The Designer: Melanie Ferrara hails from the solitary suburbs of Scarborough Ontario, Canada. Yet despite the surrounding scores of malls, gas stations and Tim Horton's, she never managed to feel comfortable in sweats and t-shirts. Her (half) Italian heritage can take some credit for this anomaly. However, the discovery of artists like Alexander McQueen, Lou Reed, and Frank Kozic are equally responsible. A creative and curious youngster, she looted her mother's sewing machine and supplies to begin making her very own (and very unique) clothing by the time she was a teenager. Melanie graduated from Ryerson University's School of Fashion in Toronto with a Bachelor of Design degree in 2004, and in 2005 Device was born.
The Clothing: Device is for women whose style is bound only by their mood- and sometimes, the weather. The clothing is all about simplicity, quality and versatility, with an emphasis on original design details. Many pieces feature raw edging, which is cut to allow the garment to fray in a controlled fashion to highlight line and add texture. Each garment is made in Toronto, and with an effort to become more eco-conscious as well as socially conscious, bamboo fabric is now a permanent addition to the line.
A bit about bamboo: Bamboo fabrics have double the absorbency of cotton, natural antibacterial properties, and cause fewer allergic skin reaction than other fibers sterilized with antimicrobial agents. The environmental benefits of using bamboo fabrics are also numerous. Unlike cotton, it requires fewer pesticides, grows much more quickly, and does not require irrigation.
