Sarah Murray

I have worked in different facets of the fashion and journalism industries since 1996. My knowledge began in a small town where I was employed as a reporter, photographer and darkroom technician for the community newspaper. From there I headed to the bright lights of Toronto where I worked my way through job titles such as modelling agent, modelling school director, model search event coordinator and beauty editor. Since relocating to Vancouver my fashion and journalism experiences have grown to include retail manager, west coast correspondent, editor, freelance writer, stylist,
publicist, and fashion show coordinator.

My journey originated in university though, where I studied English and set my sights on a career in fashion writing. But life set me on an unexpected path: media relations and fashion show coordination. It’s a thrill to create one-of-a-kind concepts and then producing high quality fashion shows to match. It’s a similar experience being able to pinpoint what is unique about fashion designers and then make it newsworthy.

Fashion can sometimes have a negative connotation of being frivolous and superficial but I’ve found purpose in fashion. I try to promote local and sustainable design and truly believe that fashion can change the world. But while I’m an environmentalist at heart, I’m most certainly a fashion girl; I have over 100 dresses to prove it. Thank you David Suzuki for pointing out that clothes are a necessity. So even though it doesn’t look like I’ll be making it to the Grammy’s any time soon I’ll still hold on to the dress. It is fun to get dressed up and play make-believe, all the while knowing exactly who I am…Sarah Murray

Lindsay Kerdman

Born and raised in downtown Toronto, I moved to BC in 2004 to peruse a career in competitive gymnastics/high diving and to study at the University of Victoria. When I wasn’t in class, the gym or pool, I used my free time to volunteer as a fashion journalist for the school paper. I also organized charity fashion shows and blogged about fashion, art and philanthropy.

After completing a degree in humanities and retiring from competitive athletics, I realized that my other love was fashion and journalism. So I moved to Vancouver and enrolled at John Casablancas Institute for the Fashion Business and Creative Arts program. In class I was learning about marketing, visual display and styling, and on the side I was interning and volunteering with various writing, PR and event coordination companies. I soon graduated from the program with distinction and received a job with  my PR and writing professor, Sarah Murray.

Having the opportunity to work with someone who cares as much about local and ethical fashion as I do has made my transition into the industry an amazing one! Gymnastics is still a great love so I coach petite elites (picture cute girls tumbling and winning). Life is wonderful! Not many people can say that they have one job in their chosen field, let alone two. My career has only just started and I can’t wait to see what happens next!