Photo Credit: Zed Studio7
Catwalk dream-team, Yuriko Iga and Keiko Boxall. Photo Credit: Zed Studio7

Yuriko Iga is the dreamer behind and founder of BLIM, everyone’s favourite hub of creativity in Chinatown. She curated our #Catwalk launch party, and regularly hosts the lovely BLIM markets around Vancouver. BLIM is undeniably a space that could’ve only originated in the loveliest of brains. This is Yuriko’s take on how BLIM came to exist as it does today, and her goals for moving forward.

 

 

1. You were crucial in organizing our fantastic Cat Issue launch party. Could you describe your role for me? What was your favourite part of planning the Catwalk?

I designed and created some of the items, the rest I curated – fashion curator or stylist. Favourite part is putting together the outfits, and choosing the music.

 

2. Tell me about BLIM. What is it? How would you describe it as an organization?

BLIM is an independent, family-run art and craft facility now located in the heart of Vancouver’s Historic Chinatown. Our aim is to help build community through the spirit of fun and creativity, making the arts and crafts accessible to a wide range of skill sets and aims.

Blim retail consists of unique cosmic apparel handmade and hand printed exclusively by Blim. All product is made in our Blim studio and print shop. We also have a very selective line of vintage and dead stock as well at blim.bigcartel.com

 

3. How long has BLIM been around? How did it come to be?

Since 2003.

[From Blim’s website] Imagined at age 4, Blim founder Yuriko Iga created her imaginary animal kingdom of humanized animals wearing funky clothes called Blim Blim. She kept her imaginary world a secret until her early adult years. She eventually realized that she wanted to share her vision with the rest of the world. She dropped the other Blim and made it one.

Yuriko is very inspired by early 80’s hip hop style, japanese pop aesthetic, avant garde fashion, new wave music, animals, 80’s graphics, candy, and bright colors.

 

4. What are your goals for BLIM?

1) Maintaining studio and fun workshops for the creatively hungry.
2) Maintaining the shop to serve all your cat, sloth, unicorn, dinosaur, weed, goth, pop, comic, holographic, rainbow, metallic, egyptian, aztec, harajuku, neon, animal needs.

 

Fashions from the Catwalk: curated by Yuriko Iga and Keiko Boxall. Photo Credit: Lily Ditchburn
Fashions from the Catwalk: curated by Yuriko Iga and Keiko Boxall. Photo Credit: Lily Ditchburn

5. What’s something that people don’t know about BLIM that they should?

35% Blim made, 15 % local artists brands , 25% Japan and Asian import, 10% designer deadstock, 15% vintage, = 100% random awesomeness!

 

6. Is there a certain culture that BLIM promotes?

Culture from another dimension. That was what someone who came into the shop said and it stuck with me! But in a nutshell, [Blim is] 80’s 90’s hip hop style, japanese street fashion, avant garde fashion, new wave music, cats, dogs, wild cats, unicorns, sloths, dinosaurs, fast food, animals, 80’s graphics, candy, and bright colors, rainbow, Lisa Frank, cult art, comics, cartoons, texture, Marble print, psychedelic art, raver culture.

 

7. How and when did you start putting together the monthly BLIM markets? We love them.

Since 2003. We used to do them in the penthouse of the old electrical building. The ceiling panels were painted in ornamental stencils, there was a 10x10x10 white cube to display objects or use as gallery. The pong room was black lacquered and house the ping pong table with the same palette. Out of the pong room we served grilled savoury mochi with nori and cheese, vegetarian quejos with avocado and umbeboshi salt, and special shortbread cookies…

 

 

You can catch BLIM’s next market at Heritage Hall this Sunday! SAD Mag will be there with our new Cat Issue and discounted subscriptions on sale for $20! 

THIS SUNDAY
THIS SUNDAY
12–6 PM | at Heritage Hall
Entry by Donation
Scout Mag thinks you should go, and so do we.

The Cat Issue, launching February 21st at Make Gallery (257 East 7th Ave)
The Cat Issue, launching February 21st at Make Gallery (257 East 7th Ave

Come celebrate SAD Mag’s latest release: the Cat issue (no. 18), dedicated to our feline friends (somebody had to do it)!

WHEN: Saturday February 21, 2014 from 7:00pm – 10:00pm
WHERE: Make Gallery (257 East 7th Ave)


A 48-page full-colour stunner filled with original art, photography, and stories by Kristin Cheung, Dina Del Bucchia, Ola Volo, and more!

We’ll be kicking things off with a feline-inspired fashion show, curated by Blim and Keiko Boxall, at 9PM. Then we’ll knock your cat-themed socks off with a dance number by the infamous Light Twerkerz dancers ft. MC AutoKrat and DJ Rich Nines. 

Party hosted by Cynara Geissler: writer, editor, book publicist, and fierce defender of the selfie. Cynara is a print enthusiast (in both reading material and frocks) and her closet houses a litter of cat dresses. She co-hosts Fatties on Ice, an independent feminist podcast on pop culture, film, and new media.

Sweet beats by Philip Intile of Mode Moderne
Banner illustrations by Portia Boehm
Poster design by Pamela Rounis
Photography by Lily Ditchburn

 

CatWalk Banner

Come early to see the magazine & check out the art show (by Ola Volo), stay late for tunes and drinks. This magazine was created through the generous contributions of countless Vancouver artists, writers, photographers, and cat enthusiasts including:

 

Contributing Writers

Kristin Cheung

Dina Del Bucchia

Alice Fleerackers

Jackie Hoffart

Megan Jenkins

Adrienne Matei

Kaitlin McNabb

Genevieve Anne Michaels

Nina Paula Morenas

Pamela Rounis

Rebecca Slaven

Farah Tozy

Jennifer Truong

Daryn Wright

 

Contributing Photographers

 

Jackie Dives

Angela Fama

Robyn Humphreys

Shane Oosterhoff

Sarah Race

Gilly Russell

Rob Seebacher

Katie Stewart

Jennifer Truong

 

Contributing Artists

 

Portia Boehm

Kamila Charters-Gabanek * (not placed)

Kristin Cheung

Shannon Hemmett * (not placed)

Andrea Hooge

Roselina Hung

Pascale Laviolette

Coreena Lewis

Jessie McNeil * (not placed)

Aili Meutzner

Sherwin Sullivan Tija

Ola Volo

Carrie Walker

 

Contributing Stylists

 

Leigh Eldridge, Makeup Artist

Jenny-Lynn of Oh Hey Style, Hair Stylist

Monika Koch Waber, Stylist

 

Contributors to SadMag.ca

 

Alexandra Bogren

Cianda Bourrel

Alice Fleerackers

Kyla Jamieson

Megan Jenkins

Shmuel Marmorstein

Lise Monique

Cole Nowicki

Shannon Waters

 

SADCAST: The SAD Mag Podcast

Jackie Hoffart, Producer, Host, Editor

Stu Popp, Co-Host

 

Board of Directors

Sean Cranbury

Megan Lau

Mac Lugay
Amanda McCuaig

Amanda Lee Smith

Pamela Sheppard

Daniel Zomparelli

 

Thank yous

The Cobalt

Lily Ditchburn

Rommy Ghaly

Yuriko Iga of BLIM

Lizzy Karp & Rain City Chronicles

MAKE

Madeleine Michaels + Luna the Cat

Mr. Diva

Patrick Winkler

Teresa Watling + Enoki the Cat

VOKRA

Bijou, Nico, Frankie, Mr. Darren Lovenstuff, Indy & Eliot