Fashion, I Love It, Don’t You?

Fashion Design

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.

Fashion
Suede skirt I designed

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.

A little About Mayumi — 10 Things You May Not Know About Me

MAYUMI IZUMI | Content Creator

If know me in person or you’re following me on Instagram, you may know quite a lot about me because I share A LOT about myself. It’s the way I’ve always been.

People are sometimes shocked at how much I reveal but why not? I enjoy connecting with others and bonding with them over our similarities.

But there are things you may not know or have not read on my social platforms. Here are 10 things you may not know about me:

1) My middle name is Rosanna. My Papa named me Mayumi Rosanna after a Japanese actress and an Italian singer. Thank you, Papa — I love my name!

2) I drive 6-speed and can’t imagine going back to driving automatic. One of my nicknames is Miss Andretti after the race car driver because I love to drive fast!

My car baby, The Boss, 6-speed VW Tiguan
My car baby, The Boss, 6-speed VW Tiguan

3) I grew up an only child and love to be the center of attention!

4) I am a highly sensitive person (scientific term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron), an empath and highly intuitive. What does all this mean? I process a lot of information (that most others miss) about people all at once, can pick up on others emotions & feel them as if they were my own, and a lot of times I know something is going to happen before it happens.

5) I am of Japanese heritage but was born in Vancouver, BC at a hospital on Oak Street that is now BC Women’s & Children’s Hospital. I am proud to be a Vancouverite and Canadian!

6) I studied Fashion Design in Toronto and Fashion Merchandising here at VCC. Fashion was my first love!

Max & Mia designed by MAYUMI IZUMI
Max & Mia designed by MAYUMI IZUMI (dress to be revealed SOON)

7) My first retail job was at Pegabo Shoes (sister store to Aldo) in Pacific Centre. I love shoes!

8) I was on the field hockey team in my final year at Carson Graham Secondary. I love playing but preferably floor hockey!

9) I took guitar lessons for about 1 or 2 years but stopped because the music school closed down and now I forget how to play. But I loved it and going to teach myself again SOON!

Mayumi Izumi playing guitar
Me, Mayumi playing my Yamaha guitar my Mama bought

10) I’m a big flirt! Always have been and still love to do it! It goes hand-in-hand with being center of attention… Hahaha!

If you haven’t checked out my Instagram profiles (I have 4), go to my Contact page or my main profile.