Frances Sologuk (far left), the longtime owner of Osoyoos Home Hardware, had wanted world-renowned fashion designer Simon Chang to visit her store for more than three years. That dream came true Monday as Chang visited the store, along with Home Hardware creative director Bev Bell. Chang and Bell have worked together to promote the Beauty Tone paint brand and also produce the interactive Simon Chang Model Home project. One of the visitors to the store was Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff (far right). (Keith Lacey photo)
It’s not everyday that you invite one of Canada’s top fashion designers to a hardware store, but as anyone who lives in Osoyoos knows, Osoyoos Home Hardware isn’t your average hardware store.
For more than three years, Osoyoos Home Hardware owner Frances Sologuk has been trying to get world-renowned fashion designer Simon Chang to visit her store.
That dream came true on Monday as Chang made the long trip from Montreal to meet customers, have his picture taken and discuss Beauty Tone paints and the Simon Chang Model Home, a promotional and marketing tool being used at Home Hardware outlets across the province.
Bev Bell, the national creative director for the Home Hardware’s paint and home products division, accompanied Chang during his visit to Osoyoos.
Chang has been recognized for his longstanding commitment to the fashion industry, his artistic vision and for outstanding business and philanthropic achievements.
He is one of the few fashion designers to be honoured with the Order of Canada.
“Simon Chang is one of the fashion world’s most creative and influential designers,” said City Life magazine in a recent profile.
Home Hardware’s national office was working on a promotional campaign several years ago trying to promote its Beauty Tone paints as some of the best in the industry, said Bell.
“The reality is colour trends happen first in the fashion industry before they become popular in the home design industry,” she said. “I thought to myself why not contact arguably Canada’s finest fashion designer and see if he might be interested in becoming part of our promotional team.
“We contacted him in Montreal and much to our surprise, he was very interested. We met and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Using a new digital app called layar, people can access a myriad of information relating to Beauty Tone paints and the Simon Change Model Home.
They can easily access information about how to use the right colours of paint to create a beautiful room and the perfect ambiance for that room, said Bell.
Using the proper colour of paint is vitally important to making each individual room inside a home something special, said Chang.
“It’s extremely important in creating a unique feel and look,” he said. “The colours and paint you choose are what creates the look you’re going after, but also makes you feel comfortable.”
While he earned his name in the fashion industry, Chang said he has also been involved in numerous other design projects and being asked to join Home Hardware as a paint and colour expert was a natural fit.
Over the past couple of years, he and Bell have worked together to create an entirely new colour card of Beauty Tone paint products.
Bell said working alongside Chang over the past several years has been a remarkable and rewarding experience.
Her experience in interior decorating and design works wonderfully with Chang’s knowledge of the proper use of colour, she said.
“It has been a wonderful experience getting to know and work with Simon,” she said.
Sologuk is “known across Canada” for her unique and innovative store in Osoyoos and for sponsoring events like the one that took place on Monday, said Bell.
“She’s an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur,” she said. “She has been trying to get Simon and I to her store for more than three years and she wouldn’t let up until we agreed to come.
“This store here in Osoyoos is most certainly talked about at head office on a regular basis. There’s not another Home Hardware owner I know of that would fly us in from halfway across the country.”
Chang agrees.
“This has to be the most unique hardware store I’ve ever been to in my life,” he said. “Frances is so committed and enthusiastic and there are no boundaries to what she will do. I’m so glad to have finally made the trip to Osoyoos to see what everyone has been talking about. This is truly a special place.”
This was the first trip ever to the South Okanagan for Chang and Bell and they both hope to return.
“It’s a mystical place,” said Chang. “I just can’t believe the beauty of this area. I had no idea.”
Bell concurred.
“It’s so beautiful,” she said. “I can only imagine how beautiful it is in the summer with all the wineries. I really do hope to get back here again.”
Dozens of customers spoke with Chang and Bell and had their pictures taken during Monday’s visit.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
