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In a 100-year-old character home set in an industrial zone straddling Vancouver’s East and West sides, a team of young women is busy soldering and polishing silver pendants imprinted with antique wax seals. The workshop and materials echo ateliers of centuries past, but "our ideas and inspiration are never more than a couple of months old," says Danielle Wilmore, one half of the recently married husband-and-wife team behind Pyrrha Design. "If we haven’t moved on an idea within a few months, we drop it."
That seize-the-moment attitude paid dividends when the couple happened upon a recently vacated (the former tenant a victim of the recession) retail space in West Hollywood last spring-and signed the lease two days later. Recognizing that "good opportunities happen at inopportune times" made 2010 a breakthrough year for a jewellery line of cast-silver pendants, rings and bracelets that has already enjoyed international success-it’s carried in 250 stores in eight countries-and has earned a coveted celebrity following: Brad (as in Pitt), Taylor (as in Swift) and Scarlett (as in Johansson) are all Pyrrha fans.
Pyrrha’s commercial success and diverse clientele are perhaps best explained by the deeply personal meaning that each seal holds for the wearer. Made from authentic 19th-century wax seals bearing symbols, crests and mottoes, they allow for endless interpretation: a bleeding heart talisman can be sweet and feminine or punk and edgy. (The couple spotted the seals that were part of the initial collection while antique shopping in Vancouver. "It wasn’t immediately obvious what to do with them," says Wade Papin. "We bought them because we loved them.")
Despite the breadth of the collection-there are some 300 different seals-judge John Fluevog praised the cohesiveness of the brand. "I love that all the pieces have a relationship."
"Our line isn’t tailored to any one moment," agrees Papin. "It will always hover on the edges of trends. What we love most about our line is how we’re taking a fragile thing and giving it permanence. It’s very romantic."
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Judges
John Fluevog has, since 1970, created unique footwear that’s been worn by Madonna, the Scissor Sisters and models on the runways of high fashion. His company was recently named one of the world’s most innovative by Fast Company.
Beverley Gorenstein launched her Moulé clothing line in the mid ’80s from her dining room table in Winnipeg. Along with three of her children-Laurie, Rachel and Michael Gorenstein-she’s now the owner of four Moulé boutiques in Canada and the U.S.
Catherine Regehr designs elegant gowns that have been worn by Kim Basinger, Sarah McLachlan, Anjelica Huston and Bianca Jagger.
ONE TO WATCH
Justine Brooks
Ontario-born, Vancouver-based jewellery designer Justine Brooks uses flora and fauna as the base for her organic, arresting pieces. Twigs, pine cones, barnacle-laden mussel shells and anchovy fish are cast in silver and gold, giving them a gothic quality. Brooks was praised by judge Catherine Regehr for using West Coast natural elements in her work. "I love this idea!" she said.
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