Behind the scenes look at the FÅÇÅDE illustration

This is the original illustration that is featured on the inner lining of the FÅÇÅDE branded toques. It originated as quick sketch of my own face from a mirrored reflection as I was bored one day. I started adding anatomical bones, lace details, flowers, and clockwork, and suddenly was faced with this strange looking creature that I liked the look of. 

I also used tracing paper to create the FÅÇÅDE branded logo from the structure of the girl's face. The more I kept drawing, I more I couldn't stop drawing up different variations! I was hooked.

Next I found a silk-screener in the Queen West neighborhood of Toronto to reproduce my image many times onto sheets of bamboo cotton. I was super impressed with the results! 

Next, to design my first toque prototype, I cut out one of the screen-printed images from the cotton, and pinned the fabric onto the inside of these charcoal, 11-inch toques. A seamstress helped me sew the lining into the toques, and voila! We had a working toque.

I spent a good couple of days shooting and editing a video for Kickstarter, a crowdfunding service to help raise funds in order to produce the first 50 toques. These are some behind the scenes shots as I edit the video. 

A shot in the studio at Seneca College Sandbox with my friend Julia. 

Video: How-to - the reversible toque

FÅÇÅDE, the first project - the branded toque

The three-way toque worn in each way on the three models.

FÅÇÅDE emerged from my daydreams, early December 2014, after shopping for warm knit headwear and realizing there was nothing in the local market that I found appealing or wanted to wear. Pom-pom toques donning a sports logo or the popular 'Toronto Neighborhood' toques were all the rage but nothing screamed unique from the competitors. I noticed cuffed toques were extremely common and were easy to reproduce with a simple logo or patch attached to the underside. I played with that idea and went shopping for long, cuffed toques in the GTA.

For those that have grown up in Toronto, our winters can be incredibly long and harsh when least expected. Toques, scarves, mitts, and long socks are not shy of an urbanite's daily apparel on the streets as they walk in and out of public transit. Toques are definitely statement pieces that must be able to adhere to the individual's changing outfits and style. I thought to myself, why not create a toque that could be worn multiple ways if the wearer got bored or wanted to change things up to match his/her surroundings?

Thus, the FÅÇÅDE branded toque was born. Featuring a hand-drawn illustration of a sugar skull figure screenprinted onto the inner lining, the toque can be worn interchangeably three different ways:

With the "FÅÇÅDE" branded word showing

Rolling the bottom cuff up to reveal the figure's eyes.

Inside out, revealing the entire illustration.