Fashion Blogger - MAYUMI IZUMI

December 28, 2023December 28, 2023

Fashion, I Love It, Don’t You?

I began my fashion journey at the age of seven. I remember the day clearly. My mom brought home an outfit and I didn’t like it. I told her from now on, not to buy clothes for me unless I was with her.

In 1999, I studied fashion design at the International Academy of Design and Technology (IAOD) in Toronto. First, I had taken textile design in high school for 2 years and, I won the textile design award in my senior year. After I completed the program and returned to Vancouver, I graduated from Vancouver Community College (VCC). And I was proud to wear my gown and cap to receive the Fashion Merchandising Certificate. I designed and constructed the black suede skirt while attending IAOD as well as the corset dress in the featured photo when I was at VCC Fashion.

Columnist

And then fast forward to 2022, I had my own column at Capilano Courier called “CapU, What Are You Wearing?”. In the column, I interviewed faculty and students on campus to ask about their outfits and in the process found out more about the people behind the clothes. It was a fun way to get to know the Capilano University community better and combine my love of vogue with my passion for writing.

Thrifted Fashion

Currently, my fashionista ways has turned thrift shopping into an addiction. If you are interested in having your own style and enjoy clothes shopping, you should start thrifting. It is like a modern day treasure hunt and adventure. The best part is you never know what unique items that you will find.

What’s more is that there are thrift stores all across Metro Vancouver, but some of the best are in East Van such as My Sister’s Closet, Miscellany Thrift and Vintage and Still Fabulous. And in North Vancouver, my favourite is Clothes For A Change and Good Stuff Connection. For online shopping, my favourite is my own pop-up boutique, Mobile Vintage By M and M and Facebook Marketplace. I created an Instagram and Facebook profiles dedicated to thrifted finds.

FI INC.

Finally, I launched my website in 2018 in combination with my digital marketing business FI INC. I started an interview series that I originally named Babes Promoting Babes where I featured local small business owners and the people behind the businesses.

If you would like to find out more about my blog and interview series read the interview on myself.

May 17, 2020December 28, 2023

Babes Promoting Babes – Mayumi of FI INC

I have been enjoying the Babes Promoting Babes Interview Series so much that — I decided to interview myself …. Lol.

Answering my own interview questions is good way for you to get to know me better and what I’m passionate about.

MY MISSION: To motivate and inspire Boss Babes in the making. To uplift, encourage, and promote male & female entreprenuers and to share aspirations, goals and dreams with them and you, my subscribers.

To provide and build a warm, loving, and supportive community of CREATORS. Creators of art, a business, or a NEW YOU …

Q: What’s your story? Where were you born, where were you raised? What was your childhood, growing up years like?

A: I was born in Vancouver, BC — Yes, I am a true Vancouverite and proud of it! I grew up in East Van as an only child to Masako and Hiroaki Izumi. We’re Japanese, as you can see from our names… Hahahaha …

Q: What did you want to do when you grew up?

A: I wanted to be famous. Actress, singer, model, fashion designer. It’s funny because my Dad named me after a Japanese actress — Mayumi and an Italian Singer — Rosanna.

When I was 11, I wanted to be a lawyer. Very fitting as I am good at arguing my point.

Q: Did you go to college or university? If so, what did you study?

A: Yes, I studied Fashion Design at the International Academy of Design & Technology in Toronto, Ontario and Fashion Merchandising at VCC (Vancouver Community College).

Because I love to learn, I also completed the Small Business Program at VCC as well as the Applied Digital Communications & Social Media Program at Capilano University.

Right now I am in the Bachelor of Communications Program also at the university

Q: When did you move to Vancouver? Why did you move to Vancouver?

A: I was born and raised in Vancouver. But I lived in Edmonton, Alberta for 2 years and when my Mom (capitalized on purpose for respect to the woman who raised me on her own) & I moved back, we moved to North Van and I attended high school here.

I moved to Toronto in 1999 and lived there for 3 years to study Fashion Design as I mentioned above.

Q: When did you start your business? What was your inspiration?

A: I started FI INC in 2018. My inspiration was my love and passion for writing.

Q: What do you love the most about being a Boss Babe?

A: I love waking up and being excited about my day. What am I going to work on … How am I going to help my clients … What angle am I going to use to make my clients’ businesses shine …

I am an artist. Any outlet that allows me to use my creativity makes me happy.

Also, working at home is AWESOME!

Q: What would your advice be for Boss Babes in the making? If they are contemplating leaving a secure 9-5 job with benefits – what would you say to them? Should they take the leap?

A: GO FOR IT! But do it with intelligence. Save money — 6 months to 1 year of income to have a cushion while you’re building your business before you quit your day job.

I did not do this BUT it is ideal to feel safe while GOING AFTER YOUR DREAMS …

Q: Any last words? What’s our favourite positive/motivational quote or book?

A: My favourite quote is from one of my favourite books and authors:

“The seventh spiritual law of success is the Law of Dharma. Dharma is a Sanskrit word that means ‘purpose in life.’ The Law of Dharma says that we have taken manifestation in physical form to fulfill a purpose. The field of pure potentiality is divinity in its essence, and the divine takes human form to fulfill a purpose.” — Deepak Chopra

You have to do what makes you happy. When you find what that is and can make money doing it then you’re in Dharma.

November 18, 2019

Vancouver Is Expensive AF – Thrifting Is My Solution!

What was once just for fun, has turned into a lifestyle and necessity for me. Through one of my Instagram alter egos, Miss M: https://www.instagram.com/missmsthriftyfinds/ – I am your guide to thrifting and share my thrifty finds that I purchase mainly via Facebook Marketplace sellers, but also at my favourite thrift store, Clothes For Change in North Vancouver and various other thrift stores sprinkled throughout our city such as BC SOS Thrift Stores in Steveston.

Thrifting brings me such joy. I plan a whole day around my Facebook Marketplace appointments and make it an adventure! On Saturday, I had two appointments in Port Coquitlam and invited my Mom, Mako to join me in my modern day treasure hunt.

We picked up a NYX eyeshadow palette for $10.00, an IKEA rug for ONLY $5.00, enjoyed lunch at Arisu where the food was so yummy that it immediately became my new favourite Korean restaurant. After lunch we went downstairs and did some grocery shopping at Hanam Supermarket.

The pricing was good at the market, fresh produce AND best of all they have a customer loyalty program in which they reward us with points and exclusive special prices. They gave me 3 key tags so I gave one to my Mom.

Hanam customer service actually recommended sharing their loyalty program with family and friends when they gave me the key tags. Great for sustainability and since Mako would be coming with me it only made sense that we would open just one loyalty account.

Thrift shopping, even if you’re just looking is a great way to spend the afternoon with friends or family. On Sunday, I met up with one of my BFFs and Big Sis, Mona on Commercial Drive in the heart of Vancouver thrift.

We went to Miscellany Finds for the first time and it is a huge store with lots of great thrifty finds! And the best part we didn’t spend a dime. A truly thrifty experience – we were just window shopping …

September 20, 2019September 22, 2019

Happy Birthday to ME ….

It’s my Birthday today … I’m listening to Elvis’ “Little Sister” and drinking Vancouver’s Ethical Bean coffee. If you have never tried it, you HAVTA. I am happy to say they serve it at my school, Capilano University.

I was born on Monday, September 20th at 10:40 pm to Masako & Hiroaki Izumi in Vancouver, BC on Oak Street. Coincidentally, it’s one of my favourite streets in Vancouver – not only was I born there, but the beautiful, Van Dusen Garden is located there as well as one other reason that shall remain unsaid . Yup, that’s riiiigghhht I AM A TRUE VANCOUVERITE, born AND raised! And OH, SO PROUD of it!

I am hoping my colleagues fulfill my desire for a Tiramisu birthday cake as I requested a month ago …. Hahaha ….I am not shy about asking for what I want. I am always the one who organizes everyone’s birthdays at the office so why not?!

Sooo this afternoon when I make my wish before I blow my birthday candles out, I do have everything I want or could possibly need BUT one thing – I’m not superstitious so I am going to share my wish with you … I wish for a family. A husband (or life partner), 2 kids (boy & girl), a Husky dog, and a house on the North Shore. And during the summer months we will live in Tofino, BC.

Well, I did receive my wish for a Tiramisu cake …. NOW, let’s see WHEN my other wish comes TRUE! I will keep you in the loop …

If this was a rom-com the man I wrote about in my Love blog: https://mayumiizumi.com/2019/09/07/man-of-my-dreams/ would appear at my work as he did in real life: https://medium.com/@mayumiizumi/unrequited-love-d723ce1388ab. I am no longer in love with him BUT … I once thought he was my IDEAL MAN …

September 4, 2019September 5, 2019

Fashion INVESTIGATOR INC’s First E-Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 1

Thank you so much everyone for registering for Fashion INVESTIGATOR INC. As a special thank you I am sending everyone who registered our very first E-Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 1. I have sent it to the email that you supplied us to register for our site.

The overwhelming response has been wonderful and means so much to us.

One of the features in our E-Newsletter is looking chic on a budget. I love shopping and I especially love shopping at thrift stores. Some of my favourites are; Clothes For Change in North Vancouver, BC and SOS BC Thrift store In Steveston, BC.

I was introduced to thrifting by my Mom (capitalized to show my respect), Mako. She introduced me to all the best things in my life today: yoga, being a foodie, and a good skincare routine (one of my next features).

Please check your inboxes for our E-Newsletter and if you don’t received it, add us as a contact: admin@mayumiizumi.com. And if you enjoy my photos I post everyday on my Instagram profile @mayumiizumi OR you can click on the link on our Contact page: https://mayumiizumi.com/contact-us/ . I have 3 Instagram profiles hence the 3 icons.

August 25, 2019September 2, 2019

My First Post!

Okay, so that is not exactly true. I have a free website from Wix that I named Fashion INVESTIGATOR INC, published, and abandoned back in 2010. Lol…

But this time I’m here to stay folks! I am so excited that I FINALLY have my own website & platform to speak with you, share with you, laugh, and celebrate with you…

My Vision is to continue to build my community of happy, positive, supportive people to SHARE my LIFESTYLE with you:

FASHION – and where to shop on a budget
EATS – where to get the best nomnoms & customer service
FITNESS -I quit smoking 2 1/2 years ago & gained 15 lbs and I will share with you my journey back to fitness and help motivate you to keep you on track & in the gym – I am now a Steve Nash Lonsdale Ambassador
NATURE – I am a Spiritual Empath: “Empaths are truly gifted people in many ways. … It is a rare gift which makes them what they are – empaths. They sense the feelings of others as their own which makes them great listeners and trouble-solvers. Empaths have one rare trait that makes them even more powerful – these people are experts in human psychology.” – May 31, 2018

And as a Spiritual Empath I NEED NATURE – being in the woods on a trail, at the beach near the ocean or near a stream, creek or river, OR in a beautiful garden such as Gerry’s Garden in North Vancouver, BC.

August 14, 2019September 2, 2019

Fashion INVESTIGATOR INC

Welcome to my Lifestyle Ezine, Fashion INVESTIGATOR INC and thank you for visiting!

It has been quite the journey to get here… And I am so happy to share my LOVES with you. Every week I will inform you where you can find FASHION name brands on a budget, where to eat the best NOM NOMS and receive the best customer service, keep you motivated to stay on track with your FITNESS routine as I am one of the Ambassadors at Steve Nash Lonsdale, and I will share my LOVE of NATURE with you …

We will feature NEW Guest Writers every month who are Industry experts.