We’re thrilled to announce that some of Ben’s findings from his doctoral research for Cambridge University are featured in the June 2012 issue of Elle Canada, in stores this week  Having just successfully defended his PHD in Marketing in March 2012, Ben shares his findings gathered through researching the fashion purchasing behaviour of thousands of women – findings that go against the “norms” of fashion.  In the article Ben reveals the business case for diversity in fashion and questions if using different types of models can benefit brands.

This short video clip explains some of the findings that Ben has gathered through his research:

Please visit Elle Canada to read the full article. Help encourage diversity in fashion by leaving your comments with the magazine!

Model - Kathryn

Model - Nelia

Model - Helen

Top photo:  Renata Kaveh

Bottom photos: Lily & Lilac

The ROM is the place to be in Toronto on a Friday night! On Friday May 4th, we attended Friday Night Live to hear Ben give his first lecture since successfully defending his PHD thesis in which he shared a few tidbits of his groundbreaking fashion research. The lecture “Refashioning Models: The Case for Diversity in Fashion” was packed, the crowd was pumped and there was an amazing Q&A session after!

Photo Courtesy of Candice & Allison Luxury Events

The evening’s events entitled “ROM Fashion Runway,” followed hot on the heels of TFI’s 25th Anniversary Gala the night before celebrating twenty-five years of Canadian Fashion. As Chair of Toronto Fashion Incubator, Ben was happy to give the opening remarks followed by an incredible fashion event showing off the best talent Canada has to offer. An amazing display of fashion was showcased in the middle of the ROM’s cool lounge area for Friday night’s festivities.

For each Friday until June 22, 2012, the venue is open for those 19+ from 6:00pm-11:00 PM,  with a different creative theme each week.  When did you ever think you would be hanging with the dinosaurs, experiencing great lectures and presentations while sipping a cocktail, nibbling on the food of celeb chefs while dancing to the tunes the DJ is spinning? Entrance is only$9.00 to hang with the coolest Toronto crowd.

Friday Night Live at the ROM – culture is cool!

Model Kelly Knox strikes a pose (or two) for Oslo City shopping centre’s newly released groundbreaking fashion campaign “Tenk Nytt” or “Think New.”   Winner of Britain’s Missing Top Model , Kelly continues to break fashion barriers with this latest campaign.  Shot alongside another differently abled model, the images are stunning!

Please make sure to find out more about this vivacious role model we are proud to say represents Ben Barry Agency!

“17-year-olds need to know that there is life after high school. There is this light at the end of the tunnel where soon people will be admired and respected for their differences.” – Heather Hazzan offering body image advice to her 17 year old self and teenagers today

We initially stumbled upon this fantastic, empowering, energetic website created by model Heather Hazzan and quickly needed to know more about her. She had to be part of our agency! Her website wasn’t typical and offered much more than great photos.  Through it she shares her journey of breaking into the modelling world as a teenager and developing an eating disorder to maintain an impossible size 0 frame.  She speaks of losing her period for 5 years and constantly striving to lose weight but losing herself in the process. Now a healthy size 12-14, Heather feels balanced and happy and enjoys a career modelling at a size that suits her mind, body and soul. She encourages others to be healthy at all sizes. We know when you learn more about her, you will admire her as much as we do.

As a child, do you remember what you thought of your body image?

I was always off the doctor’s charts as a kid… I literally did not fit into my age group’s range for height and weight. Being heads taller and much bigger than all my friends was a little awkward as I got older, but I really didn’t think much past that. I was a very happy, healthy, and enthusiastic child.

You started modelling at 17 as a straight size model trying to maintain a size your body wasn’t comfortable with. Looking back, what influenced you to try to do this?

Modelling started soon after I decided to give up playing competitive basketball. Looking back, I think I just wanted to delve into a completely different world other than sports; modelling was just that. As an all-or-nothing type of person, I dove head first into modelling. Weight loss was just part of what I had to do in order to book the caliber of jobs I wanted. I ended up losing about 65 pounds… as well as my soul.

What was your turning point to regain that vital mind/body/soul connection?

After eight years of constantly counting calories and obsessively working out, it hit me that I didn’t have a life… no close friends… no boyfriend…. no social life… and no passions outside of scheduling gym sessions and keeping a daily calorie count. It struck me that, “Wow, I am actually wasting my life right before my eyes.” That is incredibly scary. Now, my entire mission in life is to make those eight hellish years worth something. I never want to waste another day on weight again. I’m proud to say that I haven’t.

If you could tell young girls and your 17 year old self about loving your body just as it is, what advice would you have?

17-year-olds need to know that there is life after high school. There is this light at the end of the tunnel where soon people will be admired and respected for their differences. When you think the mindset of constantly conforming is all there ever will be, it’s depressing. People don’t think the same and bodies don’t look the same; this is a wonderful thing. You will become more comfortable in your skin with time. It will shock you how much.

You modelled as a size 0 and now as a 12-14. How is your career different now?

My career is completely different now and in the best possible way. As a straight size model I only did little local jobs. I really think clients could tell that I didn’t have any fire behind my pictures. My personality was dead. As a plus model, companies can see that I’m truly happy in my healthy, natural size 12/14 body. I’ve gotten to shoot for things and work in countries that I could have only dreamed about when I wasn’t being true to who I was. Plus, it’s so freeing to not have to worry about maintaining a certain size. There is a lot more leeway in the plus size industry.

What has been your most memorable shoot so far?

My most memorable shoot was actually my first shoot as a plus size model. Victor Demarchelier shot me with male model Francisco Lachowski for V Magazine (my favourite!). It was incredibly surreal. The entire time I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. It means a lot when an amazing high fashion magazine like V embraces a curvier girl. It only solidified my decision to pursue plus size modeling.

Can you tell us about any exciting things going on in your life or any upcoming projects?

I’m planning to move to NYC!

Please make sure to visit Heather’s website where you can learn more about her journey, send her an email, enjoy her modelling photos and check out her wonderful photography skills.  Her Ben Barry Agency page contains lots of other great info about her and several incredible photos.  We are so happy to have such an amazing positive body image advocate on board helping us create diversity in fashion!

Our agency was thrilled to help out with a casting call put forth by design label VAWK to launch its new sister label VAWKKIN during World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto. The catch? Designer Sunny Fong wanted to choose his consumers to debut the line and asked us to help with casting and training the group.  The many applicants from all walks of life, different sizes, ages, heights and backgrounds were narrowed down to 16. After some initial nervousness at our runway boot camps, the ladies quickly got the hang of the model strut and were excited and eager for their runway debut March 14th in front of hundreds of guests and media.

We were so proud to watch this dynamic group of women walk the runway with such confidence and poise! Their turn on the catwalk hit a chord with the fashion crowd in attendance with many supportive comments being passed along via social media. The press also greatly supported the initiative and several great articles emerged regarding the need for diversity in fashion as well as this empowering CTV segment in which you may learn more about some of these great women. Fashion blogger Sharon (in top photo) chronicled her experience with lots of insider details and behind the scenes photos through her site The Backseat Stylers

Here’s the video to see the show for yourself! It opens with the VAWK collection with the VAWKKIN debut commencing at the 6:30 mark. And make sure to see photos of all VAWK and VAWKKIN outfits!

Runway Photos: Toronto Life

Group Photo: Ben Barry Agency

Dita Von Teese launched her lingerie collection Von Follies for Target Australia March 10th at the  L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival and her model casting decisions have been making waves around the world.  After two days of auditioning models, the burlesque celeb offered these casting comments to the press:

“Of course I want to show all different types and more voluptuous girls.  The times where we said no to models were mostly when they were too skinny. We gave a lot of models the axe for being too skinny – we probably turned away a dozen.  It’s important to me we show curvaceous women and fuller-figured girls … lingerie looks terrific on girls with shape.”

In a world in which models sized 0-2 primarily dominate the largest runway shows, it was quite noticeable having slim to curvier models in a variety of sizes represent the line. It was an especially noticeable move to use a variety of sizes for a lingerie show which is rarely done – especially in a show starring a celebrity with the power to garner worldwide attention. The Target line ranges up to an E cup for the bras and the designer wanted to reflect these sizes on the runway. Interesting to note: many of the larger sizes have been the first to sell out.

For the full show visit here .  We look forward to more shows like this that include a variety of sizes!

Photos: Herald Sun

The Ben Barry Agency invites you to attend an insightful and inspiring night of discussion as Ben moderates Marketing vs. the Market – The Case for Diversity in Fashion, hosted by The School of Fashion – Ryerson University. Please join us March 8, 2012, as a panel of experts explores diversity in fashion.

Please see below for all details. Free and open to the public!

We are thrilled to help bring diversity to the runways of Toronto. Luxury Canadian fashion label VAWK, designed by Project Runway Canada season 2 winner Sunny Fong, is happy to introduce its sister line VAWKKIN at World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto on March 14th, 2012. We are helping VAWKKIN cast and train a diverse group of women for its show.

VAWK states:

With the launch of our sister label VAWKKIN rapidly approaching, the VAWK team wanted to rollout our new project in an exciting way. VAWKKIN transitions seamlessly from work to the weekend. Since this line was designed with you in mind, we thought: Why not let you be the VAWKKIN woman and the first to wear it on the runway?

VAWKKIN is looking for:

1. Are you available on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 1:00pm and two additional days (prior to the show) for fittings and rehearsals?
2. Are you 18 years of age or older?
3. Are high heels your favorite accessory?
4. Are you taller than 5 ft 6? (Without heels)
5. As always, VAWK celebrates diversity on the runway, do you range from size 2 to size 8, preferably? Curvy girls welcome! (Size 10 to 12)
6. Are you the most confident and outgoing in your group of girlfriends?  (Keep in mind you will be strutting your stuff in front of hundreds of people including national media outlets)
7. Are you constantly being told you are photogenic?
8. Do you believe in benevolence? (This is strictly a volunteer opportunity, but who knows it could get you discovered!)

Please visit VAWK by February 26th for full requirement details and to apply to be part of the show. And put those runway jitters away – we will  train those chosen to put your best foot forward!

To start off 2012 on an extra positive note, we thought we would introduce you to Meg  Bradley,  who is not only a great model but an inspiring woman as well.   Meg wears many hats -  mom, stepmom, director of sales, writer, mommy blogger and a fantastic model that through her stellar career  has helped form the plus-size modelling industry in Canada. She was the first plus-size model to walk in a major Canadian runway show – for Brian Bailey’s Toronto Ready to Wear Show before LG Fashion Week came into existence.  Meg was breaking barriers and forging new terrain at a time when plus modelling hadn’t reached the levels of acceptance in the fashion industry as it has today.

After taking a few years  off after the birth of her son, now 6,  Meg returned to modelling and joined our agency. We couldn’t be happier! We asked Meg to share her story with us and we are sure you will find her as inspiring as we do!

I started modelling over 20 years ago.  My Mom showed me a catalogue featuring women that were size 14+ and that was the first time I had ever seen a woman model with a body larger than a size 6.   She encouraged me to look into modelling and I did what my Mother told me!  I found the agency that represented those models and went for an audition.  I had my first booking with The Bay a week later and   I was on my way.

I was the first plus size model to do Toronto’s Fashion Ready to Wear collection for Brian Bailey.  It was over 15 years ago and I was a size 16.  The media, the designers, the audience had never seen a model over a size 6 working that runway.  I strutted my stuff that day and could hear the gasps and whispers from the audience.  It encouraged me to stand tall and take the moment in.  I made the front page of the Toronto Star’s fashion section the next day!  It was a great moment and I felt part of the movement for change and acceptance of plus size.  The following year, there were 3 plus models in that show.

My modelling career definitely slowed down after having my son 6 years ago.  I remember modelling a bridal gown when I was 5 months pregnant and thinking that this will be my last booking for a while!  I did pose when I was 9 months pregnant on the cover of a pregnancy magazine and then modelling went on the shelf for a few years with only the odd gig here and there.  I asked the Ben Barry Agency to give my modelling career some CPR and see if we couldn’t spark it up again.  So, I am back and my son is 6 years old now.

I have not always been confident about my curves or my height and modelling definitely boosted my confidence over the years.  When I was in my early twenties, I had to fake it until I made it.  When I first started modelling, I had to put on an air of confidence for the camera.  Over the years, there was no longer a need to fake it because I had become confident.  It is hard to pinpoint when this transition happened.  It just did.   I think my curves are sexy.  My favourite look is a wrap dress that shows my shape.  I have also come to love my hips and butt.  That relationship took a little longer, but I did get there!  I now wear my pants a little snugger than before because I actually want to show off my asset!

Prior to having kids, modelling was a great way to make money and have fun.  Now that I am a stepmom to teenage twin girls, I do think about what I am doing differently.  I never saw diversity in the modelling world while I was growing up because at that time society’s idea of beauty was very limited.  Twenty years later, it is getting better, and I am proud to be part of that movement.  There are still miles to go but every year brings greater change and acceptance.  This young generation of women are still exposed to overtly sexual images portrayed by very thin women but at least there are options now that weren’t there before.     My stepdaughters are now 15 years old and have a healthy attitude towards their personal beauty.   We often talk about the advertisements or music videos and discuss what took place behind the scenes to make it all happen.  The girls do have insecurities about other things like friendships, boys and school grades; however, their confidence about their bodies and their appearance is non issue.  I love that and hope, in some way, I was part of that influence.

I love representing the plus-size consumer.  I have been a size 14+ since I can remember so this size is my ‘normal.’  I especially enjoy doing runway where I can see the reaction of the plus-size women in the audience when I am coming down the runway.  They are cheering me on and I am strutting extra confidently for them. I love doing runway because you inevitably get to meet the audience after the show.  I enjoy that because women will give me their feedback about the outfits I wore and let me know which one they plan to try on.  They are excited about the fashions they are seeing on the runway and know that they are not excluded because of their size. They were represented and can be inspired to buy something beautiful for themselves.  I get especially excited when a woman asks me how she can become a plus model.  She recognizes her own beauty and potential and that is an empowering moment.

I am happy to offer myself genuinely to the modelling world.   If you see a picture of me laughing, it was because I was really laughing!  I like being authentic when I model.  I like to joke around with the photographer while they are taking my picture so the laughs and smiles are real.

We are so proud and inspired by Meg’s industry trailblazing and the positivity  she regularly promotes through her words, actions and career.  We look forward to sharing more of her work on our site in the future. To find out more about her, please visit her blog Raising Davis or look out for her regular columns in Parents Canada.

On Tuesday November 15, On the Curve Events came celebrated its launch with The Time is Now fashion show in Toronto – the only initiative of its kind in Canada.  A dozen of our curvy models strutted down the runway showcasing the Winter 2011 collections of Toni +, Allistyle, Stefanie Bezaire, Gussied Up and Lola & Gigi . It was an amazing night, the start of many fun events for the curvy Canadian consumer.

It has been a life long dream of mine to create events for the curvy consumer ever since I started modelling almost 20 years ago. There is a void in the Canadian market which needs to be addressed: women of various sizes who need to feel more included in fashion.  On the Curve Events aims to unite curvy fashionistas with great retailers through intimate and large scale fashion shows, designer Q&A’s, seminars, events and lectures.  The ongoing series will focus on fashion and fun for women sizes 12-20 and 14+-24+, making sure to include those women caught in the middle of straight and plus sizing who are often ignored.  Ben and I are thrilled our models are playing a part of this great wave of change and will continuously seek and develop new models of various sizes and heights to include in future shows.

Toni +

Allistyle

Stefanie Bezaire

Gussied Up

Lola & Gigi

Ben Barry Agency models Sara & Karen with Laura Caravaggio & Liis Windischmann

Ben Barry Agency models Meg & Kathryn with Toni Tiraborelli

We look forward to sharing more exciting news in the future about all our models and On the Curve Events news. Please make sure to tell us what you would like to see on the runway – your feedback will help bring about the changes we wish to see in the fashion industry!

Liis