Who better to shop clothing from than the ones we get our fashion inspiration from? When you think about it, influencers become successful based on the trust we have in their taste and recommendations, because they know what they’re talking about within their niche! Not to mention, the nature of being a fashion influencer, is inherently testing out a lot of different clothing. Perfectly preparing them to know exactly what they value in any garment – making them experts in their craft by way of experience. So it totally makes sense that some influencers have taken their career to the next level by creating their very own brands and labels and it’s no surprise to us the success these fashion brands have reached!
Keep reading to check out some notable influencer-owned fashion brands!
Uncle Studios
Uncle Studios was co-founded by Toronto fashion influencer Allegra Shaw in 2017. The brand started with the vision to create the perfect t-shirt. Some time has passed since then and now Uncle Studios has a selection of timeless, foundational pieces that can be styled in a multitude of ways. Not to mention its branding is unsurprisingly superb. Not only can you shop Uncle Studios through its website, but it’s now available in-store and online at Holt Renfrew, so you now have the opportunity to try on select pieces.
Rouje Paris
Paris It-girl Jeanna Damas founded Rouje Paris in 2016 ultimately inspired by the women whose lives she marveled at as a child. Rouje is the Parisian-style lover’s dream and provides everything we could want in both beauty and fashion, to become our very own self-established Parisian It-girls. Rouge was first and foremost inspired by women, and it translates within its pieces. “I like the idea that when a woman is wearing Rouje, we notice her first, then what she’s wearing.” – Jeanne Damas.
Song of Style
One of the fashion blog OG’s is none other than Aimee Song, who took what started as a passion project and eventually turned it into a fashion line, Song of Style with Revolve. While shopping the Song of Style brand on Revolve, you can expect to find an array of elevated basics with playful details of colour combinations and textures.
Something Navy
Something Navy, founded by fashion-blogger Arielle Charnas has evolved from a style blog to a fashion, lifestyle, and media brand. Something Navy aims to celebrate personal style by creating thoughtful designs with real women in mind. While shopping the brand, you can expect to find pieces that reflect Arielle’s personal style and aesthetic, offering timeless staples, statement accessories, and trendy pieces.
Are You Am I
Are You Am I is one of those labels, that you may not even know was founded by an influencer since it has such a large brand presence on its own! However, it is fashion blogger Rumi Neely behind the creation of Are You Am I. This influencer brand has a collection of individual pieces that stand alone instead of releasing full collections. The pieces have an overall feeling of romance and femininity.
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Instagram can seem overwhelming sometimes; there are so many people saying so many things and it can be hard to know what to listen to, and who to follow. What’s important to remember is that Instagram is a place that can help you build community, learn new things, find inspiration, and feel good about yourself. You should be following people and accounts that inspire and uplift you.
Whether you’re looking for someone to give restaurant recommendations, fashion inspo, or advice on which book you should read next, we’ve got you covered.
Check out our list below of the top 10 fashion and lifestyle Instagrammers and influencers to fill your timeline!
Hillory Renkema
Instagram/@hellohillory
Hillory is a bubbly, pink-loving fashionista that always posts the cutest spots across the city from restaurants,, to salons, and bars galore. Plus, her and Jonathan from Mr. Cavaliere are adorable together!
Vanessa Cesario
Instagram/@vanessacesario_
Vanessa is the ultimate, grunge-cool-girl fashion inspo. Not only is she incredibly cool, but she’s also a total boss. She’s the creative director of Unika Swim, and works with brands such as Hershey’s and Kastor & Pollocks to create content. There’s nothing this girl boss can’t do!
Bianca Venerayan
Instagram/@biancavenerayan
Bianca is a certified yoga teacher, radio/podcast host, writer, and all-around high energy person. She’s always travelling, from Thailand to Hawaii to numerous yoga retreats across the world, and she takes you on the journey in a fun and authentic way. Plus she’s always hosting free yoga classes that you can sign up for!
Victoria Hui
Instagram/@thelustlistt
Victoria’s IG page looks like one long beautiful editorial shoot from a magazine. Whether she’s on a stunning beach, a cute cafe, the city streets, or a luxurious hotel, Victoria always looks chic and effortless. She also keeps it super real via Instagram stories, so you really can get to know her.
Chantelle Marie
Instagram/@big.chantelle
Chantelle is a fashionista, always sporting casual athleisure-wear in most of her Instagram photos. She’s all the goals when it comes to the effortless-cool look. Does she look familiar? A frequent face for many modelling campaigns, you’ve probably seen her sporting your favourite brands multiple times.
Mary Young
Instagram/@itsmaryyoung
Mary Young is a Toronto-based intimates designer with a fresh take on beauty and self-love. Her page is very body-positive, inclusive, and flaunts some stunning pieces that you can purchase for yourself.
Meghan Yuri Young
Instagram/@meghanyuriyoung
Meghan is a health and wellness advocate, amongst many other things. Her posts are always motivational and inspiring, be it her posting about her workouts, the work she does to de-stigmatize mental illness, or her in-depth book reviews.
Anna Bediones
Instagram/@atothebed
For all your sporty-girl needs, Anna is your girl. Her casual, athleisure looks always kill it, and she’s an expert at pairing casual pieces with more formal wear to create a complete look.
Lauren McPhillips
Instagram/@thisrenegadelove
Lauren from This Renegade Love is a content creator and digital marketing expert. Lauren is known for her advice for other bloggers to master the art of working for themselves and being true to themselves. She’s extremely open and authentic on her page, letting followers into her insecurities, and showing us all that embracing yourself, your beauty, and your flaws is the route to true happiness.
Margaux Zanetti
Instagram/@margaux.zanetti
Margaux’s Instagram feed is a stunning blend of neutrals and subtle pops of colour that leaves us wondering how someone can lead such an aesthetically pleasing life? Well, find out for yourself by clicking on her “edits” highlight! She’s as open as she is chic, lifting the veil on the work that Influencers put into creating their beautiful content.
Featured Image: Instagram/@revolve
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The term “influencer” gets tossed around pretty loosely these days. Between self-proclaimed wannabe #influencers and the saturation of social media into daily life, to changing marketing, and advertising strategies, the concept of an influencer has become well known. It’s a title — and an accompanying lifestyle — that’s a coveted one.
But what does it take to be an influencer? The short answer is a lot more than the average person would assume.
“The biggest misconception about influencers is that it’s easy and anyone can do it,” said Emily Ward, co-founder of Shine Influencers, a global talent management and influencer relations agency. “The talent we’ve signed have worked hard to develop their personal voice and the look and feel of their platforms. Many of them are writers or photographers and have invested time in knowing their audience, learning how to share information in a way that genuinely adds value.” Ward and her partner, Jess Hunichen, launched Shine Influencers in 2015 in response to a gap in the growing market. They were one of the first in Canada to do so.
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As in any profession, there are a few rookie mistakes budding influencers can make — and once they’re out there in the social media world, they can ruin reputations before you land your first big campaign. “A big mistake new influencers can make is not taking the time to determine their place in the landscape,” says Ward. “Just like a product or service in any another category, an influencer needs to be filling a unique need in the marketplace, know who their consumer is and define their offering accordingly.” So, you need to offer more than your need to be insta-famous, as exciting or as good looking as you may be (though those things can sometimes help your cause).
In addition to offering value, there’s a lot of hard work that goes into becoming a successful influencer: it’s not just about unboxing luxurious deliveries and posting perfectly edited pictures.
Instagram/@icingandglitter
The bottom line is that you need to be a savvy businessperson — and driven. “You need to be extremely disciplined. I hope that people are starting to realize that the life of a content creator is far from just glamour. We wear a ton of hats. For me, those hats include writer, creative director, model, editor, interviewer, PR person, and so much more,” says Siffat Haider of @icingandglitter. “In order to ensure efficiency, I batch out my days; for example, Mondays are for writing, Tuesdays are for all things podcast — pitching, writing interview questions, and recording intros — Wednesdays are for content creation. If I have to shoot anything, it’s usually done on a Wednesday as Thursdays are for videos and Fridays for anything left over.”
For those just starting out, building a brand often means balancing all of the hard work with full-time jobs until they are ready to leave them.
“As much a this is a social space, investing time in live events, meetings and networking is what will connect you to opportunities and genuinely grow your community,” says Hunichen. If you think you have what it takes, the sooner you start, the better. “Something I wish people had told me when I started was to just do it. I put off starting a blog for so long out of fear of what people would think,” said Haider. “The truth is, most people are too busy worrying about what other people think of them to really think of you. As for the people who have something bad to say? They have their own insecurities that they’re projecting onto you. The only people whose opinions matter are those who are supportive and kind, and chances are those are the ones who are fulfilled with their own lives, and the people you want to surround yourself with anyway.”
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While many influencers manage every aspect of their business, there may come a time when seeking representation may make the most sense. “Talent should be looking at representation when they are experiencing a high enough interest from brands and agencies and they’re ready to take their brand to the next level,” says Hunichen.
While the term “influencer” may admittedly be getting a bad rep by some thanks to the oversaturation of the wannabes, we’ve recently seen the emergence of ways to weed out the ones who won’t actually help your brand.
“Many influencer database platforms have been launched that are focused on the impression numbers versus the true influence of the creator,” says Hunichen. “Brands need to access a strategic agency that can be a guide to discern which influencers have the potential to be genuinely impactful for their campaign and which simply have impression numbers as their offering.”
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In general, get into it for the right intention. “Get into this industry because you love to create, not because you want to make money,” says Haider.
And — by all means — don’t add “influencer” to your Instagram bio unless you’ve earned the title.
Featured Image: Instagram/@lapetitnoob
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