause I was all out of non-plasticized cash) were a spread of leather bracelets, custom made with retro pin-up girls and comic book covers. Already won over, I then flipped over the bracelet to reveal double-sided glory with a completely different fabric pattern on the inside. It was almost as fun as that reversable rainjacket I had in grade 2.

Another really neat item in the 'accessory' (stuff you really don't need but really do want) category were bottlecap pinbacks. Hard to describe, but essentially a pinback button made out of a bottlecap that has an image pasted or designed in it and then covered in some kind of jelly coating...

Hmmm, okay, I re-read that and apologize, but take it as just one more reason I'll have to insist that you head on down to The Rage and check them out for yourself.

If you need another excuse, Pedestrian Sunday will be an ongoing event this summer with the next one set for August 14. The theme that weekend is "Blackout". Oooh.