Commercial: Another Day the Label

Another Day The Label is a Toronto-based lounge wear brand that I’ve had the pleasure of working with long-term.

Design showroom: HD+CO

HD+CO is a home decor company based in Toronto, Canada, specializing in handwoven rugs for the everyday. Their collection is made in India from 100% recycled PET yarn, low pile, and designed for high-traffic areas of the home.

Product: Mim Concept (Lewis bed and Sophie dining chair)

Every piece from Mim Concept has a story behind it. Their latest products, the Lewis Teddy Bear Storage Bed was inspired by the founder’s new journey into motherhood. And as with all of their beds, there’s built-in storage and in this case, it’s seamless and hidden.

We photographed the bed from different angles to give you an idea of what it looks like, relative to the space. We also show the storage drawer closed and open so you can see how it works.

Mim Concept also released a new dining chair, Sophie. We show each product as a whole, then we move in and highlight its features.

Take a look at some of the photos below:

Business branding portraits: pros and cons

Business branding portraits are more useful than just putting a face to a name. There are many benefits to investing in a session:

• Shows your brand identity: They help businesses connect with their customers and shows your personal brand. It creates a recognizable and memorable visual to potential clients.

• Creates connection and builds trust: It is easier to build trust when people can see who they’re considering working with. Professional photos present your brand as a credible business.

• Marketing assets: A set of photos with a consistent style can be used in different ways. You can use them for your website, social media, external biography photos (e.g. speaking engagements), or print material.

There are some factors to consider and prepare yourself for:

• Expense: Professional photos are an investment so do research on different photographers before scheduling a session. There may be other costs, such as a hair stylist, makeup artist, and location rental.

• Vulnerability: You may feel uncomfortable in front of the camera and you might have to step out of your comfort zone, but when you find the right photographer, they should be able to help you feel at ease.

• Longevity: Your personal style and business, along with trends, may evolve over time so you should keep your portraits up to date to best represent your brand.

Photographed for: Dr. Misa Kawasaki

Obasan: Organic shredded rubber pillows

I’ve had trouble finding a pillow that’s comfortable for my neck so when Obasan, a Canadian company I’ve been following for a while, offered to send me their organic shredded rubber pillow, I was excited to try it and share my experience so far after sleeping with it for a week:

Filling

The filling is made up of small pieces of organic rubber so I could fluff it and shape the pillow.

I was worried the filling would feel bumpy, but because I added my own pillow protector (on top of the washable pillow cover that’s included), I didn’t feel the filling. 

Firmness

This pillow is soft and has a subtle bounce, which is comfortable for my neck. 

Height

I did find the pillow to be a bit high, but you can customize it by taking out filling as needed. I didn’t because I wanted test it as is and after a couple of nights, I didn’t need to.

I didn’t get any neck pain either, which usually happens with other pillows that are too high.

I did detect a hint of the organic rubber scent, but it did start to fade and I expect it will continue to over time.

Organic certified

Obasan’s products are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) certified. From what I understand, that means they have to follow a high standard for processing their material that doesn’t use harmful chemicals, ensure safety for workers, and use at least 95% organic materials. 

Overall

My first concern was that I would wake up with neck pain, but I haven’t had any. For reference, I’ve used both memory foam and feather-filled pillows, but one was too firm and the other kept needing to be fluffed. This Obasan pillow is soft with a bit of bounce. I didn’t need to fluff it, but I did punch it down the middle a bit to move the filing to the sides.