How to make chef Jordan Sclare’s king oyster mushroom and feta tostadas

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2:34 pm

king oyster mushroom and feta tostadas recipe

Chef Jordan Sclare of Chotto Matte loves starting a dinner experience with a simple canapé that looks so impressive, your guests will never know how easy it is to make. This king oyster mushroom and feta tostada recipe puts a vegetarian spin on a traditional pulled pork tostada.

“The key to this dish are the oyster mushrooms, which can taste similar to meat when cooked a certain way,” says chef Sclare. “Plus, the smokiness of the smoked paprika pairs well with many festive holiday drinks.”

INGREDIENTS
• 4 pieces 5-inch corn tostadas
• 300g oyster mushrooms
• 80g Japanese kewpie mayonnaise
• 1g smoked paprika
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1 lime
• 50g feta cheese
• 2 stems fresh coriander
• 15g smoked chipotle tabasco

STEPS
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. In the meantime, fry the tostadas in 180°C oil until golden and crisp.
3. Once ready, place onto draining paper and keep at room temperature.
4. Shred the oyster mushrooms into 0.5 cm wide pieces.
5. Crumble the mushrooms onto a roasting tray.
6. Place the crumbled feta onto the mushrooms.
7. Place in the oven for 5 minutes.
8. In a small bowl, mix the Japanese mayonnaise, tabasco, sea salt and smoked paprika.
9. Combine the warm mushrooms and feta together with Japanese mayonnaise sauce and mix.
10. Spoon the mushroom mixture onto the tostaditas.
11. Slice the lime in half and squeeze over the mushroom tostadas.

FINISHING TOUCH
Garnish with the chopped coriander and serve.

Chotto Matte offers both cook along classes and meal kits.

Ethical Engagement Ring Guide

By

Marlene Mendonca

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1:39 pm

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Engagement ring shopping can be an exhilarating experience. Not only are you shopping for jewelry that will stay with you or your partner for a lifetime, but you also have the opportunity to choose a ring that best suits your passions and now you can choose an ethical diamond.

Did you know that ethical consumption is a relatively new practice that has steadily gained traction? Consumers want to support brands and businesses that align with their values. Luckily, the engagement ring industry has undergone a rapid change. Now, it’s entirely possible to find an engagement ring that has been ethically sourced.

If you’re still curious about this new type of ethical engagement ring, read on!

What is an ethical engagement ring?

Ethical engagement rings, also called conflict-free engagement rings, are created using ethical stones and as much recycled materials as possible. These rings do not use mined diamonds, other mined stones, or materials mined using unethical practices, including unsafe working conditions, supporting violent conflicts, and inflicting significant environmental damage. The result is an engagement ring that consumers can purchase with the knowledge that they have supported ethical practices.

What are lab-grown diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are the best ethical and eco-friendly option for consumers looking to reduce their carbon footprint and increase the bang for their buck, while still getting a real diamond. These diamonds are created in a lab-setting using the most cutting-edge technology to mimic the natural processes in which diamonds are formed. In short, carbon is subjected to extreme heat and pressure until a raw diamond is formed. Instead of billions of years, the process takes a few months.

What’s great about this is that there is no mining or unethical practices throughout the process. Not to mention, it’s a budget-friendly option. Although lab-created diamonds are physically, visually, and chemically identical to mined diamonds, they cost a fraction of the price — in some cases up to 40% less. In short, lab-grown diamonds are the best choice for any shopper searching for an ethical engagement ring.

How are recycled metals used?

Choosing materials that have been given a second life in your engagement ring is another surefire way to support the eco-friendly movement. Mining metals can do significant damage to the environment, and recycling can prolong metal’s lifespan significantly.

Recycled metals can come from almost anything, but generally, platinum, golds, and silvers come from old jewelry, industrial metals, and electrical components. These metals can be melted down and transformed, so you don’t lose out on any beauty with a recycled metal ring band.

What diamond alternatives are available?

Going for a diamond alternative can help you avoid supporting unethical practices related to diamond mining. There are many diamond alternatives beyond lab-grown diamonds. More specifically, diamond simulants are often the most inexpensive options. Cubic zirconia, a famous diamond alternative, is a manufactured stone meant to mimic only a diamond’s appearance. Moissanite is another diamond simulant that boasts more durability and brilliance than cubic zirconia. Both of these options are also great if you’re on a budget and want to save up further for a man made diamond.

If you prefer a stone other than a diamond, it’s possible to find ethically sourced varieties. However, you’ll have to do your research to discover precisely how a stone reached your ring. Though this may take some time, you can save yourself the effort by researching brands instead of individual pieces. Find a seller that prioritizes ethically produced jewelry pieces; that way, you can browse their entire selection guilt-free.

Conclusion

Seeking out an engagement ring with ethically sourced and mindfully produced materials can be challenging, but it’s a worthy cause. Not to mention, due to the popularity of the movement, it’s now much easier to find the ethical engagement ring of your dreams.

Remember, any ring that you are going to wear for the rest of your life should be one that only gives you positive vibes, so have fun choosing a piece that makes you smile!

Taking care of your elderly loved ones over the holidays

By

Jarrod Daley

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9:30 am

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See all posts by Diamond and Diamond Lawyers

The holiday season is going to look a bit different this year and will likely involve some big changes. With tradition being prominent around the holidays, it’s important to consider how we can safely keep things as close to normal as possible for our elderly loved ones. Diamond Law’s Sandra Ziskind and Jeremy Diamond share some fun and effective ways to ensure that the elderly loved ones in your life are supported throughout the holiday season and how to ensure that things can remain as close to normal as possible. The following tips are great ways to ensure that your elderly loved ones remain safe and happy over the holidays.

Property Maintenance

There are many ways that you can support your elderly relatives and friends over the festive months. Helping make sure their homes and outdoor areas are safe is important.

Shoveling their driveways ensures that when they do have to leave the house, they can do so in the safest way possible. Similar to shoveling their driveways, putting salt on the sidewalk and stairs will help make the time they spend outdoors as safe as possible.

Helping with odd jobs like filling bird feeders for them will reduce the number of unnecessary trips they make outside and can help prevent them from slipping on the grass.

Making sure their gas vent isn’t covered by snow is important as this could result in appliances or heating not working or even a build-up of gas pressure that could cause a serious incident.

If your loved ones enjoy setting up decorations or lights outdoors, offer to do it for them or, even better, pay a professional to do it – especially if you don’t have a head for heights.

Sending Care Packages

There’s no better way to put a smile on the face of your loved ones than by sending them some baked goods over the holidays. Let them know that just because you’re not there it doesn’t mean you’re not thinking about them.

Sharing your favourite holiday movies is another great way of connecting. If they don’t subscribe to any streaming platforms, consider sending them some DVDs. Personal care items like moisturizers and lip balm can help protect their skin from the harsh winter weather and is another nice way of letting them know you’re thinking of them.

Constant Communication

People living in solitude can get lonely over the holidays. As such, consider daily calls so they feel supported and know that their family is there for them.

Plan a way that you can share holiday celebrations together. Whether that’s by sharing a meal over Zoom or Facetime, or simply calling to check-in everyday, spending that time together will be a great way of boosting everybody’s spirits.

Stay Stocked up on Emergency Supplies

Everybody should be prepared for colder and more unpredictable winter weather, especially the elderly people in your life. Flashlights, candles, and an adequate supply of ice salt is essential, and you should ensure that your loved ones are stocked up. A good supply of long-life groceries is vital in case unexpected weather arrives.

If you follow the tips in this guide, your loved ones should not only be safe over the holidays, but happy too.

About Sandra Zisckind

Sandra Zisckind is a lawyer who was called to the Bar in 2003 and practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation in Toronto.

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This pasta shop is making holiday-themed ravioli

By

Jessica Huras

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11:35 am

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With family gatherings cancelled and winter attractions closed all over the GTA, it’s a bit more difficult to capture that holiday spirit this year.

One GTA pasta shop, however, is bringing a little extra yuletide magic to this strange December and going beyond the traditional cookies and cakes with its seasonally-themed eats.

Continental Noodles is making ravioli Christmas trees, stars and not-so-gingerbread men to serve some joy to your family bubble. The ravioli are filled with either ricotta cheese or veal, and come in festive red and green colours.

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Continental Noodles has been feeding the GTA their handmade durham semolina pasta for over 50 years, since Franco Liberatore opened Toronto’s first pastaio (pasta seller) in 1967.

Now in their third generation, the family run business serves traditional potato as well as basil, spelt and whole wheat gnocchi, stuffed pastas including medaglioni, lunette, tortellini and gluten free ravioli, as well as a variety of egg pastas.

Continental Noodles’ pasta is made using traditional Italian techniques and vintage machinery, with no artificial flavours, colours, sweeteners, preservatives or sugar.

The Liberatore family’s focus remains high quality, texture and colour. If you’re feeling adventurous, try one of their gourmet fillings such as braised beef, black angus, sausage and rapini, porcini mushroom, percorino and pear or black truffle.

Continental Noodles has also expanded into frozen meals, offering a variety of lasagnas, parmigianas, soups and sauces, plus wine and desserts.

You can purchase in-store or online. Curbside pick-up and contactless delivery are available at both of their locations in Rowntree Dairy Road in Woodbridge or Marlee Avenue in North York.

Their fun and colourful holiday shapes cook in under 10 minutes, and might just bring a little extra festive fun to an unusual holiday season.

HGTV expert Tiffany Pratt on how to make a wacky wreath for your door this winter

By

Nikki Gill

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3:32 pm

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Tiffany Pratt is a designer, artist, creative director and television personality on HGTV Canada’s Family Home Overhaul.

During the holiday season I feel more compelled to DIY than ever because the festive season lends itself to all the extra glitter and bows! One of my favourite ways to extend the life of my many festive creations is to find a way to make them out of things that I already have and can add in or subtract the holiday frosting as the season comes and goes.

The one element that I invest my time and excitement in year after year is the wreath on my front door. It has become a conversation piece and I try and out do myself with it seasonally. As I was getting properly hydrated pre-holiday I realized my water of choice came in these lovely green plastic bottles that were too pretty to recycle.

So I immediately got to work making my wacky wreath out of green plastic bottles. For this project I used the MakerX wood and metal crafter by Worx Canada to poke and burn holes on either side of the bottle opening. Then I strung the bottles together in a circle with a simple wire to assemble the wreath.

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I added in some pink decorative balls (Surprise! Surprise!) to make it full of cheer! I love how the transparent green bottles glow at night in the door light. The green looks like a real wreath but it is a fresh new take on the concept that will last season after season.

I plan to switch up the decorative pieces to keep this wacky wreath on my door all season long. Come Valentines Day you better believe I will be adding hearts to this wreath. For that project, I’ll use my MakerX heat gun and melt the hearts right onto the plastic bottles.

If you are not into the bottle idea you can use milk cartons, tin cans or any type of recyclable that you can collect en masse to create the impact as a circular collection of these items. Remember it is not what something is — it is what you can do with it, so the sky is the limit!

When it comes to DIY projects, the most important thing is to have fun! Get set up right! Make room to make a little mess and surround yourself with the right tools so that no matter what you tackle you will have what you need to make your dreams come to life!

How to make Oretta chef Gabriele Di Marco’s maritozzi

By

lindsaylow

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2:49 pm

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Growing up in Sicily, Oretta chef Gabriele Di Marco fondly recalls trips to the local pastry shop during the holiday season to enjoy two things: maritozzi and a cappuccino. Bring the Italian bakery home with this recipe for maritozzi, a sweet milk brioche bun filled with vanilla whipped cream.

DOUGH
• 100 mL milk, warm
• 1 1⁄4 tsp (4g) fresh yeast
• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
• 35 mL (30g) sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 bsp honey
• zest of two lemons
• 1 tsp (2g) salt
• 31 mL (30g) butter, softened

VANILLA WHIPPED CREAM
• 500 mL 35% cream
• 2 tbsp icing sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

METHOD: VANILLA WHIPPED CREAM
1) Put all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until stiff peaks form.
2) Refrigerate until ready to use.

METHOD: DOUGH
1) Dissolve the yeast in warm milk and set aside.
2) Put the flour, sugar, eggs, honey and lemon zest in a medium bowl and combine with a stand mixer.
3) Add in the milk and yeast mixture and mix for 5 minutes.
4) Add in the salt and butter and continue mixing until the butter is incorporated.
5) Let the dough proof in a covered bowl for 2 hours.
6) After the dough rests, cut dough into 90g pieces to create an oval shape.
7) Lay the oval pieces on a parchment-lined tray and cover with plastic wrap. Let them rest until they double in size.
8) Preheat the oven to 350°F.
9) Brush the egg wash onto the pieces and bake for 8 minutes until golden.
10) Remove from oven and let cool completely.
11) Cut maritozzi ¾ of the way down in the middle and fill with fresh vanilla whipped cream.

FINISHING TOUCHES
Sprinkle with icing sugar.

Closure order lifted on Toronto restaurant Adamson Barbecue

By

Ron Johnson

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10:01 am

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Toronto’s medical officer of health has lifted a closure order on Adamson Barbecue after the restaurant defied COVID-19 laws and opened for indoor and outdoor dining three days in a row. The owner, Adam Skelly, was arrested and charged on Nov. 26.

Despite closure orders lifting, Adamson Barbecue cannot continue to operate immediately. The restaurant has been operating without a business licence.

The city’s director of municipal licensing and standards, Carlton Grant, sent Skelly a letter yesterday that stated Skelly must obtain a business licence before reopening the restaurant for delivery and takeout. Failing to obtain a licence for the Adamson Barbecue locations could result in a hefty $25,000 fine.

Reopening would also mean adhering to current pandemic laws of operation.

“The lifting of the requirements of the Section 22 order would permit the Adamson Etobicoke location to open for takeout, delivery, or drive through only as allowed for under the lockdown regulation. Should that location defy the restraining order and the lockdown regulation and open for indoor and/or outdoor dining, the owner, the business, and/or its employees and agents could face contempt of court findings, ” the news release stated.

Skelly sent a newsletter blast to customers following his arrest and stated that he had every intention of getting arrested when he defied city orders to shut down.

“I opened up so I could receive the charges under the Reopening Ontario Act and challenge them in the courts. Our lawyers agree that the government actions have impacted small businesses disproportionately, and violate our charter rights,” Skelly wrote.

Adamson Barbecue is still under a province-placed order “restraining them from contravening the lockdown regulation under the Reopening Ontario Act.”

Skelly has stated that his restaurants will not survive on takeout orders alone and has challenged the government to allow small businesses to continue to operate. Skelly was released on bail following his earlier arrest and will appear in court again on Jan. 4.

5 Toronto bakeries that will deliver holiday treats straight to your door

By

Jessica Huras

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4:03 pm

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Whether it’s the familiar taste of fresh-baked gingerbread cookies or cutting into a warm apple pie after dinner, baked goods can be the perfect finishing touch for any holiday feast or a thoughtful gift for a foodie friend. The majority of bakeries across the GTA are still closed for walk-ins due to COVID-19 restrictions, but they’re continuing to prepare orders for delivery around the city. Here are five bakeries in the GTA that will deliver holiday treats straight to your doorstep in time for the holidays.

Bunner’s Bakeshop

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If you’re looking for a holiday cake that’s sure to impress, Bunner’s Bakeshop in the Junction has you covered. Specializing in vegan and gluten-free treats year-round, Bunner’s Bakeshop has a series of festive cakes displayed on their website, including a candy cane Christmas cake, a Bourbon pear and vanilla cake and a cranberry clementine cake. Bourbon caramel and chocolate tarts, peppermint hot chocolate cupcakes, Nanaimo bars and holiday-themed sugar cookies are also available. All Christmas and holiday items are available for delivery up until Dec. 23rd, but keep in mind that the cutoff for orders is Dec. 21 at 12 p.m.

The Butternut Baking Co.

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The Butternut Baking Co. has a selection of holiday-themed treats that can be enjoyed as a gift or shared around the table after dinner. All of these scrumptious treats also follow a Paleo or low-carb approach and are 100 per cent vegan and gluten-free, so you won’t feel as guilty for indulging after your holiday feast. Raspberry jelly rolls, mint chip Nanaimo bars, mixed berry streusel bars and sugarless holiday cookies are all currently available for delivery, alongside a variety of cupcakes and layered cakes. All orders must be placed by Dec. 19 to be ready in time for the holidays.

Mabel’s Bakery

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Mabel’s Bakery has created a special holiday menu that includes treats both savoury and sweet, any of which would be a delicious finale to any holiday meal. Three dessert pies are currently on offer: pumpkin, apple and pecan, plus a savoury mincemeat pie is also available. Other festive treats, like a flourless chocolate cake, stollen (a fruit-filled German classic), a chocolate hazelnut yule log and fruitcakes are also available. Of course, all of Mabel’s usual yummy squares, bars, cakes and cookies are also still available for delivery.

Nadège Patisserie

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A staple for fresh French macarons on Queen St. West, Nadège Patisserie is offering home delivery and pick-up on a number of holiday treats. There are tons of sweet goodies available, including an incredibly cute Rudolph cake handcrafted with caramel mousse, banana compote, chocolate crèmeux and chocolate cookie, as well as a North Pole ice cream cake (the latter is available for pick-up only). From chocolate Santa sculptures and edible puzzles to chocolate gingerbread croissants and candy cane cookies and barks, there’s plenty to choose from. The bakery has a large selection of pre-wrapped chocolates, cookies and treats — and yes, holiday-themed macarons are also available as a gift box.

Sweet Flour Bake Shop

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Located in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood, Sweet Flour Bake Shop has more than 30 holiday-themed treat boxes available. The delectable treats include everything from eggnog, shortbread and gingerbread cookies to chocolate drizzled biscottis, gourmet brownies, bars and cupcakes. This year, Sweet Flour has also teamed up with the Sick Kids Foundation. On any purchases marked with the Sick Kids logo, five per cent of sales will be donated directly to Sick Kids. Whether you’re looking to pick up a quick stocking stuffer or surprise someone with their very own cookie collection, Sweet Flour has something for everyone and every budget. The bakery also offers a no contact delivery option in light of current COVID-19 precautions.

How to make Claudio Aprile’s crepe cake with dulce de leche and bananas

By

lindsaylow

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10:45 am

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“Anything with dulce de leche takes me to a very happy place. It reminds me of my mom and also where I was born: Uruguay,” says chef Claudio Aprile of his crepe cake recipe. “This dish brings me back to my apprenticeship where I would make hundreds of sweet and savoury crepes.”

INGREDIENTS

6–8 whole eggs
2 cups of all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 oz unsalted melted butter
3 cups whole milk
4–5 bananas
2–3 cups of store-bought dulce de leche
Icing sugar to garnish

METHOD

Place the first 6 ingredients except for the melted butter into a stainless bowl, whisk until all ingredients are combined.
Whisk the melted butter into batter, strain and allow 1 hour to rest in the fridge. The batter should coat the back of a soup spoon. Tip: if the batter is too thick simply add more milk and whisk together.

To make crepes:

Heat more butter in a small non-stick pan over medium heat, add your crepe batter and swirl batter evenly to coat the pan.
Cook crepe batter for 2–3 minutes, flip and cook for an additional 1 minute.
Repeat with the remaining batter. Allow crepes to cool before assembly.

To assemble:

Place dulce de leche into a small saucepan. Heat on medium heat until dulce de leche is the consistency of a light custard. This will allow for easy spreading and crepes will stay intact and not tear.
Cut bananas into ¼ inch round pieces.
Place one crepe in the centre of a cake pan and evenly spread a generous amount of dulce de leche onto the crepe.
Randomly place your sliced bananas onto crepe and repeat until you have your 18 layers.
Place crepe cake into the fridge for 2–3 hours to set.
Finish with a dusting of icing sugar and enjoy.

This new boutique on Bathurst is a haven for sneaker-loving women

By

Nikki Gill

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10:45 am

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Sneakers and streetwear have traditionally been male dominated where retail spaces are concerned. But Abby Albino and Shelby Weaver are aiming to change that with Makeway, their aptly named shop putting the focus on women who love sneakers.

“There are a lot of barriers for womxn who are sneaker lovers, and as sneaker lovers ourselves, we wanted to hopefully create a space that addresses the barriers,” Albino says.

Some of the barriers she describes include lack of sizing, representation from the decision-making level and, specifically for Canadians, a lack of accessibility.

“Sneaker culture has been a very male-dominated industry for so long, and we’re excited to break those barriers,” explains Albino, adding that, “Sneaker culture can sometimes be very intimidating, and we want womxn to feel welcome and that they belong.”

So far they have had an overwhelmingly positive response from not just women, but the sneaker community in general.

“Many have expressed how overdue a place like Makeway is, and we couldn’t agree more,” says Albino.

When it comes to what they choose to stock, the main focus is on representation and ensuring consumers can see themselves in the products they carry.

“We’re proud to offer so many products that are made by BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, people of colour] womxn, both local and global,” Albino says. “For example, we have various skin care brands made by local BIPOC womxn, and our BIPOC consumers know that those products were made to address their specific skin type.”

In terms of opening up in the midst of a pandemic, both Albino and Weaver say they knew they were going to have challenges but they were up for it.

“We always said, if we can launch a brick and mortar sneaker boutique in a pandemic, we can do anything,” says Albino. “In a sense, the lockdown has allowed us to focus our energy on our online store, and we’re grateful to see the continued support from our community.”

Once the lockdown ends, shoppers can expect a welcoming, inclusive in-store experience at Makeway’s brick and mortar location within Stackt Market on Bathurst Street.

“One pillar of Makeway is to provide a space for the female sneaker community to be seen and celebrated,” Albino says. “It’s been great to see womxn feel seen through Makeway’s product assortment.”

For those looking to get their hands on the streetwear products and sneakers, the online store is accessible at shopmakeway.co. And once in-store shopping is allowed, customers can head over to 28 Bathurst St., Unit 2-101 to see the retail space come to life.

Top 10 Toronto comedy podcasts just when we need a laugh

By

Ron Johnson

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9:19 am

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Comedy Podcast Tony Ho — Tony Ho Sad People

Toronto is home to the funniest people in the country, many of whom have taken to podcasting to get their humourous messages out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are 10 of our favourite comedy podcasts to check out:

Tony Ho

Award-winning sketch comedy troupe Tony Ho just dropped season two of their comedy podcast.

The Insomnia Project

Marco Timpano helps you fall into a blissful slumber with his 26-minute conversations with interesting people talking about boring things.

One More Round with Tricia Black

This weekly chat with Second City’s Tricia Black is the only podcast that’s like an East Coast kitchen party except the kitchen is a studio and the conversation is the party!

Sunday Best Comedy Podcast

Hosts Tamara Shevon and Fanny Arkay share experiences and stories and get advice from (mainly) Kanye West about what they should have done in their situations!

The Regulars Podcast

The Regulars is hosted by comedians and best friends Stacey McGunnigle and Jason DeRosse, both are Second City alumni.

Dwarven Moss

A Dungeons & Dragons podcast created by Kris Siddiqi (Bit Playas), Jay McCarrol (Nirvanna the Band the Show) and introducing Tom Hodgins as The Dungeon Master.

The Seánpod

Hosted by comedian Seán Cullen, the Seánpod is “a feast of rambling silliness” with music, special guests and Seán’s impromptu radio theatre.

Para(normal)

Marie Adoranti and Nicolina Savelli host a weekly entertainment comedy podcast sharing stories of their ghostly experiences.

Killed to Death

Killed to Death, hosted by Griffin Toplitsky and Steve Cooke, is an improvised true crime podcast. Every week, one case is analyzed and solved with the help of a guest.

All Good with Juliana Rodrigues

Comedian Juliana Rodrigues chats with guests to discuss how setbacks in their mental health have propelled them to be the creative forces they are today.

Sirani’s Fashion is bringing the fabrics of West Africa to Toronto

By

lindsaylow

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11:54 am

0

A new line of womens’ fashion has arrived to warm the city’s winter season with splashy mud cloth prints, cosy jumpsuits and head wraps. In October, Fatim Sylla, the designer behind Sirani’s Fashion, launched her Heritage collection inspired by mud cloth.

Sylla, who grew up in Paris and lived in London, U.K., in her 20s, decided to launch her brand after seeing the rise in popularity of African-inspired fashion across Europe. She started small, selling clothing, and then head wraps and accessories at pop-up markets around the city, and eventually added masks to her inventory.

Heritage is Sylla’s third collection at Sirani’s Fashion and it includes bold blazers, sleek and reversible; fun skirts with exposed zippers you can wear at the front or the back; and jumpsuits in splashy prints. Almost all of her pieces incorporate mud cloth; the prints are from Mali and the fabric she uses is from the Ivory Coast.

“My background is West Africa and that mud cloth is a fabric from Mali,” she says. “This is what they call true Africa fabric.”

Traditionally, Malian mud cloth features intricate patterns in earthy tones painted on stiff woven cotton fabric using dyes created from fermented mud. Sylla takes these patterns and puts them on comfortable, breathable and wearable fabrics for her pieces.

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“I wanted to do something very different and very versatile, that pretty much everybody can wear,” she says. “With my jumpsuits, there’s a visible zipper in the back, you have pockets, it’s not too tight. You can jump if you want to jump in it. I tried to play with fabric that is a little more flexible.”

Most of her clothes are made in the Ivory Coast, whereas the head wraps and masks are made locally. The label’s name, Sirani, is also rooted in Sylla’s background.

“In our culture, so that’s Mali, Senegal and Guinea, you have different names depending on your position in your family,” she explains and adds that Sirani is the name parents would give to their first-born daughter. “I like how it sounds, but also, this is my very first business.”

Sylla also recently gave birth to her second daughter, and named her Seerah.