These days, the next fashion trend is sustainable materials and green environmentalism.  Sonja Den Elzen was ahead of her time with her line Thieves, which debuted in 2006. Soft flowy materials, drapery cowling, classic with a subtle edge and asymmetrical cutting are hallmarks of the line.  I spoke with Sonja and here is what she had to say :

EM Occupation and Position

Designer and owner of Thieves by sonja den elzen

EM: Can you tell us a little more about your concept?

Thieves is a contemporary designer line that uses sustainable fabrics.  [It has a] subtle edgy timelessness that celebrates and individuals strength and style.

EM: What neighborhood do you closely identify with? What makes your community unique?

Well, currently I have a boutique in the west queen west area of Toronto. The area is a coming up area with lots of art galleries, a couple of boutique hotels and small bars and restaurants. I guess what makes it unique is that it is still so close to the time when it was an area on the fringe with only artist galleries. the community is still such a mixed group of people, from artists, to young professionals, to people from the mental hospital down the street and street people, to young hipsters and tourists, its great. Still a little bit of everything so there is lots of character and the vibe is in motion and evolving all the time.

EM: How is it designing in a Canadian context/market?

Its interesting, Canada often needs confirmation from the international market before giving props to one of their own, wether it be in art, fashion or music, but this is slowly changing. Its nice to surprise people with what can come out of Canada. As well, in Toronto it is such a multi cultural community that it makes it only natural for people to have a broader sense of different people and cultures, and I think this gives Canadians an opportunity to be unique and broad ranging in their design.

EM: What inspires you?

Big question….a certain something that is in anything that appeals to my own sense of appreciation. Nature, organic systems, different cultures, friends, communities, music, architecture, cement, raw space, organic minimalism, organic texture, movement.

EM: What is the greatest piece of item you found at a garage sale/flea market?

We found a beautiful white antique jam cupboard for the shop.

EM: Where are your favorite local spots to eat?

The Beaver has great panini’s and Addis Abbabas has delicious Ethiopian food.

EM: What bands are at the top of your playlist at this very moment?

Little Dragon, and Fever Ray, Medicine Man radio always has a great world music show every week as well, Wolves by Dead Prez, mix in a little hip hop, a little jazz and a little blues, so a really good mixture that rotates depending on the mood.

EM: What is your favorite bedside read?

Zaki Ibrahims “song computer girl” probably answers that question best right now
http://www.myspace.com/zakiibrahim

EM: What is your favorite place to visit when you travel abroad?

In European and North American countries it would have to be the major cities, in developing world countries it would have to be small villages in the mountains and by the oceans. [There are] too many places to see still to narrow it down to a favorite!  So far I enjoy the beaches of Goa, the mountains of Kodaikanal, the style and cafes of Paris, the streets and social culture of barcelona, the exciting energy of New York, and the surfing in Santa Teresa in Costa Rica.

EM: Lastly, what kind of projects do you have coming up?
Well, right now [I am] focusing on getting the spring 2010 collection out. There are some exciting collaborative projects with a friend in New York in the works for later in 2010…….but that is all I can say right now.

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www.thieves.ca

via Jen Tse, 11 August 2009 10:01am | |