INTRODUCE YOURSELF IN TWO-THREE SENTENCES FOR ANYONE OUT THERE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR WORK AND YOUR LINE.

LOCALLY PRODUCED IN MONTREAL AND POSITIVELY ENERGIZED ACCESSORIES. Founded and based in Montreal, Uranium started in 1998. We are proud to specialize in men’s/women’s “Street Fashion” jewellery and accessories. Entirely made in Canada, our collections are designed and inspired with an intense drive and passion for the human spirit.4 collections, 4 trends, 4 universal values : BEAUTY – STRENGTH – LOVE – CREATIVITY

 

 

YOUR JOURNEY WITH URANIUM STARTED WITH YOU AS AN INTERN FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON HOW YOU JUMPED FROM PACKING BOXES TO OWNING AND DESIGNING URANIUM?

The real secret? I think that I just made all the kind of jobs (even the shitty ones) without ever complaining… I was dedicated to uranium since the beginning… Someone said: “Everybody wants to be president but nobody wants to do the shitty jobs”. Well I went from the bottom of the company to the top keeping my positive mind and I was as passionate about my work even printing labels all day long than I was years later, designing my first collection! -IF IT WAS EASY, EVERYBODY WOULD DO IT!

 

 

WE HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND THE GROWTH IN URANIUM OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS. EACH SEASON YOU IMPRESS US WITH NEW DESIGNS, NEW MATERIAL AND BEAUTIFUL PIECES. WHERE TO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION EACH SEASON?

I’m all over the Internet day after day, looking at runways, street styles, blogs, history, documentary, listening new music, looking the list of movies supposed to be released during the next year, looking to videoclips, reading magazines and trends books, etc! Everyday, I put all kind of images or inspirations in differents folders ; photoshoot, Hair, Make-up, Style, Graphic, Products, Vibe, etc. Before every collection, I write the big lines of the season’s trends and after, I go through all the picture I save since several years to create the ambiance and to make storyboards, I buy some music to put in my Ipod to feel the 4 differents vibes and I start designing. So maybe I’ll have a page of a magazine for 3 years before wanting to elaborate around this inspiration/trend but truly, the inspiration comes from lots of differents places… I’m sending to myself lots of ideas through my cellphone since I could have a flash even in the middle of the night or waiting for a flight at the airport!

Some good websites or magazines that I recommend:

www.style.com
www.lookbook.nu
Sportswear Intl. Magazine
Wad Magazine
Be Street Magazine
Journal du Textile

 

WHAT WAS INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS SPRING/SUMMER 2012 COLLECTION?

For Spring Summer 2012, Catherine and me worked on these 4 big trends: NATIVE/ETNIC DARK GLAMOUR / RELIGION ROMANTIC /NATURAL RIDER FROM THE PAST

 

IT MUST TO INCREDIBLE TO SEE YOUR LINE IN DIFFERENT CITES AND EVEN COUNTRIES! WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR URANIUM, ARE YOU STRIVING FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE?

We truly believe we can do it! For now, we are focusing on USA but the Online Store brings us clients from different countries around the world witch is a really good way for us to know which market should be next!

 

 

THE MATRA FOR YOUR LINE IS ‘POSITIVELY ENERGIZED,’ WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP YOURSELF IN THIS STATE OF MIND?

Our mantra « Positively Energized » might just be a couple of simple words, but, for us, it symbolizes the effort and joy we put into each and every piece we create, which in turn, is passed on to everyone who supports Uranium. I know it could be hard sometimes to keep that positive thinking but it’s also what could save you… The fact is, every thing happens for a reason, you have to deal with it and to find the best solution day after day! Life is way too short for not being happy. That explain also why we push through all our events or project some differents points of view to see life and to present to our customers some heroes or great inspiration to make them realize that if you try to fit in the mold, you will just blend in the society, but if you work with your difference (instead of fighting against them), you will stand out and you will actually enjoy the ride!

 

WHAT MUSIC IS CURRENTLY ON ROTATION IN YOUR DESIGN STUDIO?

-The Black Keys
-Coeur de Pirate (of course)
-Florence & the Machine
-City & Colour
-a little Marky Mark
-and sometimes, even a little old school hip hop like Dr.Dre’s 2001 album
-occasionally, we get into a top 40′s mood too, so don’t be surprised if you walk into our office and hear us belting out Rhianna and Lady Gaga tunes.
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Social Distortion
- Otis Redding

 

YOUR ROOTS STEM FROM THE WORD OF SNOWBOARDING AND SKATEBOARDING CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THIS? 

I am the youngest of the family with 2 big brothers… so they made me discover lots of different kind of music, skateboard and of course, snowboard. I started snowboarding at the age of 8 years old and found a true passion in the halfpipe. I was a member of the ISF and FIS and I was a halfpipe competitor for about 3 or 4 years. Now I would say that I’m way more into Big Air than halfpipe or rails probably that I’m way more chiken than I was at 16 years old!!