STYLE MUSE | SHARDAY ENGEL

We all remember the Cerulean Blue sweater in The Devil Wears Prada. Before it hits store shelves, it must be chosen by people at the top of the fashion food chain. This is an exemplified conversation on how our shopping choices are made and leads me to this month's Style Muse, Sharday Engel.

Sharday is an Australian-born RMIT graduate living in Vancouver with her husband and two young children. With a degree in Merchandising, Sharday leads as the Product Manager and Buyer for the globally loved jewelry brand Olive & Piper.

Sharday and I met in 2012 on the fashion scene. Both of us in the Fashion Blogging world, she was just as conscious of her wardrobe then as she is now without knowing it. Sharday has always been one for a capsule wardrobe that includes a few unique pieces you can rotate to make each outfit its own.

With this sensibility in mind, Sharday led the product teams at Vancouver-grown companies like Aritizia, Kit & Ace and former childrenswear company VONBON.

Read below to explore Sharday's relationship with her role in Product Management and where she sees the fashion industry heading.

Q: How do you honor a sustainable mindset during the buying & production process?

"I ensure we choose what our customers will buy to eliminate excess production or waste. We also push the versatility of jewelry styles so that the jewelry you pick is for your wedding day, another special occasion and every day."

Q: Why do you choose secondhand?

"It's fun to imagine what kind of life an item could have lived before it became your own. I shop secondhand to find one-of-kind gems."

Q: What is your most coveted secondhand piece?

"I found a fully-sequined vintage top in a market in Bangkok while travelling with my Mum. I've probably only worn it a handful of times since then, but I could never get rid of it as it reminds me of that special time with her and the rush of finding a complete gem in an unexpected place."

Q: Where do you see the fashion industry heading?

"Following the progress made in recent years, it is heading towards being more and more inclusive in terms of diversity. We'll see things stepping away from major trends that EVERYONE is wearing and heading towards people wearing whatever they want because it brings them joy."

Q: What fashion lessons do you want to leave for future generations?

"I tend not to lean toward trends impulsively unless it truly brings joy. I hope future generations achieve that self-awareness of their fashion choices, asking whether they can shop their closet, buy pre-loved, swap, or buy new - consider how to repurpose a piece in the future so the item can live a longer life."