Fashion Eye: Rowenna James

Fashion Eye: Rowenna James, 17, Orangeville. Photo by Pete Paterson.

At a time when most teenagers are trying to fit in, Rowenna James thrives on being different. She has always had a passion for art, painting, fashion and pulling together eye-catching outfits. Rowenna visits thrift stores to find denim pieces to serve as the perfect canvases for her wearable art (saving many a textile from the dreaded landfill to boot). Rowenna says she had always been interested in starting a business, but a presentation to her Orangeville District Secondary School class about a Small Business Enterprise Centre summer company program – which provides funding and support to young entrepreneurs – was the catalyst she needed.

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Rowenna wrote a business plan for her company ReVamp and was accepted. She says SBEC co-ordinator Ellen Sinclair has been a mentor and helped her learn a most valuable lesson – managing her time to save some for her personal life! Especially gratifying, Rowenna says, was holding a local art show that was well attended by fans and customers. Rowenna has her eyes on the Ontario College of Art and Design for postsecondary education because it checks off a major box for her. “If you’re not doing something you’re passionate about, you won’t stick with it,” she says.

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