Introducing RYB Denim!

Rips in the inner thighs. Seams that rub you the wrong way. Saggy bum. These are all the problems ladies can face while embracing both cycling and wearing jeans. RYB Denim out of Toronto has the solution to your women's bike fashion dilemma! (But they need your help.) Go to their IndieGoGo page to contribute and pre-order your Made in Canada history! If you live in Toronto, go by their Launch Party tonight at Gallant Bikes at 678 Bloor Street West.



Our own Big Red, half of Pigeon and Thread, was the technical/design super star behind them! WoOt WoOt!! Show love. Wear nice jeans. Bike all the time, all the ways.

Kickstart these bike knickers + love your vagina!

I predict the cool new thing in 2014 will be Chamois Panties! Cham-what you say? Sham-wow? No, chamois is a roadie cycling essential- special padding around your special places to protect how special you are. But like most roadie items, they are usually ugly.

Whilst working for a special urban cycling capsule project for Lululemon, Namtron got a baptism in the wonderful world of chamois. We got to laugh and laugh and laugh at some of the competitor products she had to research. But then, in true style, she made something that was traditionally ugly and specialized for hard-core athletes incredibly pretty and functional for urban cyclists. Check out the pretty things she made for urban women cyclists here.

As we all know, Indie businesses always push the boundaries, and fill in the niches. Enter the Urbanist Chamois Pantie by Christiana Guzman from Austin Texas. These cute, well-designed, women's undergarments that aid in making your bike-rides more pleasurable, are DNS approved! Check them out and pitch into their Kickstarter!



On a serious note, women specific products that aid in a comfortable ride are important products to invest in if you are a rider who puts many kilometers on your bike each year. We all basically ride our bikes on our vaginas. Vaginas are both pretty cool and pretty important, so as female cycling culture grows and grows, it's an aspect of the mechanics of cycling we should be paying attention too.

"Bike seats are designed in such a way that body weight typically rests on the nose of the seat, which can compress nerves and blood vessels in the genital area." - Anahad O'Connor, NYT Article

Like many aspects of health, the effects of this have been widely studied on men, specifically around the erectile dysfunction this can cause, but studies around women have not been as prolific. However, the studies that have been done show that long term riding can damage nerves around the pelvic floor. Ladies! This is not a good thing! Damaged nerves can mean less sexy-time-feelings, and bladder control problems. While the urban cyclist revolution (think the Cycle Chic Movement) calls for wearing "everyday fashions" to normalize cycling, in the long term we should be aware of potential health issues such as nerve damage. If urban cycling becomes equated with erectile dysfunction and loss of bladder control, the bicycle revolution will be in trouble.

The Urbanist Chamois Pantie seems to tackle both the need for specialized clothing, while provide a super cute "normal" looking product for every day wear. BRAVO Christiana! Bravo!

Poor choice of bicycle seat.

P.S. Other ways to help prevent nerve damage in women is raising your handlebars (having an upright bike is great), and using a "nose-less" bike seat (even if they aren't that cool). Here is a great article from the Bike Radar on buying the perfect bike saddle for women.

YNOT does Waxed Canvas!

By night I may be in a bike gang, but by day I work with the awesome locally produced cycling bag company YNOT. This week we launched our brand new waxed canvas line, along with this little promo video I shot - which mostly makes me wish summer will never end.

Ottawa Velo Vogue Fashion Show

Hey there internet bike land.

Did you miss out on this cool thing that happened in Ottawa on June 1st? Zara from Ottawa VeloVogue put on this tres-chic fashion show at Kichesippi Brewery. It featured great clothes, great bikes, great people, and a great cause.

"A big aspect of our event is fundraising for Cycle Salvation, which trains and gives employment in the field of bike mechanics to those who are economically disadvantaged, while at the same time diverting bikes destined for scrap and landfill sites. Cycle Salvation is a social enterprise operating under the umbrella of Causeway Work Centre." 

Fashionable bike event for a good cause? Nightshade approved.

Zara is amazing, and you need to follow her blog if you love fashion, cycling, and looking at pretty pictures of pretty people on bikes. After almost a few years of internet friendship, I finally got to hang out with this high-octane behb at Inberbike last September while we were both models for Momentum Magazine's fashion show. Winning! I hope I get to see this lady again! Look what awesome things she makes:

2013 Ottawa VeloVogue Fashion Show from Jackpine on Vimeo.

It's almost like it's Bike Fashion Week in Toronto

Woah. This week there are many stylish things going on if you love your bike and looking good on it.


First up is Lifecycles by Herman and Aburey, this June 7-9th. DNS will be featured in a photo series by emerging photographer Danielle Da Silva.








Then we have fellow Ryerson Alumni Kristi Woo of Riyoko Urban Bike Wear coming to Toronto From Calgary to sell her rad line of Cycling Apparel at Curbside Cycles.



Brooks Saddles is swinging on by Toronto to run a pop-up shop, the Dashing Show, at Bikes on Wheels on June 8th.

Deadly Nightshades featured in the Huffington Post!

We were happy to be interviewed by the amazing Amelia Brown for the Huffington Post Canada on how we Gen Y/ Millennials use cycling to express our style, independence and create the culture we value.

"The Deadly Nightshades are convinced that the bicycle is magic. When they're out as a "roving midnight bike gang," in seafoam green jackets, the seven women are a bewitching sight, mixing cycling, art and fashion."

Just one note, for us "fashion" is more "personal style". The Deadly Nightshades came about from a firm distaste of the traditional fashion industry, and it was our punk way to be ourselves and assert our own values. So dress how you want, define your own cycle chic, don't let others tell you how to express yourself, and make your own informed decisions first and foremost.

Already the one comment on the blog is about how we aren't wearing helmets. (Rolls eyes.) Our official stance is this: we all do and we all don't, depending on various factors. Helmets, while AWESOME and have saved several of our noggins at various points, aren't a fix-all for bike safety, and are really just this trolling, polarizing issue we'd all be best to just drop as a topic of focus. The fact is, if we had been wearing helmets we'd be criticized for promoting a culture of fear and not putting the emphasis on car driver resonsiblity. Luke Brocki did an awesome write up of the issue in his article on Velo-City 2012. 

The Huffington post article is a great article read all around, addressing economic issues like the crippling cost of cars, awesome places like the Bike Kitchen at UBC, and events like the Bicycle Film Festival.

"Despite efforts to market bright, affordable and gadget-laden cars to the Millennials, the bicycle is an easy solution that offers Generation Y freedom to get where they need to go without worrying about insurance payments down the road."

Huzzah! Let the culture shift continue!

Kym Perfetto for Affinity

Affinity Bicycles Featuring Kym Perfetto from Roberts Horowitz Creative on Vimeo.

God I miss NYC.

Kym Perfetto of the legendary NYC spin club Cyclesoul would make a Canadian Tire tricycle look sexy. I remember briefly talking to her once at a Chrome party and felt like a huge dork she was so energetic and awesome. Seems like she has also partnered with Drew of Fake Money for a electro dance project NO WAY JOSIE. So much awesome runs in such a tight circle of NYC bike peeps.


And here is Kym Perfetoo is in a short Casey Neistat film running in heels for NY Fashion Week... who else can relate? That's the beauty of bikes and heels... less walking, more biking right up to where you're going to be. More people in the smoking pit outside asking about biking in heels, more showcasing how bikes are awesome. Win. Win. Win.



Continuing on with the awesome theme... Casey Neistat's Bike Thief 2012. Wow.



Reminds me of our joke that steamed from our trip to the 2010 NYC BFF... how many Nightshades does it take to lock up a bike? 

DNS MIDNIGHT MADNESS CLOTHING SWAP!

The best clothing swaps in Toronto are curated by the Deadly Nightshades. We may all be biased in thinking this, but what other Toronto clothing swaps get featured in Blog TO, have major Toronto fashion scene characters come out and throw down walk-offs, and land you with rad items that will get you in the Huffington Post? We do!

Check out the Facebook event HERE! 

It's the greenest, funnest, most affordable way to purge your closet, get great new stuff, hang out/ have fun with your friends, and make new ones! For the first time, we are hosting the event at the still sparkling brand-new Make Den location!  (1244 Bloor Street West, two blocks east of Landsdown on the North Side. Look for an amazing Queen of Hearts window display and a Seafoam interior.) It's convenient as you can sign up to learn how to alter those amazing swap finds or rent a sewing machine if you don't have one yourself.


swap and alter all in one place , photo from the Make Den, 

The event is NOT at midnight- this swap starts at 8pm, Saturday February 23rd, and goes t'ill midnight. What a great way to avoid the bar scene! Or, since the Make Den is conveniently located in the up-and coming trendy Bloordale area, you can pop over to places like Three Speed, Bar Neon, or the Whippoorwill before or after swapping.

This time we are also going to have a fabric sale in the back! If you have left-over fabric, trims, notions or thingamabobs, for $10 you can sell your goods to a really awesome crowd. Contact us to book a table.

A reminder on swapping etiquette; All clothes, accessories and fabrics to be swapped should be in good condition, freshly washed if have been worn, with no stains. Minor tears and fixable things are okay.

See you then!

P.S. This year, left over clothes will be donated to the EHM clothing bank, one of Toronto oldest homeless shelters. So feel free to bring more then you plan on taking away. 

SISTER SESSION- OMG- girls in BMX

This amazing documentary on rising girls in the pro BMX circuit is one of the best things I have seen so far. Women cyclists seem to be breaking into in the bike scenes in all regards, from sports to infrastructure.

Sister Session – ONLINE PREMIERE! from Simple Session on Vimeo.

Directed by: Brett Astrid Võmma, Helen Habakuk, Doris Tääker
Produced by: Brett Astrid Võmma, Risto Kalmre
Girls riding: Katherine Diaz VEN, Chiara Felder GER, Rebecca Berg GER, Angie Marino USA, Zandile Mkwanazi GER, Allison López ARG, Saki Sawada JPN, Sam Moodie GBR, Camila Harambour CHI, Kayley Ashworth GBR

Thank you so much to GIRL BIKE LOVE for pointing me to this supper rad video about Female BMXers at Simple Session 2011.

This amazing looking documentary on sustainable textile design in India also popped up online. I would love to see the full thing!

Unravel Trailer from Soul Rebel Films on Vimeo.

Soul Rebel Films, Unravel Trailer

Momentum Magazine is looking for Toronto Models!

Momentum Magazine is putting on a fashion show at Expocycle in Toronto! They need hotties on bikes to be models- I think you should do it. You get a $100 honorarium and profile on momentummag.com will be provided.

I (MegO!) am going to be a model for them at their Interbike fashion show, Gaining Momentum!

SEE YOU IN VEGAS BABY.

YEAH.

The Internets!!

Here are links to some cool things!


Looking for a job? Kowtow, a rad sustainable fashion company in New Zealand, is looking for a production manager!

Sarai Snyder from Girl Bike Love put this on the Facebook and I am going to listen to it and think about it for a while.

"We are expressing ourselves, and through this other people won't feel so alone." - Charlie Kaufman



Refinery 29 it gives us 5 rad helmet hair styles.



Forbes shows a history of comics of the 1890's bicycle boom.


(Damn straight.)
 
 Secret origins photo:

Stone Island | Liquid Reflective Feild Jacket

Whoa.



I want this reflective & waterproof jacket so hard.

Oh Yeah...

I forgot to tell y'all, but I was in the Canadian Huffington Post for their Citizen Style Contest Thing! My photographer friend Jesse Winter snapped this shot down by the water at the Vancouver Athlete's Village.




I put together an outfit that met three criteria: Made/Designed in Canada, bike friendly, and some shade of green. (Take note, my tip and my tail were DNS. xo)

Hat, Salvation Army,$0.99. Infinity scarf and hair wrap- DIY from The Make Den. Made in Canada bamboo viscose Thieves top. preloved jacket from repurposed vintage sweaters and pants. Modrobes recycled poly riding jacket. Made in Canada Second Denim organic cotton high waisted jeans. Designed in Canada, vegan, single injection molding, non-toxic Paddintong boots by Native Shoes. Made in Canada Mari Cla Ro bag out repurposed car parts, swaped at the Clothing Swap Detox. Canadian trapped silver fox tail, Chatton Rouge.



Her is my my full "rationale" behind my style choices and view of the Canadian Fashion industry and urban cycling:

I would like to highlight the best of Canadian forward-thinking fashion.

In Canada, we have a lot of weather. I am from the city of Toronto, where the temperature goes from -20 degrees Celsius to above 30. it snows a lot. This differentiates us from comparably weatherless fashion cities of Paris, London or LA. Personally, I live in the world class city of Vancouver, which is situated in a temperate rainforest climate. Instead of fighting against these factors, or wishing I lived somewhere else, I embrace the weather. Snow? Sure! Rain? Bring it on. A stylish Canadian is not a fair weather fashion lover. Successful fashion companies out of Canada embrace rather then reject the weather.

The Deadly Nightshades is my crew, a bi-coastal design collective by day, mischievous bicycle gang by night. Our style is rocking up to Fashion Week and art parties on our bikes, hence a slogan "High Heels on Wheels". Therefor our style must be forward thinking, beautiful but a tad practical. Bicycles also make it easier to wear high heels, as there is little pressure put on the front foot, and heels can act as cleats to hold onto your pedals. We are part of a growing movement that embraces European style of everyday cycling. (We also have a OUT OF THIS WORLD style sense garnished from decades of awesomness.) Successful fashion companies out of Canada cater too rather then reject the active lifestyles.

The Nightshades met at fashion school, and in part bonded over working on fashion shows, art shows and eco-fashion events and the subsequent good times after. Sustainable design is the next progression in design for us, and producing fashions that are conscious of the planet is our passion. In Canada we have amazing natural beauty, that inspires design and art. Vancouver hosts Eco Fashion Week to great success. Successful fashion companies out of Canada preserve rather then destroy the Canadian environment.

I am trying to exemplify authentic Canadian style embraces the weather, progressive design, my choice of transportation, supports those I love, and protects the beauty of the country I live in.

xo

~MegO!

Fashion Cemetary

I've been doing work for Eco Fashion World and Pedaler Clothing. Through this work, I've been researching a hellalot of eco and bike brands and the various stores that carry them. It's sad, but sometime you do some research only to figure out through clicking that the brand hasn't released a collection in a few seasons, and isn't available online anywhere.... while it doesn't say 86ed it on the website, you come to your own conclusions.

Makes me wonder why brands don't announce they are closing? Hopeful they will resurrect themselves the next season? Can't pay their web developer? Joined a cult and moved away to a remote island where they swore off all technology?

C.H.U.N.K. 666 is a rad collective of tall-bike/bike polo/punks that put out a rad line of bike-polo shirts a few years ago... and I would like to give them the prize for "BEST USE OF R.I.P. WEBSITE."

Go here to see why I think this.

BIG (RED) IN TAIWAN.

Our babely Big Red is getting some major blog love from the girls over at Fixed Gear Girl Taiwan, originally via the wonderful & local 416 Cycle Style.

I still can't get over the distances you used to ride on that thing Cat.

Pedaler Clothing

Hello Internet!

I'm reppin' the amazingly stylish, sustainable and bike friendly Pedaler Clothing.


Photo: Richard Masoner from Cyclelicious

If you're a retailer interested in carrying a line of rad, comfortable, sustainable unisex clothing that you will sell out of, please contact me at meg (at) pedalerclothing (dot) com and I'll send our 2011 lookbook right over.


Here I am in my Pedaler Shorts in the OC last fall.

Love,

MegO!


Here is an article from Bust Magazine. One day this year Virginia will do my DNS tattoo.

Momentum Magazine Fashion Show!

Hey All! Last night Momentum threw a street fashion show, our last lag of the Canadian BikeStyle Tour!

Nightshade Namtron modeled for Momentum, and the streets were filled with music, cheering, and general loving of fashion, bikes, rad people, and Greenways.

Momentum fashion show, ( on bikes. ) from gordon mccann on Vimeo.

There was this old man who came around, then whipped out a million dollar hand held and started filming. His name is Gordon Mccann and he is awesome. xo