R!c: 1. Please tell me about your work.

JMat: My team and I create well-made, sexy, Ready-To-Wear outfits for women that appreciate designer clothes. My goal is for women to feel amazing when they try on my outfits. I can do this by customizing a dress to suit each woman’s tastes. For example, I can add a pocket, close a neckline, add a sleeve or shorten a hemline etc.

R!c: 2. Tell me more about your Ready-To-Wear line called “Collection”.

JMat: It’s not necessary to be an actress to wear my Collection pieces but they have been worn on the TIFF red carpet. I was trained by a Haute Couture Designer and I employ a lot of handmade techniques but my outfits are made to measure.

R!c: 3. Your work consists of: Collection, Bridal and Babe lines. Tell me about Babe.
JMat: First of all, Babe is an endearing term I’ve used with my female friends for years. Babe is my price conscious diffusion line. The hem lines are shorter and the colors are bolder. My clients typically wear these dresses at cocktail parties, graduations, weddings etc.

R!c: 4. What differentiates you from other Vancouver designers?

JMat: I’m friends with a lot of local Designers and follow their work. I spend 100s of hours on the cutting table and pride myself on impeccable finishing. How a piece feels when it’s worn and how it integrates with a women’s wardrobe are both equally important to me.

R!c: 5. H&M seems to be the measuring stick for cost. Your work is considerably higher priced for many reasons. Do you feel you need to educate people about your craftsmanship and effort?

JMat: No, because I’ve built my business one woman at a time. I don’t advertise so word of mouth and personal referrals are essential. My goal is for each woman to feel amazing so they understand the quality they’re buying.

Visit R!c's website: www.SidewalkRunway.com or follow him on Instagram SidewalkRunway_com or Twitter @RunwaySidewalk

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