FFWD Weekly
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Fashion by FFWD Staff Spring fever has hit in full force. Instead of the hormonal surges that usually occur, my peers are going a different route. The randiness has been replaced by intellectual curiosities. Conversations of late have included such topics as: A) if seconds are a measure of time, and are indeed seconds, what are firsts? B) if we are to believe in the theory of evolution, why do all other forms of primates still exist? C) who is hotter, Courteney Cox or Jennifer Aniston? Although the jury is still out for me on questions A) and B), I can tell you I much prefer Courteney Cox. But, I must concede, Jennifer Aniston wears a T-shirt better than anyone I've ever seen. The T-shirt is an amazing article of clothing – everyone owns them and they have the ability to look different on everyone. A few years ago, my quest for the perfect T-shirt began. It seemed a simple enough task. Clothiers were introducing "baby tees" for gals just like myself, not wanting the futon-sized T-shirts of yesteryear. However, the question of whether or not I wanted to look like a Hooters employee came up, and the quest continued. Then, sometime last spring, everything fell into place. An art student named Shannon Stratton read my mind and started creating the perfect T-shirts. Now in her third year at Alberta College of Art and Design, Shannon has become a master of dying fabrics, screening designs and creating eye-catching iron-ons. "I guess it was about this time last year when my little label, RED, was launched. I didn't really know what to expect, I just brought a few designs into Blue Light Special and decided to wait and see how they would go over," she says. "I remember one of the first times I saw someone wearing one of my designs. It was on the patio of the Ship & Anchor and we were just driving by. I made my boyfriend pull over – even from behind I recognized my Snakes and Ladders T-shirt. I can't even describe that feeling, but it's a great one." Shannon's designs include a cartoonish devil head (probably her most popular to date), mud-flap girls, Varga style pin-up girls, sacred hearts, Virgin Marys, ruby slippers and many, many more. "It all started because I wanted a Red Cross T-shirt. I could never find one, so I just created it myself," she says. "I had been screening designs for years (in school) so that part came quite easily. I'd also worked several retail jobs, so I definitely understood that aspect of things." Though T-shirts are something that is always in demand, RED is now expanding into other areas as well. "I did some panties and camisole sets last year that turned out really well, so I'd really like to do more along those lines," says Shannon, who plans to continue working in design after graduation. "The problem is my sewing skills are not really my area of expertise. So, for me, the best things to do are dying and sceening (or ironing my designs) onto existing items. It's just hard to find really good quality. So, as I find them the line will grow." Shannon's artistic side comes out even more when she deviates from these basic pieces, as shown in the footwear she recently started designing. (She really is a woman after my own heart – if she could only create fat free chips and dip, she'd have all of my weaknesses covered.) "I've started out using cork soles, wooden soles and I'm trying to figure out a way to make poured resin soles. The uppers are rhinestone-encrusted. Again, sacred hearts and devil heads are the themes. I'm also molding the outline of the toes onto the wooden soles for more comfort," she says. "These are definitely not everyday shoes. But fun, custom-made shoes are not for everyone. One day I'd like to be able to go to someone’s home and see their wardrobe and lifestyle, and create a shoe just for them. But for now, I’m happy to be working on a small scale." RED T-shirts (and soon custom footwear) are available exclusively at Blue Light Special – and as my full closet can attest, these items can make you feel as sassy as any Friends star.

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