Fashion is a convoluted industry. It can mean a lot to some and nothing to others, and yet in the end it affects the way the world turns. Bold statement, I know, but I stand by it. I feel this way because fashion can make a statement before anything else. Look at Kate Middleton and Michelle Obama. Two of the most powerful women in the world and often reduced to what they’re wearing.

And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

I recently partnered up with Convey, a relatively new boutique on Queen Street West, and they share a similar view. As written on their website:

“There is a common misconception that fashion is this serious thing where you have to look, dress or act a certain way. What inspired us to create CONVEY was to challenge this misconception; to contradict the norm and open up a dialogue that seeks to empower and connect people through fashion. We are strong believers that your style conveys your message; as for the meaning of that message, that much is up to you.”

I love Convey’s ethos on a number of levels. From the exclusive Australian and New Zealand brands carried in their shop to the exciting projects the founders have in store for 2016 and, most importantly, their commitment to empowering local entrepreneurs, programs and more, there’s a lot to get behind.

And so I leave you with a quote from ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’ It’s one that came to mind the first time I met with Convey’s co-founder, Daniela Figliomeni.

Miranda Priestly: “This… stuff’? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select… I don’t know… that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise. It’s not lapis. It’s actually cerulean. And you’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent… wasn’t it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.”