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A note to Tory Burch, from the Desk of our CEO, Lisa.

“This year, one of our orders with a retailer was shipped to our warehouse with incorrect barcodes. We caught the issue and decided to pull together a team overnight to fix the issue. Our team was upbeat and positive during the process. As I sat on that warehouse floor and attached tags to 2,000 bags, I was reminded that fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) had been in my place before.” - Keep reading to hear Lisa’s story and why she thinks it’s never time to quit!

Last weekend, and with only 48 hours until the deadline, our Founder & CEO Lisa found out about the Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship Competition for women entrepreneurs. The competition will select 10 women entrepreneurs to receive access to capital, education, mentorship and networking. The application asked for Lisa’s story and a personal statement about how she overcomes challenges. She sat down at her desk and began to write. Here’s what came to mind...

FROM THE DESK OF OUR CEO:

In 2012, I founded My Social Canvas (MSC) with the dream of combining my passions for fashion, social responsibility, and empowering women and girls. This company is my true calling. The students are the heart and soul of our brand.  Our apparel is designed by students for a cause, and each product tells a unique story sharing the name, school, and inspiration of the student designer. My Social Canvas and our milestones are just as much the achievements of our students, as they are mine.

Although we are a small company, My Social Canvas is by no means small. We have a campus team of inspiring students from around the country and Canada. I have recruited these students personally, and mentor them as they pursue their own dreams in fashion, business, and life. The MSC mantra is helping students design a life and career they love each and every day!

My Social Canvas is at a tipping point with many recent milestones including: a trip to the White House where I had the chance to meet President Obama, a project with Whole Planet Foundation and Lionsgate Film Studio, events at Sephora and Norstrom, and our #Design4HerEducation scholarship competition with Dayle Haddon's non-profit WomenOne. This campaign invited girls to design for the future of other girls and included a panel of high profile judges including Christy Turlington Burns, Founder of Every Mother Counts, Desiree Gruber, Producer for the hit show Project Runway, Anne Fulenwider, Editor in Chief of Marie Claire Magazine, Erin Flaherty Beauty & Health Director of Marie Claire, Kelly Rutherford, women’s advocate and actress from the show Gossip Girl, and fashion designer Catherine Malandrino. #Design4HerEducation was a dream come true. It united some of fashion's most influential icons in an effort to select the most creative designs by the most innovative young designers. This project has the opportunity to change the lives of the world’s next up-and-coming designers, as well as the many girls around the world that will go to school by funds raised. Here’s a sneak peak at the winning designs and the student designers behind this creative collection!

Although any entrepreneur can tell you that founding a business is not free of challenge, I believe that the ability to get back up when hard situations arise help us overcome issues that come our way! This year, one of our orders with a retailer was shipped to our warehouse with incorrect barcodes. We caught the issue and decided to pull together a team overnight to fix the issue. Our team was upbeat and positive during the process. As I sat on that warehouse floor and attached tags to 2,000 bags, I was reminded that fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) had been in my place before.

In DVF's memoir, The Woman I Wanted to Be, she shares her story of dresses being shipped from Italy to NYC with the labels incorrectly written in Italian. While this discouraged her a bit at first, she didn’t let it get her down. Instead, she personally crossed out the prices on each tag and wrote the price in English. While tagging my products, DVF’s story kept me hopeful because I knew she had been in my shoes.

Perhaps someday I will add this story to my own book to give hope to another woman with a dream.

Just like DVF, Tory Burch is another woman in business and fashion that I admire. She has built a company from scratch and she never gave up. Tory’s brand is iconic and her story inspires me. But what’s most important about Tory is not only that she’s a designer and business woman, but a mother, a passionate philanthropist, and a woman that is mentoring other women as they design a life and career they love. She reminds women that their dream can be done; she reminds us that it’s not time to quit.

Howard Shultz, the CEO of Starbucks once said, "When we love something, emotion often drives our actions. This is the gift and the challenge entrepreneurs face every day. The companies we dream of and build from scratch are part of us and intensely personal. They are our families. Our lives.” My Social Canvas is intensely personal to me. I would be honored to be selected as a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow so that My Social Canvas can pass the torch on to other young women and students in 2016 and beyond.  

xo,

Lisa

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Confidence Is Always In Style!

In celebration of New York Fashion Week, we recently hosted an event with Sephora and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics at Sephora’s Soho store! Women and girls that attended were asked to share moments that make them feel confident and at their best! They were treated to makeovers and our  “Confidence Is Always In Style” bag along with amazing products from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics!

Our Founder, Lisa Mayer, is a long-time fan of Bobbi Brown. She has given Lisa the inspiration to dream big and to be confident, and Lisa hopes to do the same: inspire young women to DESIGN A LIFE THEY LOVE!

The student designer of the tote bag, Sloane Applebaum from Cornell University, said: “Confidence is the most important quality a girl can have. It enables her to dream big and empowers her to believe in herself. What is more stylish than that?” 

At the event, we asked women what makes them feel confident! Here’s what they said:

What makes you feel confident? Tweet us @mysocialcanvas with the hashtag #ConfidenceisAlwaysinStyle! 

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We are thrilled to have Haile Thomas, the celebrity teen chef, health advocate, and inspiration behind our Feed Your Beauty campaign in NYC this week to celebrate the launch of our collection currently selling at Whole Foods Market!

The Feed Your Beauty campaign is on a mission to remind women and girls everywhere that health and beauty go hand in hand and we could not be more excited to be working with Haile through this collaboration. We thought a behind the scenes look at Haile’s adventures in New York City would be the perfect way to get to know this inspiring role model!

Haile’s week started off with a meeting with Dr. Deepak Chopra. They spoke about her participation in his very exciting new network JIYO. Haile spoke about her work with the HAPPY Organization at the Hip Hop Public Health "Health in Key Gala" and even got the opportunity to share our Feed Your Beauty collaboration with fellow Arizona native, American Idol winner, and pop star Jordin Sparks as well Haile’s role model Dr. Chopra. 

As if that wasn’t enough, Haile also reconnected with Chelsea Clinton during her NYC "It's YOUR World" book tour, and she was super honored to be featured in her book.  Last but not least, coming up soon, Haile will have the incredible honor to be the guest chef for the WAT-AAH VIP fan experience for Ariana Grande's honeymoon tour. Haile will be preparing an Ariana Grande inspired meal for contest winners and she couldn’t be more thrilled to do this as a way to inspire Ariana’s fans to FEED THEIR BEAUTY through delicious and nutritious foods!

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MSC Visits the White House

Lisa, our CEO and Founder, recently got to visit the White House in Washington, D.C! She went with Nia Thomas, little sister of MSC girl Haile Thomas, both teen chef extraordinaires, to the Kids’ State Dinner to Celebrate the winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge! 

While there, Lisa met President Barak Obama! She shared with him the story of the Eat A Rainbow Collection, designed by 7 year old Jimmy T., to promote healthy eating and the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools grant program through the Whole Kids Foundation. 

Jimmy was so thrilled to see this photo of his bag in the hands of the President that he decided to write a letter to President Obama, saying how glad he was that he liked the bag! We are so proud of Jimmy, Nia and the entire healthy eating movement growing across America!

Obama admiring the My Social Canvas Eat a Rainbow Bag!

Jimmy T. Holding his creation!

Be on the lookout for an upcoming feature on Nia Thomas’s first time at the White House for the Kids’ State Dinner!

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A Midsummer Night at MSC

Campus Representative Party

We were so happy to welcome our NYC-based Campus Representatives to the MSC Studio in Manhattan! Team MSC loves to celebrate our fantastic reps and we are so glad that they came and had a great time!

Thanks for joining us, ladies!

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Meet Emily

Founder + CEO, Smart Girls Group and Fordham University Student

Emily Raleigh is a huge inspiration to the team here at My Social Canvas! A Junior in the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, she founded the Smart Girls Group while in High School. The Smart Girls Group is a multi platform brand for ambitious women and girls which includes a monthly digital magazine, an aggregated news blog, campus chapters, online classes, an online community, merchandise that sponsors girls' education in Nepal, a professional women's network, weekly newsletters, live events, and an international sisterhood. It has grown into a community with upwards of 800 members in over 40 countries and on 6 continents. They have an upcoming weekend-long event in New York City called the Live Smart Series, which includes great networking opportunities and fantastic speakers, including MSC’s founder and CEO, Lisa Mayer!

We wanted to learn more about this amazing young entrepreneur!

How did you create Smart Girls Group? What inspired you?

The idea for Smart Girls Group really started when I was a little girl. I would walk downstairs every morning after putting on my outfit for school, and ask, “Mommy, do I look smart?” I was raised on the concept of the Smart Girl and that image drove me through the mean girls of middle school, the crazy pressure of high school, and the choices that come with college. With that in mind, I wrote a book for my freshman sister, Sophie, during my senior year of high school that was a how-to guide for surviving and succeeding in high school. I gave it to her for Christmas and my family really wanted me to get it published. The problem was, I wanted to do something that would be more than just a book, something that was continuous. So on New Year’s Day, I made my New Years Resolution to start The Smart Girls Group. We initially had 9 girls involved, and released a small magazine that we planned to only be 10 pages long. Soon enough, the sisterhood began to grow and so did our products. What keeps us moving is the girls and we truly have a group of girls who will change the world.

What are you most excited for about the coming conference?

I am definitely the most excited for girls to experience it! We have been working on this for almost a year now and between the speakers, the activations, and just the entire experience, it's definitely going to be a really impactful weekend.  

How would you like to see Smart Girls Group develop?

I love thinking about where we will be in the future and I think in a lot of ways, it will be very different from where people think we are going with the brand (but in a good way). Our goal is to expand upon what we currently offer and grow our global community of Smart Girls in ways that continues to align with our mission to power young women’s ambitions.

How do you manage running a company and also being a college student?

I get this question a lot and the funny thing is, I honestly don’t think much about it and when I do, that’s when I get stressed out. I try very hard to simply not think about how much is on my plate and just get it done. I make a to do list, and I just make sure that it all gets completed on time and when it doesn’t, I try to figure out how to do better next time. As far as balancing is concerned, I color code everything in my agenda book and when I’m planning out my week, I look to make sure that all of the colors are even throughout the pages, and that’s how I know I’m balancing everything. But my first focus is Smart Girls so while is it a balancing act with college and everything, Smart Girls comes first for me. 

The attendees of the Live Smart Series 2014.

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Meet Sloane

Fashion Blogger, Cornell Student, MSC Campus Rep

Sloane Applebaum is one of our fabulous MSC reps, and one of our favorite fashion bloggers! Her site, ChampagneGlitter, is a perfect blend of sartorial advice and college lifestyle posts. We sat down with this budding fashion powerhouse to learn more about her!

How did you get involved with My Social Canvas?

I met Lisa Mayer at Nordstrom in 2014.  I was a part of the Nordstrom B.P. Fashion Board, which is an internship program for high school students, and Lisa came to speak to us about My Social Canvas.  I really loved the brand message, and I connected with MSC on social media.  In October, Lisa reached out to me about the Campus Rep program, and it sounded like such an amazing opportunity, so I was very eager to get involved!

You’re studying Fiber Science and Apparel Design with a Business minor at Cornell University. How do you balance Business and Fashion?

I’ve never really thought of it as “balancing” business and fashion.  I think the two disciplines work really beautifully together.  Fashion, just like anything else, is a complex and diverse industry.  When most people think “fashion,” they probably think about designers and artists who create clothing, but there’s so much that happens behind the scenes.  Some people are great at writing, so they might work for a fashion magazine.  Others are very business-savvy, so they might pursue a career as a fashion consultant.  You can be a stylist, and put together gorgeous outfits for your clients.  Or, if you’re someone who enjoys research, you could be a trend forecaster! There are so many options! I’ve always loved playing dress up and shopping for special occasions, but I never once had any interest in being a fashion designer, so I figured fashion would just be my life-long hobby.  When my mother discovered that Cornell University offered a fashion major with a concentration in business and management, I realized I’d be able to pursue my passion in an academic setting, and I knew the program would be perfect for me!

Studying Fiber Science and Apparel Design has really opened by eyes to the myriad of opportunities that exist within fashion.  I think having a business minor is very important, not just for people interested in the fashion industry, but for everyone! No matter what you do in life, you need to understand basic business skills, such as accounting and marketing, so it’s very valuable to receive some formal education in that.  I’m still not sure what type of career I want to pursue, but I definitely want it to involve both business and fashion!

Your blog, ChampagneGlitter.com is so fabulous! Where do you get the inspiration for all of your creative posts?

Thank you! I began my blog two years ago as a way to share my style with my friends and family.  I was actually inspired by a contest hosted by Nordstrom, in which B.P. Fashion Board members could apply to write for the Nordstrom Fashion Blog.  I decided to just start my own website, and see where it would take me!  At first, I drew inspiration from clothing I saw in stores and on celebrities.  Then, I started to do a few posts about my own outfits.  I would have my brother take pictures, and then I’d write a little paragraph about what I wore, where I was going, and how I made certain stylistic choices.  These were the posts that really started to get attention, so I shifted my focus from an informative site about fashion trends to a personal style blog.  

Now, I find inspiration from a lot of different sources.  Sometimes, I’ll see cute outfits in magazines or on other blogs, and I’ll try to recreate the looks.  I’m also very influenced by my love for color and art.  Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock, both abstract expressionists, are two of my favorite artists, and a lot of their work involved playing around with color combinations.  I try to incorporate that into my own style and my posts on my blog!  Most of all, I’m inspired by my readers.  My ultimate goal as a blogger is to share my style with others, and I always keep my audience in mind when developing new posts.     

You’ve been so involved with different groups on your campus, and have had some amazing internships. Tell us a little bit about your experiences and involvement.

Prior to college, I interned at Nordstrom for two years, which was a very enriching experience.  I learned a lot about marketing, buying, trend forecasting, and other exciting aspects on the business side of fashion.  Since I began studying at Cornell, I’ve joined a lot of different groups on campus.  I work as a tour guide, which is the most amazing job because I get to meet prospective students and share with them my love for my school.  I also joined an a capella group, where I’ve made some really incredible friendships!  I’m a member of the Cornell Fashion Collective, which is a student-run organization that puts on an annual fashion show every April to showcase the work of fashion design students.  I also work on the styling and business teams for The Thread, Cornell’s fashion and art magazine.  Most recently, I’ve become involved with Careers in the Fashion Industry, a club that seeks to inform students about all the different career options available in fashion.  Right now, I’m working on creating a blog for the club so we can publicize upcoming events!  I’ve also been working with the Boston Consulting Group, thanks to one of my amazing fashion professors.  I’m helping a team that is developing a new fashion app.  I’m not sure how much I can actually say about the app before it’s released, but I can tell you that it’s a great idea and fashionistas are definitely going to want it!

I also work at a Tory Burch retail store, which has been the most valuable experience I’ve had thus far.  Working in retail has taught me things I would never have been able to learn in a classroom, such as patience, communication skills, and the importance of teamwork.  I also really appreciate my retail job because I get to see fashion from a different perspective.  In my classes, we frequently discuss why designers choose certain materials or why specific colors are popular.  We also look at the supply chain of a product.  We start at the product’s conception and follow it as it is produced, quality tested, and shipped to stores.  But, in a retail store, I get to experience the next step of the process.  I can see what products sell well compared to others and I can learn about fashion from the perspective of our customers.  For example, when I’m helping a customer find a pair of shoes, she might complain that the sandal she really wants is too narrow and doesn’t fit her foot.  This is something you can’t learn from reading a textbook.  In fashion, it’s so important to respond to the needs of consumers, and I’m lucky that I’ve been able to experience this first-hand.

What is your favorite item in your closet?

I have this pink and green tweed jacket from Talbots, and I really don’t wear it often (I think I’ve only worn it twice), but I’m obsessed with it.  It’s the only piece of clothing I wouldn’t allow my college roommate to borrow from my closet (not that she wanted to) because it’s so precious.  It’s a little old-fashioned and not really practical at all. My friends say it looks like something Martha Stewart would wear.  When I look at it, I always laugh, and when I wear it, I feel like Coco Chanel… what could be better?

What advice do you have for aspiring bloggers?

Starting a blog is a huge commitment, but it’s also a wonderful way to express yourself! I would encourage anyone who is interested in blogging to pursue it!  At first, it is frustrating because it takes time to develop a unique writing voice, to decide what types of posts you want to write, and to get people to actually read your site.  But don’t let that hold you back from blogging.  It’s so rewarding when someone goes out of their way to tell you they enjoy reading your blog.  The Internet is an amazing platform that allows people to share and inspire, so take advantage of it!  Also, don’t forget to utilize social media, because it’s basically free advertising!

Rapid Fire:

Favorite Designers? Jeremy Scott, Tory Burch, Diane von Furstenberg, and Olivier Rousteing.

Dream Vacation? My dream vacation would be to spend a week at the Palace of Versailles.  I visited Versailles two years ago, and I was only there for a few hours, but it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen in my life.  I’d love to go back and have more time to take in the incredible architecture, history, and art that are found within Versailles.

Person you’d love to meet? Mindy Kaling.  She’s hilarious, inspiring, intelligent, and stylish!

Favorite food? York Peppermint Patties.

Summer beauty tip? Put away the makeup, and embrace your natural beauty!

Sloane is also the designer and inspiration behind the My Social Canvas Confidence is Always in Style collection, which will be available on the website soon!! 

Some of our favorite looks from ChampagneGlitter.com!!

Follow Sloane on Instagram and Twitter, and her blog!  

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MEET KELSEY

#Design4HerEducation Winner!

Kelsey Thorn is the Senior Designer at Her Campus Media and a My Social Canvas all star. Our Design For Her Education judges couldn’t choose just one of her fantastic designs, so they picked two! 

The Design For Her Education contest was in collaboration with WomenOne, a non-profit which benefits girl’s education around the world. It was founded by fashion icon Dayle Haddon, who was one of our judges alongside supermodel Christy Turlington, Marie Claire Magazine Editor in Chief Anne Fulenwider, Gossip Girl actress Kelly Rutherford, Marie Clare’s Beauty and Health Director Erin Flaherty, Designer Catherine Malandrino, and Project Runway producer Desiree Gruber. The Design For Her Education contest helped girls at home too, since the winning student designers won scholarships and valuable experience in the Fashion Industry. 

We wanted to learn more about this creative, talented Skidmore College graduate who has a passion for English Literature, Creative Writing and Studio Art. Read our conversation with Kelsey below!

Tell us your story. What inspired you to participate in MSC’s #Design4HerEducation contest?

I immediately fell in love with My Social Canvas, the cause and the #Design4HerEducation contest. For me, MSC and WomenOne perfectly epitomize how one can help others simply by doing what they love. #Design4HerEducation provided me with a chance to support and strengthen this mission devoted to enabling women and girls globally to follow their passions through access to quality education. It truly is a perfect blend of my passion for design and my desire promote the importance of education.

I’m not a college student and I didn’t enter this contest for the prizes or for the chance to have my designs seen by an impressive cast of celebrity judges. I am a working professional and am happily living a life I love, working currently as the Senior Designer at Her Campus Media, an innovative media company and online community for college women, by college women. With the desire to simply do more to provide women with opportunity, I’ve contributed my volunteer design services to the She’s the First organization, working directly with the founder Tammy Tibbetts, to create promotional and marketing materials that help amplify the STF message.  

Put simply, MSC and WomenOne are encouraging women to create a life they love, and I’m truly honored and humbled to be a part of that.

What goals do you hope to achieve in designing a life and career you love?

Honestly, my goal is simply to continue to design a life and career I love, to pursue anything that brings me happiness and fulfills my sense of purpose in this world.

If I’ve learned anything in life so far, it’s been that I cannot control what is ahead of me or what will happen to me.  It's impossible to design an idea of your life and live out that exact design to the very T. What’s important is that you continue to dream and recognize where your passions lie so that you can go forward in the world in a direction you feel comfortable with. Indeed, I could sit here and design my life according to everything I hope I get tomorrow, next week or three years from now, but I wouldn’t really be living my life if I spent my time doing that.

My goal is to be happy and to enjoy my life everyday, to live with purpose, never give up on my daydreams and, most importantly, to inspire other women and girls to figure out what they love and chase it without hesitation. As long as I’m doing that, no matter where I’m working or what I’m doing, I’ll be happy.

If you had to pick one event or situation that has had the largest impact on you as a designer, what would it be?

As a child, I was lucky enough to grow up with an amazing father who truly embodied what it means to do what you love. My father, a boarding school teacher of English Literature and Creative Writing, was a beyond remarkable man to whom there was no such thing as doing too much and to whom success wasn’t defined by the number on your paycheck. To my dad, if you were doing what you truly loved and you weren’t tailoring your passions based on the money then you were doing everything right.

I lost my dad just before my 16th birthday to cancer. I was, by definition, my father's daughter and I felt like my entire life was caving in on me. Forced to grow up at such a young age, I swore to honor my father’s spirit by discovering what made me happy and to sticking to it.  I had always been drawing, taking photos, molding sculptures and pretty much doing any and every type of artistic activity you could think of, but I had never seriously considered becoming an artist or a designer.

I am the creative young woman I am today because of my father and I wouldn’t have the perseverance and dedication to my passions that I have today if it weren’t for his loss. He designed a life he loved, no matter how short lived, and I’m doing just that!

RAPID FIRE ROUND

Hobby: Metalsmithing - I developed the passion to create things, such as jewelry, out of metal when I was in college and it’s something that will stick with me forever.

Summer Anthem: This is always the hardest question to answer and, yet, everyone keeps asking it. I'm really into everything Tropical House.

Favorite Book: Too hard! I can’t simply just have one favorite.

Summer Beauty Tip: Less is more. Go Natural. Hydrate and protect your skin with a moisturizer that contains SPF!

Ideal Afternoon: Spending time outside, exercising and playing with my puppy Bella (on Instagram as @missbellaboop_)

Summer Fashion Tip: It’s all about the prints - printed shorts and lightweight pants. Pull on a plain white or simple tee, a pair of printed shorts and some slip on shoes and you’re good to go.

Favorite or Dream Vacation Spot: I’ve always wanted to go to Zanzibar but I don’t know what inspired that. I think I just fell in love with the way that Zanzibar sounds when I was a kid and I never let go of the idea once I realized it was a real place (and a beautiful place at that, Google it!).

Kelsey’s winning Designs.

Designer Catherine Malandrino, who loved Kelsey’s L’Education design!

You can see the other #Design4HerEducation winners here!

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Meet Taylor!

#Design4HerEducation Winner!

Taylor Fleming was one of four aspiring designers who won the My Social Canvas #Design4HerEducation contest. The contest was in collaboration with WomenOne, and the sales of the designs will benefit their work creating positive change in the lives of women and girls globally through access to quality education. Taylor’s design was selected by our incredible panel of judges: Christy Turlington, Dayle Haddon, Desiree Gruber, Anne Fulenwider, Kelly Rutherford, Erin Flaherty and Catherine Malandrino. Taylor is a driven and talented student at the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design.

Tell us your story. What inspired you to participate in MSC’s #Design4HerEducation contest?

Currently, I’m a senior at the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program studying Interior Design. Over the past three years, I’ve interned for a few different Interior Design firms: Simeone Deary Design Group in Chicago and the Rockwell Group in New York. It was during my most recent internship in New York where I met Lisa Mayer – she mentioned the design contest with My Social Canvas and WomenOne. I am very interested in graphic design and fashion, so I’m always on board with any opportunity to explore those interests further. I especially appreciated the cause behind the design challenge – we were not just prompted to create something beautiful, but to really think about the fact that these designs were to raise awareness and give others the opportunity to invest in the education of women around the world. It’s such a unique time culturally, where design and social media have become such incredible tools for shedding light on issues around us. Design contests like those that My Social Canvas sponsors can truly become a catalyst for change – I’m honored that I was chosen to play a small role in that.

What goals do you hope to achieve in designing a life and career you love?

I feel like my goals change so frequently – I am always discovering new things I want to pursue. I do know that wherever I end up establishing my career, it will have to be a large city – I love the density of cultures and the historical significance that are inherent within cities. I will be interning in Berlin, Germany this fall – I want to see if that may develop into a potentially more permanent position or perhaps lead to other opportunities abroad. My dream has always been to live somewhere in Europe, so I want to be sure to pursue that possibility as much as I can.

The most important thing to me is to always remain curious – I never want to settle for anything that doesn’t continually spark curiosity, whether that is the city I’m in, the people around me, or the career I’m pursuing. I’m excited to see what that will look like in the coming years!

What achievements are you most proud of?

I think that so far, my achievements are more like foundational stepping-stones. I look at different things I’ve been lucky enough to become a part of so far, and I’m excited about the opportunities that are ahead because of them. I’m most proud of the fact that recently I’ve been learning that it never hurts to ask. A lot of my favorite experiences have happened because I didn’t allow myself to get in my own way – I decided that the worst that could happen would be to either not get a response, or to receive an answer saying “no.” I think it’s such a valuable thing to remember when it comes to pursuing different opportunities ahead.

Rapid Fire Round:

Hobby: Hot Yoga. I love that the practice goes beyond just the workout aspect. It has really become an amazing reminder for me to live everyday focused and present.

Summer Anthem: So far, I’ve been almost exclusively listening to Empires by Hillsong United. The whole album is so incredibly good.

Favorite Book: Scary Close by Donald Miller – I’m a little more than half way through and I already know it’s a definite favorite.

Summer Beauty Tip: Embrace the natural. One of my favorite things about summer is that having a little sun on my face gives me an excuse to wear less makeup.

Ideal Afternoon: Every great afternoon for me begins at a cozy coffee shop. After sipping on a coffee, chatting with a friend, my ideal afternoon would be exploring a new part of whatever city I’m in. Observing people, walking around little neighborhoods and discovering new spots – I love it.

Summer Fashion Tip: I think more than any other season, people are really experimental with fashion in the summer. My tip would be to observe & look at others for inspiration – the more of a database you have to pull from, the more unique your style becomes.

Favorite Vacation Spot: San Juan, Puerto Rico – perfect beaches, great city.

Taylor’s Design.

Erin Flaherty, the Beauty and Health Director of Marie Claire Magazine, who loved Taylor’s Design!

You can see the other #Design4HerEducation contest winners here.

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Meet Leah!

#Design4HerEducation

Leah Tanner was one of four designers who won MSC’s #Design4HerEducation contest. The contest was in collaboration with WomenOne, and the sales of the designs will benefit this non-profit in their mission to create positive change in the lives of women and girls globally through access to quality education. Leah’s design was selected by our incredible panel of judges: Christy Turlington, Dayle Haddon, Desiree Gruber, Anne Fulenwider, Kelly Rutherford, Erin Flaherty and Catherine Malandrino. Leah is a creative and cool student at the University of Guelph near Toronto Canada. She is also a world traveler who was just in Cambodia and is now exploring Australia and soon to be France!

What inspired you to participate in this contest?

Almost three years ago now, I stumbled across one of MSC design contests, and being the eager high school student that I was (with a dream of breaking into the competitive design industry), I created/submitted a design without hesitation. Luckily my design was well received and ever since I have been representing the MSC brand.

In terms of the #DesignForHerEducation contest specifically, I was initially helping with the advertising and reach of the contest, and it never actually occurred to me to submit a design myself until the final weeks -- but wow I'm so incredibly glad that I did.

I also took a fashion design course at Marist College a few years back, which helped me develop design skills that aided me with my MSC design! 

What does this contest mean to you and what inspired your design?

To me education is everything. It empowers insight, knowledge, strength, individuality and more. I believe the importance of education is immeasurable. Without it, I cannot even imagine where I would be or who I would have become. Having the opportunity to participate in something that empowers other women through education was nothing short of an honor.

I wanted my design to showcase the essence of this design contest, but more importantly the movement behind it -- supporting global education for girls. In my design, I used schoolbook lines with handwriting because for me that is one of the most classic representations of learning and literacy. From there, I also incorporated a silhouette of the world in the background, as it represents the global aspect of this movement. Together, these two elements combine to symbolize how education can truly change the entire world.

Tell us about your travels and the way they shaped your outlook?

From a young age I moved around a fair bit, so traveling is somewhat natural to me. I’ve been across Canada and the United States, France three times (I lived here for a month with a host family whilst learning French), Italy twice, England twice, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Australia, Greece and Cambodia. In all honestly I feel uneasy staying in one place too long, but I think that's a great thing. When you're surrounded by new people in a new environment, you can discover yourself and grow as an individual. I truly believe that you gain invaluable experiences when being in a different place and culture -- not to mention you learn life lessons that could never be taught in a classroom.

I've been lucky enough to have traveled to some incredible places, and every time I go somewhere new it never fails to excite me and teach me more than I could have ever anticipated. Most recently I traveled to Cambodia, Australia and then finally France. This was my first trip to Asia and it was life changing to say the least. For the first half of my trip I stayed with a Buddhist monk and helped construct a medical facility in his rural village. From there I taught English in the city to third grade students, which put this entire contest into perspective. I saw first hand how important and impactful education is, and I was honored to have been a small part of that.  

What goals do you hope to achieve when designing a life and career you love?

I have always had an affinity for art and design but as I grew older I also developed a deep interest for business. As a result, I chose to study marketing at my university, which seamlessly combines my interest of art with the practical aspects of business.

In terms of a career, I can only hope that one day I'll have the opportunity to help with the marketing, advertising or social media/brand managing of an ethically and socially responsible company -- that's the dream! But if I'm lucky enough to wake up each morning feeling inspired to go into work, regardless of the job, I'll be happy. Happiness is ultimately what I aspire to have and create.

RAPID FIRE ROUND

Hobby? Skiing. From the moment I could stand on my own two feet, my parents had me strapped to skis going down a mountain. It's been a massive part of my life and I couldn't imagine who I would be without it. But I also love baking new yummy treats, trying new cafes, traveling, doing yoga, cuddling endlessly with my doggie and going on Pinterest for a shameful amount of time (who doesn't love that?)

Favorite summer anthem or artists? Ahh, this is easily the hardest question yet. I'm a sucker for any good alternative or indie-folk music. If I had to choose, I would highly recommend Ben Howard, Lord Huron, Hozier, Matt Corby, Milky Chance, Alt-J, Chet Faker and Vance Joy... just to name a few.

Latest books you’ve read? I just finished Into Thin Air and Into The Wild, which were both interestingly thought provoking.

Summer beauty tip? Less is more.

Ideal afternoon? Exploring a new city (and eating my way through it obvi)

Summer fashion tip? Keep it simple. You can never go wrong with denim cutoffs and a baggy white tee.

Favorite vacation spot? For me it really depends on who I'm with! I think people make the biggest difference. Anywhere can be a blast with the right people.

Dream place to go? I would love to one day see Lithuania since my grandmother was from there; however Peru, Berlin, India and Amsterdam are also at the top of my 'must-go' list. 

Leah’s design!

Christy Turlington, who loved Leah’s design, supporting the #Design4HerEducation campaign and WomenOne!

See the other winning #Design4HerEducation looks here.

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MSC Student Designer Zizi in Teen Vogue

Meet the Best Dressed Students in New York City and London

Remember Zizi, the student designer we recently featured? 

Our #Design4HerEducation design content winner Zizi Li has not only worked at the ultra luxe houses of both zacposen and Chanel, and been inducted into our My Social Canvas hall of fame of design content superstars... But... teenvogue has just named Zizi one of the Best Dressed Students in all of New York City, too! In between all of her projects and accomplishments, Zizi is studying at Parsons, one of America's most prestigious schools of fashion and design, and is a certified artistic genius. Congrats on the title, Zizi! Here at My Social Canvas, we're in total agreement with Teen Vogue's editors — Zizi is stylish, confident, fun, and all around fantastic! Take a look at Teen Vogue's compilation of the Big Apple's most stylish students here.

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Meet Zizi

#Design4HerEducation

Zizi Li was one of four designers selected by our panel of celebrated women in Fashion, Entertainment and Philanthropy to win our most recent contest, Design For Her Education. The contest was in collaboration with WomenOne, a non-profit devoted to creating positive change in the lives of women and girls globally through access to quality education. You can see the rest of the winning designs here, and check out WomenOne and their work here. Zizi is a successful and hardworking individual, with an interesting background and a unique take on life. 

Tell us your story. What inspired you to participate in MSC's #Design4HerEducation contest?

I've always been really drawn to charity and art, and the intersection of the two is something I've explored heavily through the Zizi Foundation, which I started when I was fifteen. The way art can be used as a medium to convey beauty but also, simultaneously, charity and philanthropy has always been a great passion of mine. With these interests and the graphic design skills I've learned at Parsons University's Strategic Design and Management program, this competition was the perfect fit for me.

Another layer of this competition has made it very special to me. I come from a line of four generations of strong, independent women who have inspired me and, particularly from my mother, I've learned that being a woman isn't just about the beauty — it's deeper than that. It's about intellect, knowledge; resolve of who you are at your core, and especially education. This competition represents all of that, and with the focus on education, it has really hit home. I've seen the impact an education can have on someone's life, so I'm thrilled to be a part of helping to make that possible for women around the world.

Take us on a journey back to Japan (your home!). What's the first thing you look forward to when you step off the plane?

The temples in Kyoto in one of the most authentic districts of the city — plus the delicious sushi, of course! What goals do you hope to achieve in designing a life and career you love?

My dream job is to work in an industry that is both creative and intellectually stimulating, and also full of challenges. Being on the business and management side of the fashion industry is something I'm super interested in. Building a career where I can use my international background and fluency in Mandarin and Japanese would be a huge perk, too. So, in terms of goals I'd love to achieve, I'm thrilled to say I'm getting the chance to achieve them right now, because I'm interning at Chanel this summer to gain hands-on experience at what could very well be considered the world's most prestigious fashion house. You're incredibly accomplished, and still have so much more left to do. What achievements are you most proud of?

I really think launching my Foundation has been one of my proudest achievements. The Zizi Foundation raises funds through the publication of the paintings, postcards, and calendars, which I design and create by hand. Painting has always been something very close to me — it's serene and healing all at once. To be able to transfer that restorative, peaceful energy is a gift in and of itself, because it's the essence of doing something I love that then goes back into helping others as well.

In the fashion world, I've also had the chance to work in the PR division of the House of Zac Posen with Zac himself, spending a great deal of time not only with the designer but also with his great team and all of the editors and guests who would interact with us. My language skills came into use there and it was spectacular experience that I can parlay in the future.

Currently to be working alongside the Digital Marketing team at Chanel as an intern this summer is incredible! Chanel is my favorite brand in everyday life so it's a dream to work here. I'm discovering so much about customer relationship management that stems out of what I've been learning at Parsons that I know it's going to be a really exciting few months.

Finally, of course, another project I've been so proud to be a part of is this My Social Canvas #Design4HerEducation competition and receiving this award. The scholarship is the cherry on top of the cake — I feel really lucky and delighted to be a part of giving back and supporting this cause.

RAPID FIRE ROUND WITH ZIZI...

Hobby? I love to build really cool terrariums by hand. Capturing the beauty and color of each different kind of flower reminds me that nature can be art, too.

Favorite must-have summer anthem on your iPod? A classic: Lana del Rey's "Video Games." Favorite book? The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Summer beauty tip? Red lipstick.

Ideal afternoon? Spent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Nothing better than immersing oneself amidst all of the beautiful paintings, portraits, and sculptures that fill each chamber to the brim.

Summer fashion tip? Linen — it's lightweight, perfect for the warm weather, and moves with the breeze.

Favorite vacation spot? Paris, the City of Light!

Zizi’s Design!

Desiree Gruber, a Producer of Project Runway, who loved Zizi’s design!

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Haile Thomas

#FeedYourBeauty

We wanted to know more about celebrity teen chef, Haile Thomas, the inspiration for My Social Canvas' Feed Your Beauty campaign, which benefits healthy cooking classes for adolescent girls in underserved communities. She told MSC about her favorite foods, healthy eating choices, and passion for feeding her inner and outer beauty.

What inspired you to get involved with health and how did it become your passion?

When my father was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes I realized that our family had to do something about this serious condition, so I took my passion for cooking and learned how to make our families’ favorite dishes healthier. My family and I made these favorites with healthy twists, and became educated about the risks associated with eating a diet heavy with processed foods, and also about the importance of physical activity through documentaries and books. After we were able to reverse my dad’s diabetes, I knew that I wanted to share my story and inspire my peers and their families to make healthy lifestyle choices as well.

When were you first interested in healthy eating?

After my father’s diagnosis, I was inspired to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes in particular. It’s something that runs in our family, and also affects kids, and I found out that food plays a huge role in the condition. I began to analyze our eating habits, and I quickly learned that we weren’t eating enough nutritious foods on a daily basis. I got in the kitchen with my family and started to experiment with different healthy ingredients, and I learned that vegetables are delicious and fun to make. This eventually led our family to embrace a vegan way of eating, and it’s been a lot of fun getting creative with nutritious whole plant-based foods. It really was life changing in many ways.

If you could pick one food to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

I’m a very adventurous eater, so I don’t think I would be too happy about eating one thing for the rest of my life, but I do have a food that I absolutely love to eat and cook with on a regular basis! I love mushrooms, they’re so versatile and you can flavor them any way. They are fantastic in curried stews, in burgers, and even occasionally fried for a crispy treat. Also, there are many varieties, so it’s basically impossible to get bored with them. My latest favorite is King Oyster Mushrooms, I can make them taste like scallops with a little seaweed seasoning, and that's fantastic because seafood used to be a big favorite for me!

What does My Social Canvas mean to you?

To me, My Social Canvas represents a platform for girls to spread awareness about the things that they care about, with the hope to inspire others to be fearless in advocating what they believe in, while creating the life of their dreams. I feel very lucky to be associated with a company that is so dedicated and invested in my success and growth as a girl with a mission who is working toward my dreams.

What do you hope other women and girls will feel while they are wearing your "Feed Your Beauty" shirt?

I want it to be a reminder that the things that we feed our bodies are the building blocks to inner and outer beauty.  I also want women and girls to feel empowered to make healthy choices and to also know that when they feed their beauty, they feed their self-confidence and they feed their self-esteem. This all has a positive effect on how inspired and motivated they are to pursue the happy healthy life they are meant to live.

What final message do you want all girls and women to walk away with?

I want all girls and women to know that when they feed their beauty, the best version of them will shine through!

You can follow Haile on Instagram at @haileteenvegan, Twitter @chefhaile, and visit her website hailevthomas.com. 

Haile introduces First Lady Michele Obama at the 2013 Kids’ State Dinner!

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Thanks to Life & Style Weekly for featuring our Courage of One Hunger Games t-shirt supporting Whole Planet Foundation! We love all the press we can get, as it helps us share our story + change the world. 

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Nordstrom #DesignALifeYouLove Paint Party

We honestly could not have had more fun at our Design A Life You Love Paint Party at Nordstrom last weekend! Student designers joined us to create their 2015 mantra. They walked away inspired and ready to dream big this school year! 

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My Social Canvas is all about inspiring students to Design A Life + Career They Love! We also love companies that agree with us on the importance of mentorship. One company that really knocks this out of the park is Nordstrom. Nordstrom's BP Fashion Board invites students interested in the business of fashion to get involved in their brand by attending monthly meetings and events where these students learn about fashion, merchandising, marketing, and business. Over the last year, we have attended several BP Fashion Board events where our Founder & CEO Lisa Mayer has participated as a guest speaker and mentor. We have even hosted in-store design events inviting Nordstrom customers  to design for a cause! We love the way that Nordstrom engages their local customers through giving back and we think it's pretty cool that they are helping students design a life and career they love! 

Last spring, My Social Canvas asked the Nordstrom students to write down one goal for what they will do next year to design a life and career they love. We were blown away by their responses. These students are the next generation of change makers and we can't wait to see them grow in the years to come!

What are YOU doing to design a life and career you love? Send us your comments or fill out the form above to share your own personal goal!

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#CourageOfOne Hunger Games Collection Supporting Whole Planet Foundation

My Social Canvas recently joined forces with Lionsgate Entertainment and Whole Planet Foundation for a Design Contest where we invited fans to create the next Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 t-shirt inspired by the Courage Of One. While one exciting part of this project is the final t-shirt design, this project is so much more than just a design on a shirt. 

From each shirt purchased, My Social Canvas will donate $1.00 to Whole Planet Foundation and $1.00 into a scholarship fund to support future student designers. The winning design was created by Kayla from Tampa, Florida. When we asked Kayla what inspired her to create her #CourageOfOne design she said, "The power and courage of people working together as one to create change!"

This project is especially meaningful to us because the My Social Canvas story also started with one person and in two years has grown to be much more. We couldn't have done this without the power and courage of our community of students and supporters working together as ONE to create change!

 In 2012, My Social Canvas was founded by one woman entrepreneur with a dream. That August, My Social Canvas Founder Lisa Mayer met Joy Stoddard, Development and Outreach Director of Whole Planet Foundation at the Whole Foods Market Chelsea location in New York City. Over tea, they talked about a project that would engage college students in the mission of Whole Planet Foundation.  Later that year, My Social Canvas helped Whole Planet Foundation connect with over 3 Million students at more than 50 universities and helped Whole Foods Market's Northeast Region fund 10 women entrepreneurs’ businesses through microfinance. Two years later, Whole Foods Market is one of our best customers and we are thrilled to have Whole Planet Foundation as a long-term partner. The reason we're passionate about this project is because it provides other women with access to opportunity and the chance to start their own entrepreneurial story.

Whole Planet Foundation is providing a sustainable source of support by giving micro-credit clients the opportunity to start a small business and we couldn't be more thrilled to support their work. We invite you to learn more about Whole Planet Foundation and pick up this t-shirt to give back.

We invite you to purchase a shirt and get to know Kayla, the winning designer! Anyone can make a difference. Even if you don't buy the shirt, we'd love your help spreading the word!

Learn more and donate online at www.wholeplanetfoundation.org.

Meet Kayla, the #CourageOfOne Designer from Tampa, Florida!