Editorial Revival: JCI x Poshmark Canada
There’s a rhythmic energy to being on set—we felt it last Saturday when a group of students, educators, and artists gathered in JCI’s Fashion Annex. We nicknamed the scene The Ocean Room; the sandy paper backdrop and warm glow of the studio lights left us in a beachy, golden-hour haze.
With each click, photographer Jamie Mann captured more than just “a look”—he encapsulated a time. Forget where you are, and you might think you’ve entered another era.
There were three creative directions, collaborated on by our Fashion Business students and Jason Matlo, JCI’s Director of Design. It was like a masterclass in styling; Jason led the way, ensuring every piece draped just right. Every layer balanced and purposeful. As the expert on hand, he found creative ways to add interest and dimension, resulting in a set of looks that felt strikingly new—which is ironic, given that every piece of clothing was secondhand or vintage.
This shoot was part of an initiative between JCI and Poshmark Canada. We partnered to give students the chance to breathe new life into secondhand and pre-loved clothing, while pushing the boundaries of creative storytelling. “All the pieces we paired with the Poshmark items were vintage,” Jason shared. “It’s important to let the garments speak, to respect the history of fashion, and to think critically about how we style and consume.”
All three looks were inspired by fashion icons of the past. Here’s how they came together:
Chanel Elegance
Paying homage to Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy, the students elevated a leather mini dress with lace and statement accessories, embodying the sophistication of classic Chanel couture—proving that secondhand doesn’t mean second best.
Fashion student Nathlee sourced a Y2K chain belt from Poshmark Canada, which was styled as a necklace. Fellow student Nigel scored the black leather mini from Poshmark as well—previously loved from Zara.
The ‘70s
A soft, feminine nod to the ‘70s. This look paired a baby doll top with rugged brown shoes, embracing soft layering, voluminous ‘70s hair, and a dreamy, spring-ready aesthetic. “We wanted that effortless, nostalgic feel—think Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born.”
The secondhand top is previously-loved from Guess, sourced by fashion student Yui on Poshmark Canada. The crocodile combat boots also came from Poshmark, brought into the mix by Nathlee.
Berlin Street Style
A little rebellious, a little avant-garde—this look captured the edgy, effortless cool of Berlin and Amsterdam’s fashion scene. Featuring a sheer top and flat shoes, it was all about attitude and understated, directional styling.
Fashion student Jeison found and fell in love with the Y2K Goth sheer top on Poshmark Canada, while his peer Reece introduced a pair of Tory Burch ballet flats to ground the look (also from Poshmark). The triangle top was another Poshmark find, sourced by Nathlee.
When looking at the final product, it’s hard not to come back to the class's original intention: “We wanted to create high-fashion imagery,” Jason told us. “Elevated styling isn’t about price tags; it’s about perspective and creativity.”
This assignment goes to show that newness isn’t necessary; there’s plenty of opportunity to work with what we already have.
Over the next month, we’ll be sharing more on our collaboration with Poshmark Canada, including a special upcycling project in honour of Earth Day. You’ll be able to shop one-of-a-kind items hand-sewn by our Fashion Design students during a Posh Show (a live shopping and selling experience) on April 22nd at 2 PM PST.
Want to join Poshmark? Download the Poshmark App and use the code “JCINSTITUTE” to get C$15 off your first purchase.