So when did your business start?

The business started about 2 years ago. Basically, I have done fashion for a number of years and I've had experience making fashion accessories through recycled materials. I also started doing jewelery as a creative outlet. I was a single parent during that time. My kids were getting older and I wanted a job that will support the family - I always wanted to be self-employed. It was hard the first year - I learned a lot though. I really believed in it. Struggling and Suffering really inspires wisdom and character and growth. This can build you up and take on the world.

When did you know - "this is what I should do?"

I have been reading Vogue magazines since I was twelve. I've always really loved fashion. I always really liked to create. My mom was a seamstress, painter, sculptor. All my extended family are business owners. I was raised around self-employment business. I equally like the business side of things with th creative side of things. I actually had an epiphany one day.  I stopped at this antique store - saw this antique jewelery and thought it was beautiful and wanted to make them new. On the way back from Calgary back to Vancouver, I stopped at every little antique store.

Where do the material for your jewelery come from?

I've always been an advocate for using materials that are already there. I go to thrift stores, antique stores, and a few dealers in the states. I really like to support the thrift stores as much as possible but they are really picked over.

What's special about antique jewelery?

There's a story with every pieces. There was this one time I saw a silver heart and this man was selling it. He said his wife sent it to him when he was in the war. 

Why the name dotted loop?

I was trying to think of a one word of what I did. When you see dots going around in a circle like a loop, it's kind of like a bracelet. Stereo Lab also had an album named Dots and Loops so I think that might have influenced me a bit as that song was stuck in my head. In the middle of the night, I just popped out of bed, I looked on the internet and checked if the name was taken by anyone.  It can also mean what goes around comes around - like recycling.

One word to describe your designs.

Statement - it's a statement of who you are and each piece have so much personality and each piece goes to some part of charity. 

What's your favorite part of Vancouver?

I go through phases - right now it's Commercial Drive.

Any favorite stores/restaurants?

I'm a thrift store junkie. I almost don't buy anything new. I love my dollar grocers. I love to cook. I spend a lot of time cooking - it's my down time. I feel like me and my kids are eating healthier. I can tell you where the cheapest Pho and Indian food are, etc. I like to go to the Lion's Den they have really good jerk chicken. People at the Lion's Den are really nice and it's not always easy to take kids to restaurants. 

If you can give some jewelery advice:

I really like to encourage people to try to color outside the lines a bit, try to be a more adventurous. If you try something new you can really see what you like as a person. I think loud adventurous jewelery helps people be more confidence, it can really be a self-esteem booster.

Clothing advice:

Every single person should go through their wardrobe and take a look at it every 6 months and don't be afraid to throw stuff away. You really have to think about your personal style because it makes an impression. I think it's really great if people can combine an element of recycled thing to their outfit. You don't have to have too many accessories. Be different, don't be the same as everyone else. I think it's cool when some people's staple outfit is a
t-shirt and jeans. An easy way to throw a lil attitude is to have one
necklace to encompass who you really are. That's something you can wear
with your outfit every single day. With dotted loop I try to make a
piece for everybody

Where do you get your inspirations?

Primarily history. I'm inspired by flashbacks. What people dress like in the 80s. Turn up the volume - it's 80s inspired. It's a flashback to my childhood. remembering plastic and color and people wanted to be punk and outrageous. I also like old pictures and old clothing.

Tell us your spring collection.

The name of the Spring collection is Turn up the volume. It consists of 30 necklaces. It is a Glam remix collection. The collection is focused on large found objects and bubblegum candy colors.

There's also going to be a showcase of my spring collection along with my friend's "Love Punk" spring collection. It's on March 22nd, 6:00pm-12:00am at the 3rd Ave Gallery on Main Street. It's called "Loud 'N Love" and it will be lots of fun!