KAYLA MORIN
Fashion has always been important to me, just as a natural form of self-expression.
I think that, especially as a young girl, I was brought up and taught that this was a very special thing for young women.
My baba always looks really stylish; she taught me about textures and colors and putting things together, and it really became an exciting art form for me as a little girl– to actually choose my clothing.
My mom told me this story of one time when I was a toddler, getting ready for the day, and, you know, she wanted to choose an outfit for me but I said, “No, mom! ......Fashion is my life!” This was pretty funny to hear coming from a little 3 year old, especially one who tended to love playing outside 24/7.
So always growing up it was important to me to express my inner world through my clothing, and that’s just continued throughout my life.
When I met Monika it was a chance encounter; I had gone into work, I had a meeting nearby, and it was pushed back so I was just kind of wandering around on Queen St, walking, and some things in the window caught my attention.
I liked some colours or patterns and everything looked really flowy and comfortable, so I walked in and there’s Monika with a big smile, a cheery face, and a cute little dog running around at everybody’s feet while she’s chatting away with the ladies... it was a great atmosphere :)
The first item I got remains my favourite to date– she had these beautiful muted green blouses (that were one size fits all, which I really liked) with this nice pattern on them. It reminded me of a sort of modern take on a traditional Ukrainian dancing shirt, and sure enough Monika and I share slavic background, so we got to talking!
She mentioned how she was looking for some casual models, and I had done a little modelling... so we connected and it went from there! Now besides the occasional photoshoot and runway I work with MONIKOVA on showcasing the brand through media projects like this one!
Monika is such a wonderful person, and I really love the one size fits all idea that there can be clothing that will fall differently on different women but it can still work for us all.
Really it's a philosophy of all bodies are great and can be celebrated, and you know, it goes into celebrating women in general! And celebrating all aspects of what make women women..... of which there are many layers as we all know. :)
Femininity, comfort, strength and confidence, a flair for the dramatic, but then also a consciousness of needing to be reserved and not too challenging– we can play with all of the aspects of what make us a woman in different moments, and some days be a little more challenging, who knows!
Realizing all of this for me was just part of the MONIKOVA experience and meeting this extraordinary, caring designer who really has women’s best interests at heart when she’s designing her clothing.
Monika is a true artist, and you know, a true worker bee at work in her 'factory’ in her home. It’s such a beautiful thing to see someone who is so inspired and so motivated to work so hard at her craft.
I so appreciate the quality and the tailoring and the attention to detail on all of the MONIKOVA clothing. Those little accent details that make her clothing so fun.
And I know that I can just wake up, and when I don’t know what to wear and have to run to work, it’s so easy to throw on a pair of pants and a MONIKOVA blouse or tunic and just feel fresh and ready for the day no matter where it might take me. It’s professional and comfortable and those earthy tones that I love.....
I feel like a beautiful, grounded woman when I’m wearing MONIKOVA and that really suits me.
Kayla Morin works as a birth & postpartum doula, freelance writer/brand strategist, as well as in hospitality– helping serve healthy, nourishing meals with great customer service for people here in Toronto at Veggie D'Light, a vegan Caribbean take-out & catering.
