about us
what we're about
Teens Reacting Effectively aNd Discovering Style (TRENDS) is a national fashion and image project by teens, for teens. We want to empower ourselves to achieve fashion freedom: fashion that reflects our personal style and counteracts the objectification of women. Fashion should communicate who we are. We call it doing fashion “from the inside, out”. Teens need a voice in the world of fashion, so that we can be empowered to choose clothing that shows our self-worth. We are here to be leaders. We are here to be that voice.
TRENDS aims to revolutionize the fashion culture for teens by providing a platform from which teenaged girls can share their ideas with the fashion world.
how it all started
TRENDS began in Toronto in 2004, when four teen girls decided that something needed to be done in response to the growing uniformity in teen fashion and the increasing tendency to objectify young women. Along with a mentor, TRENDS was their response: a fashion and image project was born.
It didn’t take long for word to get around. In 2006, TRENDS groups started in Ottawa and Vancouver. In 2007, the Montreal group was formed. With the collaboration of some professionals, TRENDS is still led by teens, for teens.
what we're reading
books
Girls Gone Mild
by Wendy Shalit
Great advice from teen girls.
It’s So You! Fitting fashion to your life
by Mary Sheehan Warren
A guide to finding your own style.
magazines
articles
The Notion of Beauty
by Pia de Solenni, Ph.D.
Discover why beauty is not only skin-deep.
The Language of Women's Fashion
by Carolyn Moynihan
The way we dress is a sign of who we are and how we wish to act in the world.
great people to work with
Honourary Members
2007-2008 - Maria Alvarez de Toledo
Maria Alvarez de Toledo is the Executive Director of Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD). FAD is an educational project in London, England that aims to engage young people, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, in creative and artistic workshops, which offer them vocational education that enhances their opportunities for employment and higher education. FAD conducts fashion competitions, which provide young people with opportunities to further their creative and practical skills, integrate cultural research into their work, and showcase the results to the industry and media.
2006-2007 – Jessica Trisko
Twenty-four years old, Jessica Trisko was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. She has a B.A. from McGill, a Master’s from the University of Texas at Austin, and is presently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at McGill University. She placed in the Top 10 at Miss Universe Canada in 2007. Jessica represented Canada at the Miss Earth 2007 competition and became the first Canadian to win the title.