Who are you 5x5: RA RA: Let's Play!

RA RA

5x5Clothing 

I like to dance.


I like to explore.


I like to run down streets and lay in the grass, ride motocycles through the mountains and drink beer by the lake.  

I live in Chiang Mai, a city nestled in the mountains of northern Thailand, chock-full of the most temples and bars per capita (!) and night markets full of unique goodies, most of which are hand-made and/or manufactured in Thailand.

I like to cruise around town on my classic Honda motocycle, wearing anything that shows off my long legs, hoppin to bars with live music--if it’s 60s rock n’ roll, or Thai country, I’m a happy girl (sometimes this is the best music I can get in Chiang Mai, it's true...)   

I definitely have moments of missin’ Canada: I came to Thailand in 2006 to work on human rights and development projects, and currently work part-time coordinating a project on human rights advocacy in Asia.  

But a fiery girl like myself simply needs more.  5x5 Clothing was born out of the need to be creative yet also be connected with my grrls at home.  

Back in Canada, I designed and made my own clothes, studying under various aunties and moms since I was young.  But without a sewing machine here, the next best thing is to employ talented seamstresses to realize my fit n’ fancy clothing dreams.  

So in true 5x5 style, I declare: Let’s Play!!! 

Who are you 5x5: Shi Shi - I'm a Rocker

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Shi Shi


"I'm a rocker, and I'm a roller too honey…" and when I was 8 years old I was Miss Sportswear Canada. Not a word of a lie! I remember that competition well.  My mom had set me up with a little rain cape and black shiny rain boots, an ensemble she had put together from the "Sally Anne." I did my little turn about the floor to that old classic "Cruella DeVil" from
101 Dalmatians. 

Cruella DeVill

I hadn't rehearsed my routine like the other girls; It didn't matter though because once I got up there something just came over me. I spun around, whirling with the cape up to my eyes like some 8 year old Bella Lugosi. A cape can be quite the accessory.


I also remember I  had a little costume for baton competitions that was inspired by 1930s' flappers, complete with garters and a head piece.  My mom made it herself.  I remember the pins sticking into me as she fitted it to my body. The costume had a little slit in the back, and by the second year of wearing it, the slit clearly revealed the crack of my fresh little bottom!

Flapper inspired costume - bum slit not shown

I was reminded of these fashion excitements the other day when I was getting ready for a video shoot.  You see my band Hotkid was very lucky to get a video grant.  The concept for the video involved different psyched out vignettes and so I suggested I make my own outrageous costume for one of the scenes; a "Labyrinth Bowie" inspired jacket, a victorian inspired bustle dress and a traditional native/cowboy loin cloth thingy.  I was thinking to myself "where the hell did I come up with this." 

Vid Costume

Anywho, that's pretty much what 5x5 is for me.  A collective of chicks pulling on their fashion past and present to create clothes for babes who don't want to wear the same thing everyone else grabbed off the sales rack.  5x5 maintains that  DIY ethos by supporting independent seamstresses, making beautiful and unique clothes.  I have a feeling that the 5x5 styles are just going to get wilder and more outrageous, and I can't wait to see what happens.

Who are you 5x5: Lee Lee: Leopard Princess

5x5 Clothing
Lee Lee

It's a really exciting time in fashion right now and it seems anything goes. The louder, crazier and more outrageous the better. Think Lady Gaga, Keisha, Katy Perry. But it's most exciting to help create what's next.

I myself am less of a risk taker and like to stick to the classics. I love anything girly and black. Feminine ruffles, lace, bows...anything cute... and am a total sucker for leopard print anything (side note: I question when I should stop wearing so much leopard.. surely there must be time in my life when I take a break from my fav print... or do I roll with it and settle nicely into my cougar years?).

I tend to wear a ton of black with a few pop colours here and there. My new obsessions include my nails, rings, scarves and l.a.m.b. bags. I guess I'm more of an accessories gal and it's something I look forward to exploring with 5x5.

So why 5x5? It's important to me because we have the potential to fill the void in many closets for the need of unique and interesting clothing. Our tight assortments, which are in limited runs, allow us to blow through styles quickly so that we are always offering something fresh and exciting. After all, fashion these days is faster than ever with new trends popping up every week.

I know we cannot be something to everyone, but I hope we can be something to those that matter. The ones with their finger on the pulse of fashion. The fearless ones looking for something more, something unique. The ones that care about products made with love, and the ones that search out hand crafted goods. Because as our motto says, 5x5 loves you and we want you to love us too!

xoxox,


Lee Lee

Who are you 5x5: Margot: Saucy Stories

5x5 Clothing
Margot 

An eager "Can I have 5 minutes of your time?" and a hand raised displaying five long hot-pink nails is what got me into this whole gig. Ra Ra approached us ladies at a party and pitched her idea for a clothing company with quick-turnaround limited-run pieces made in Thailand. I like what I hear... but the ultimate clincher was the stress on collaboration. Five ladies. Different styles, different influences, different contexts. Aren't 5 heads better than one?

Professionally, I'm fresh off the literary boat.  When it comes to fashion, this gives me a sense of the importance of narrative: please allow me this moment of cheese, but when I get dressed in the morning, I truly don't just put on an outfit, I put on a story. You know what I mean.

At this point, with all the goodness that the previous half-century has to offer, fashion is becoming more asynchronic than ever; I don't discriminate between old and new if it works with the theme I'm going for. One of my all-time favourites is what's known as "hey, d'you know you look like you're going on a safari?"-- cruising around town in a cream-coloured silk button-down with square breast pockets, a pair of high-waisted tan slacks (mom butt and all) held up by a square-buckled brown leather belt. Crude jewelry. Another fave is the haute crust look pictured here.

A dress made for a country singer
makes good in the country.

But is another clothing company really what this world needs right now? I admit I've wondered it, but I am proud to say that first and foremost we strive towards a sense of integrity as a collective, and that's what sets us apart. Ra Ra profiled the textile saleswomen she met at the fabric market, as well as the seamstresses who worked on our first run of pieces. How often have you really known who made your clothes, who measured out the fabric and who handled that chalk?

That's what I love about 5x5, and I really hope you'll love it too!

With love from

Margot

Who are you 5x5: LOLA: Hot n Bothered

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LOLA


For me, it all started when I was visiting RaRa in Thailand 2 years ago.  Seeing first hand the wonderful markets and super hipster vibes Bangkok had to offer was overwhelming.  I finally understood what she had been boasting about for years!!  From amazing one of a kind hand made jewelry, to weirdly shaped clothing, to super cute hair pins and accessories, the sky truly was the limit.  Thai style was simply blowing my mind not only for the outrageous clothing, (like good old wolfy), but also the “Thai sizing” :you have to be pre-teen to fit into many items, and I often felt like an amazon woman shopping, while the girls giggle at you as you try to cram yourself into those shorts you just have to have!!

As for the future of 5x5 (with the help of you) we plan to have each team member design their own line.   We as a group want to dress you with functional clothing that has a purpose in your life, makes you feel good and can go from day to night, with a great price tag!!  

My favorite item from our Spring/Summer line has to be the Misfit Dress.  It’s flattering and sexy without being so short that your vagina is hanging out (unless you touch your toes! wowzers!!).  I love how it’s perfect for all seasons, looks great with woolly black tights, boots and a jacket, or straight up flip flops and bare (pasty--in my case) legs.

I would suggest a coloured belt (red is best!) to define your waist.  Or take it as far as some gold thin chains and high top chuck Taylor's.  Hair: messy side braid to show off the back or a huge messy bun on the top of your head.  Add some hot bronze hoop earrings, and hit the town!  The dress doesn’t wear you in the slightest! 

So whats new for us?  Ra Ra is home for a 6 week visit, which means late nights, beers and shows!! (she has a natural talent to get you out and doing shit!!).  We are getting ready to do our official launch party at not my dog in Toronto this Tuesday. And Shi Shi's band Hotkid is about to go on tour with Sloan for a lil east coast Canada/USA tour.  

Thanks for your support thus far.  Hope you dig what we are doing; it’s truly from the heart and with your help we will be here for a while!!

xo

Lola

Hems and Stems: 5x5 Clothing Launch Party

5x5 Clothing


5x5Clothing loves you! and wants you! to come! to our launch party!

Join us to celebrate the launch of 5x5 Clothing, an independent fashion line inspired by Thailand's DIY scene, converging in Toronto.

Come drink beers on a patio, flirt with some babes, do a little dancin' and find out what 5x5 has up our short and daring hems.

Venture out to Parkdale and we'll give ya a 15% discount on any of our pieces!

See ya there!

JUNE 21, 2011--7 PM TO 12 AM-- at NOT MY DOG, 1510 Queen Street West, TORONTO 


xoxoxoox