Christopher Massardo

The idea of comfortable and fashionable are two words not commonly associated with each other, or done easily for that matter. With the economy still not where we would like it to be, we aren’t always seeing the quality in the tailoring or fabrics in the pieces we would like.

In some cases a few designers find a way to make it work. Stacey Bafi-Yeboa (above, in the white, black and purple outfit) is a designer whose goals are just that, fashion with comfort. Her brand Kania (you can also find her on Twitter @KaniaCouture), which is an Ashanti word meaning light, is looking to offer comfortable but fashionable ready to wear pieces for any woman.

 After eight years in business doing well Kania in the past few years has had some major changes and has taken some impressive steps to becoming a more household name. The brand started more on a personal level for Stacey who was a dancer and was just making clothes for herself that were comfortable but looked good. Stacey explained that “People started asking me where I was getting the clothes, the next thing I knew it was a business”.

 2004 was a turning point for Stacey as she says “somebody approached me for a trade show and it was then that I took notice to the demand”. After that Kania was being sold in other stores and eventually online, which in both cases was showing great success. In 2009 Stacey opened up a flag-ship boutique in Ottawa. While it sounds like it was all planned again this was another moment that just kind of happened for Stacey. Stacey explains that she was “looking for a studio space to work out of, found the place and the lady was breaking the lease early”, “again” she says with a laugh, “unplanned but less stressful”.

 One of the great things about the Kania boutique are the range of local talent that also sell in the store such as Hartby who make some amazing bags or Second Clothing whose Yoga Jeans appear far too comfortable to be jeans. “My brand has such a clean slate so it shows accessories really well, Seconds Yoga Jeans are the only other clothing labels we sell” Stacey explains.

 With all that said and two pieces being used in the recent Cuba Gooding Jr. movie Scarfice which was filmed in Ottawa only time will tell what is next for this clean slated designer.  Can’t wait to see!

Credits:

Photography: Laura Arwen Berg
Creative Direction: Christopher Massardo
Make-up: Bre Powell
Fashion Styling: Christopher Massardo & Stacey Bafi-Yeboa
Fashions are Kania by Stacey Bafi-Yeboa
Model: Marianne with Angies Models in Ottawa