by Jenny Bachynski | Christina Ladwig and Hanna Tveite are the creative directors and photographers behind Gene Doe, a creative agency specializing in fashion media. Based out of Vancouver, the talented duo have collaborated on many editorial shoots, ad campaigns, and films. It’s easy to be drawn to their photography for its cinematic quality (it gets me in the same way that a good film does); the style is minimalist and striking, something that I feel is often absent in fashion media. I was keen to hear their perspective and learn how they balance their talents to create a cohesive business. Say hello…

How did Gene Doe come to be? Simply, we both wanted to make work that we wanted to see. Although we didn’t know it when we first met, we shared a sensibility that was quite different than the prevailing one in the city at the time. Once we realized we both felt that way, it just felt like a natural progression.

The name Gene Doe…how did that come about? We really wanted to create a personality. We wanted an identity, but one that was somewhat ambiguous. We didn’t want to limit ourselves by choosing a name that defined us in a specific way. We also knew that our identity would be closely linked to the names we worked with, so a reference to the nameless “Doe” seemed fitting. Everything about it felt right.

Do you feel that you both have similar photographic styles, and how does that play out when you are working together? We have a very similar vision, but naturally assume different roles. Our individual strengths are well balanced. What one of us doesn’t see, the other does.

While you are shooting, are you purposefully aware of what you are trying to capture, or is it more of an organic experience? Everything we do, we do with a tremendous amount of purpose. Our focus going into any shoot is on expressing a particular tone. But in achieving that, collaboration is an extremely important element of our process. The different creative influences of the model, the make-up artist and stylist are something that we fully embrace. We don’t always know how we’re going to get there, but we always know where we’re going.

What has been your favorite experience you have had since you started Gene Doe? Probably the short film we did with Jordan Chu, for her jewelry line, The Woodland. We had incredible creative chemistry. It was, by far, our most ambitious project. It was also the most collaborative project we’ve done.

Gene Doe is primarily a business that is dedicated to fashion media. How would you describe your style if you could only use one word? Understated.

How has living in Vancouver influenced you as artists and photographers? The aesthetic that appeals to us is one that isn’t at all prevalent in Vancouver. The absence of that provided space for us to find our identity.

What is one thing you wish you would have known before starting your own business? Nothing, really. Learning is the best part.

What is your favorite small business in Vancouver (besides your own)? There are a lot of great small businesses in this city, but if we’d have to pick one, it would definitely be Old Faithful. They have a really strong identity, they’re super friendly and they support local business. We also love their aesthetic.

If you could do a portrait session with anyone, who would it be? Bob Dylan.

To learn more about Gene Doe visit www.genedoeproject.com and www.genedoe.tumblr.com.

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Jenny Bachynski was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. In her teenage years she packed up her bags and headed to Vancouver to pursue further education in fashion design. In 2009 she started her own small business Jenny Andrews Recycled Leather Goods, as well as her blog Jenny Loves. After starting her blog, Jenny discovered that one of her greatest joys was stumbling upon beautiful and interesting things, and sharing them with anyone who would listen.

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by Jenny Bachynski | Kyla Leslie is the creative force behind Kove, the gorgeous crochet line made right here in Vancouver. When I stumbled on her work awhile back, the colours, quality, and meticulous attention to detail really stuck with me and got me excited. I needed to know more…

Who are you and how did Kove came to be? Born and raised west coaster, aspiring yoga teacher and corporate drop-out; lover of textiles, travel, fashion and Indian food. Kove has been this amazing experiment-turned-success. I came home after my last trip to India and started playing around with the crochet hooks for the first time in years (my mom and grandmothers had taught me in my pre-teens). I put a little collection together, photographed it and opened my Etsy shop with no real expectation of what was to come. I just made the kinds of pieces I like to wear and hoped others would like them too.

When did you realize that this could become a job? It was sometime this fall (probably in the middle of the night, working on orders) I realized this not only could be a full-time gig, but that I really wanted it to be. What Kove grows or evolves into, we’ll have to wait and see, but I’m really excited for what next season brings.

What has been the most exciting thing that has happened to you since you started Kove? Successfully pitching for a pop-up shop space at Rize House in October. Designing the concept for the space, putting the shop together and then using it as a showroom for the line was absolutely one of the highlights of this season.

What do you think makes your work stand out, compared to the other designers around? Being so close to my work, that’s a hard question to answer. I think the most obvious difference is that my designs are crocheted, and the majority of what is out there is knit. Like any designer I’m always trying to learn new skills, and this season I spent a bunch of time working on a more traditional style of crochet that you can see in some of the more intricate textures, like the boot warmers, for example.

What do you think is the most valuable skill to have when starting a business? To know what your skills are and when you need to outsource the expertise of others.

What is your favourite thing about owning your own business? I love that most of the time work is just this great evolving project that I get to spend my time on. Having my own schedule is something I really value. As for least – well, who likes doing their own bookkeeping?

What is the best advice you were given when you started your business? Who was it from? Having started Kove on a lark, the support and encouragement to keep going has been the biggest boost. I have a group of entrepreneurial friends and family members who make a great sounding board for ideas and are always around to answer questions.

If you could hire anyone in the world to work for Kove, who would it be? Living: I’d actually love to hire a farm and produce my own yarn. Deceased: My grandma.

What is your favorite Vancouver small business? Is this the part where I shamelessly plug my (very talented) friends? I could never choose just one – this city is full of creatives doing fantastic things.

If the world was going to end this week, what would be the last thing you would make? Something like this would be perfect, don’t you think?

To learn more about Kove visit www.kove.ca and www.facebook.com/kovehandmade.

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Jenny Bachynski was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. In her teenage years she packed up her bags and headed to Vancouver to pursue further education in fashion design. In 2009 she started her own small business Jenny Andrews Recycled Leather Goods, as well as her blog Jenny Loves. After starting her blog, Jenny discovered that one of her greatest joys was stumbling upon beautiful and interesting things, and sharing them with anyone who would listen.

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(via) Just when you thought J.D. Salinger and Lewis Carroll took a bunch of LSD with Edward Scissorhands and got busy making clothes at Quentin Tarantino’s house (again), it turns out that it’s just designer Thom Browne unleashing his new menswear line for Fall 2012. Oh, fashion. More oddity/hilarity here.

Gastown’s newest pop-up market, The Beggars Banquet, opened up tonight in the old Boneta space at 1 West Cordova. Check it out from 11am to 6pm tomorrow (Saturday). The Found and The Freed were well represented, as were Union Wood & Supply Co. and Cocolico (among several other locally spun bits of awesomeness). Score clothing, unique housewares, furniture, books, trinkets and all manner of curiosities.

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11- 6pm | Saturday, January 21 | Boneta 1 West Cordova | $2 Admission

EVERYTHING SEEN IN VANCOUVER

My friend Steve put together this riveting edit of Tom Ford mastering the personal pronoun. Oh, fashion.