Original article: http://www.sweetspot.ca/national/tiff_2008/4839/swag_spotting_juzd_tees/

Swag Spotting: JUZD Tees

Tuesday, Sep 09, 2008

WHAT: JUZD T-shirt
WHERE: Tastemakers Lounge
BUY IT: www.juzd.com/shop/ ($100) and now at Holt Renfrew

Yes, we’ve seen a lot of T-shirts (heck, we wear a lot of T-shirts), so when this one made us stop for a second look, we knew we had stumbled onto something great. The awesome red print superimposed on a sparkly gunmetal damask gets attention without resorting to cheeky slogans. And once we got it on, our attention was all on the crazy softness (but still thick and structured) feel on our skin. Thank the bamboo (and all of the high tech reasons) and the attention to design detail. Sure, a screen printed comic cover on the inside of our tee isn’t necessary…but it is amazing

Forecasting Toronto as having awesome fashion sense for the next year, Nalini Sharma shows off her JUZD shirt.

Sharma, a Ryerson alumnus, is known for her frequent appearances on CityNews at 6, CityNews Tonight, Toronto International Film Festivals‘ 2008 feature: Red Carpet Tonight, as well as on CP24.

Irvine Welsh’s “ecstasy” movie launch party sponsored by JUZD Streetwear will be happening during the Toronto International Film Festival this year.

d’s 7th annual film fest party
“ecstasy” film environmental gala
Hosted by Danielle Iverson & Nico Miami
Monday, September, 8th 2008
8:30PM – 4:00AM
Green Carpet Starts @ 8:30PM
Empire, 50 Cumberland Street, Yorkville
RSVP@thatPRthing.com by Sept 5th

Irvine Welsh’s “ecstasy” movie launch party will be happening during the Toronto International Film Festival this year.

The film “ecstasy,” is a dark romantic comedy based on the #1 best-selling controversial book, “ecstasy,” by Irvine Welsh, writer of “Trainspotting.” The novel was translated into 20 languages and was a #1 bestseller in over 20 countries. Mr. Welsh’s first book, “Trainspotting,” published in 1993, (and voted by Waterstone, Europe’s largest bookstore chain, as one of the Ten Best Books of the Century), sold over 1 million copies in the UK alone and has its own Cinematic Cinderella success story. The film is to shoot in Scotland and Northern Ontario and will be directed by Rob Heydon, award-winning director of music videos and commercials. The production team includes; Rob Heydon of Ecstasy Film Inc. of Toronto, Canada and Ashley Pover of Proteus Entertainment of London, England. Joni Cuquet will be Executive Producing.

Performances include Bedouin Soundclash. With sold out shows across Canada, and performances all over the world, including the renowned Leeds and Reading Festivals, London’s V-Fest, and PuklePop; “Bedouin Soundclash” brings their soulful, energetic live show to Toronto once again.

Erica Durance is scheduled to star in “ecstasy,” whose rise to fame came in the role of Superman’s future love, Lois Lane, in the series “Smallville” on the WB Network. “I am thrilled to go to Scotland to star in this film. The whole idea of exploring relationships about people on ecstasy in a completely different location and culture is exciting,” Erica exclaims! “Trainspotting was one of my favourite films.”Durance will be starring with Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings, Master and Commander), Richard E. Grant (Dracula, Gosford Park, How to Get Ahead in Advertising, and Withnail & I) and Adam Sinclair (The Summit).

The film “ecstasy,” is a dark romantic comedy based on the #1 best-selling controversial book, “ecstasy,” by Irvine Welsh, writer of “Trainspotting.” The novel was translated into 20 languages and was a #1 bestseller in over 20 countries. Mr. Welsh’s first book, “Trainspotting,” published in 1993, (and voted by Waterstone, Europe’s largest bookstore chain, as one of the Ten Best Books of the Century), sold over 1 million copies in the UK alone and has its own Cinematic Cinderella success story. The film is to shoot in Scotland and Northern Ontario and will be directed by Rob Heydon, award-winning director of music videos and commercials. The production team includes; Rob Heydon of Ecstasy Film Inc. of Toronto, Canada and Ashley Pover of Proteus Entertainment of London, England. Joni Cuquet will be Executive Producing.

Erica Durance is scheduled to star in “ecstasy,” whose rise to fame came in the role of Superman’s future love, Lois Lane, in the series “Smallville” on the WB Network. “I am thrilled to go to Scotland to star in this film. The whole idea of exploring relationships about people on ecstasy in a completely different location and culture is exciting,” Erica exclaims! “Trainspotting was one of my favourite films. “Durance will be starring with Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings, Master and Commander), Richard E. Grant (Dracula, Gosford Park, How to Get Ahead in Advertising, and Withnail & I) and Adam Sinclair (The Summit).

Performances include Bedouin Soundclash. With sold out shows across Canada, and performances all over the world, including the renowned Leeds and Reading Festivals, London’s V-Fest, and PuklePop; “Bedouin Soundclash” brings their soulful, energetic live show to Toronto once again.

Toronto, Ontario – September 5th 2008 – The Fourth Annual Tastemaker’s Lounge is one of the première events of the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Jing Liu, Owner and Lead Designer of JUZD (short for Juiced) Bamboo, will be the event’s youngest sponsor, at the age of 27. Liu, along with other event sponsors including CTV’s eTalk and Sweetspot.ca (as the event’s major sponsors), HBC, Joe Fresh Style, Strellson, and PUMA, will expose event-goers to fresh and unique products coming from some of Canada’s trendiest and most cutting-edge entrepreneurs.

JUZD Bamboo will provide a collection of one-of-a-kind designer bamboo t-shirts for the Tastemaker’s Lounge, running Saturday, September 6th to Friday, September 12th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville Hotel.

Liu made history two months ago when his first collection of edgy designer bamboo tees was picked up (with immediate delivery requested) by Canada’s leading luxury retailer, Holt Renfrew. His fast rise in the scene marked a rare event in the fashion industry, where retailers buy lines nine months in advance. Making the quick demand even more shocking is that Liu has no agency design experience or fashion background.

Liu isn’t stopping with Holt Renfrew in his efforts to take the eco-conscious design world by storm. Already working on several deals to extend his line, he expects to see JUZD Bamboo tees available in the US and UK markets before Christmas. Following on the heels of the Holt Renfrew buy, other distributors are also demanding immediate delivery. What is the appeal of the JUZD designs? According to a UK source, “People are tired of going into stores and seeing the same shirt after shirt. This is different. There is presentation, a totally awesome new fabric, and you got this comic in the back. I’m sold!”

Not only are stores taking notice. The media has also jumped onto Liu’s story of finding eco-friendly inspiration to combine his love of art and fashion. Within just 72 hours of announcing the Holt Renfrew deal, eight magazines, four online magazines, a TV show, a radio station, and eight major blogs confirmed coverage.

As the world is eyeing the stars in Toronto, there is a Toronto star that’s eyeing the world.

About JUZD – The Bamboo Streetwear Clothing Company

JUZD (short for Juiced) www.juzd.com is the planet’s first bamboo designer label, established in 2007 by designer Jing Liu. The label emphasizes contemporary high-end streetwear created using exclusive custom-designed and milled bamboo fabric. Each design is inspired by the designer’s vision of “organic” and aggressive style and the philosophy that art and fashion should co-exist in a way that is innovative, eco-conscious, and empowering.

For more information about the event sponsorship, JUZD label, or to set up an interview with Jing Liu, please visit www.JUZD.com or contact Davi Tham at 416-561-2581.

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CONTACT:

Davi Tham

JUZD Bamboo

Tel: 416.561.2581

Email: Davi@juzd.com

Toll-Free: 1.888.589.3462

Fax: 1.888.895.5893

Web: www.JUZD.com