Icon: Julio Reyes

Here comes the final feature of this 15 Minutes of Fame anniversary project before we show you the mini documentary. Today, we have Julio Reyes, the founder of Fashionights and also a very good friend of ours, to be under our spotlight!

Do you consider 2011a successful year for your blog? Compare to 1 year ago, do you think your blog has evolved and captured a specific audience?
I've always said that if you're around for at least a year in this industry, you've succeeded. But I mean, what does one consider 'successful'? At first I didn't care if one person read my blog or 10 000, I just wanted to write and do things I like, which I still and always will do. If I had to answer the question, yes, I've achieved a greater success from last year. I mean I get paid for things now, I'm not screwing around anymore. And in terms of my audience, well I like to think my readers want a no-non-sense-clique-y-fashion-bullshit-aside approach to fashion and they're mostly based in Canada, but I have an outreach in the States, Australia and Germany.

Out of all the things you have done this year, what was your biggest achievement?
This is such a loaded question, I don't even know how to approach it. I'm grateful for everything I get to do, see, preview, attend and receive, but again, if I had to answer - it'd be getting to interview a lot of great artists, designers and musicians. I think for this year, the interview I had with Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys was one of my hight lights!

Other than your own blog, which Canadian fashion/arts blogs do you visit regularly? Why do you put them on your must read list?
Canadian blogs, to be quite honest, I don't. I hate self-style/personal blogs.  I don't give a flying rat's ass what you're wearing. I'm too self-absorbed about what I'm wearing to care about others. But I do visit the ones who have been featured in this project.

What kind of expectation do you have for your blog in 2012? Do you think you will be adding some new elements to it?
I'd like to incorporate more guest blogger pieces, and focus on things outside of Toronto and Canada. It's a natural progression to my brand, perhaps do NY Fashion week etc.

I know there are a lot of people looking for ways to break into the Canadian fashion and arts scene, what are some of your advices you can give to them?
Take the bull by the horns and don't take no for an answer. Plain and simple. If you think you can just strut your pretty little Louboutin's into the scene, you've got a big Birkin slap across the face. You're going to encounter critics everywhere with whatever you do, but stay on your vision, because we know the ones that are driven are the ones that succeed.

If you had a chance to collaborate with a fashion brand for your blog next year, which brand would you want to work with? What kind of projects would you want to do?
I think if I were to fetch coffee for Prada and Versace executive I'd be happy. But no, seriously, working with either of these two houses in anyway shape or form would be just prefect. I'll manage their social-media for a day, or do a blog post of something for them, oh or like visit the showrooms and ateliers! God, mouth watering!

If you want to read entries written by Julio, please visit Fashionights. Trust us,  his words are edgier than what we write on this site (as you can read in this interview). This entry concludes our 6 individual features and tomorrow, we will be showcasing the 15 Minutes of Fame documentary. Stay tuned!