Brand new nostalgia

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/8/2006 (4508 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SOMETIMES the best way to discover the latest on the fashion front is to get out and pound the pavement. Whether it's walking down the streets of some of Winnipeg's trendy neigbourhoods or popping into that quirky store you've always meant to swing into, odds are you'll discover something fashionable that's new and interesting.

One of my favourite places to discover new local designers is at festivals. For example the folk festival is a great place to check out new fashion designers, Folklorama is always a great place to find interesting ethnic garments and the fringe festival always has a kiosk or two that draws me in.

Last year I discovered a fantastic cotton activewear line called Hug Me by a local designer whose clothing is now sold at The Urban Boutique, Stulka and Chic Clothing, to mention a few locations.

This year it was a jewelry kiosk called Vintage Bling that caught my eye.

Being a jewelry lover, I was naturally attracted to this display of shiny rings, bracelets and necklaces made from vintage jewelry. I was a bit biased in my attraction to this display, as I have been collecting various vintage pieces (furs, dresses, suits and jewelry) since I was 18. That's when my mom bought me a vintage pearl choker to wear to grad.

Vintage Bling was created by Winnipegger Dayle Goertzen, who describes herself as a lover of all things vintage. About two years ago, the avid jewelry collector started crafting bracelets out of the beads from the broken vintage pieces she had amassed over the years.

"I started making these stretchy bracelets with the vintage beads and wearing them to work, and the women there loved them," says the designer. "So around Christmastime I thought I'd make a bunch and see if I could sell them for a little extra cash — and I sold them all."

Since then the demand for Vintage Bling pieces has grown. In the summer of 2005, Vintage Bling went retail and Goertzen started creating rings and necklaces.

In just one year Vintage Bling has been picked up by six local clothing stores and Goertzen has begun to expand her line to include chokers, earrings and cameos. The reaction to her unique and very funky rings and things has been just as successful.

"It's so much fun to watch people's reaction to the jewelry because the pieces are so nostalgic," says Goertzen. "They will say, 'Oh, my granny used to have stuff like that' or 'Oh, that's what my mom used to wear.'"

Goertzen, a mother and full-time special education worker, says she has a passion for reclaiming something old and making it new again.

You can check out a full list of Vintage Bling

retailers at

www.vintagebling.ca.

connietamotofashion.com