Toronto entrepreneur stitches career across the city
With only a thousand dollars in her pocket and two suitcases, Kara Granger moved to Toronto five years ago to pursue her passion for business and fashion. “I isolated myself from my comfortable living in Vancouver so that I could truly discover who I was in Toronto,” Granger says.
Moving to a new city was not an easy decision for Granger as she’d grown up in a small town, a place where everybody knew each other by name. She says she left her comfort zone regardless because, “I believed in myself – If I was going to sacrifice living away from my family, then the least I could do was make something of myself.”
It didn’t take long for her ambition to rise as she found success with her businesses, charity, and in her modeling career.
Granger’s modeling career began young. At just fifteen years old, she walked her first-ever fashion show for Sears. After 10 years of professional modeling, dedication and hard work, Granger was crowned Miss Globe 2017. The pageant queen was also recently featured in Vitalize magazine and a six page spread in Must Be Kismet magazine.
Today, she works for high-end luxury labels such as Hendrix Roe and has also walked the runway for Toronto Women’s Fashion Week. “I love the whole production on the runway – it’s so exciting,” Granger says.
With a creative vision and Granger’s passion for the fashion industry, she founded her first business at the age of 22, The Kara Louise Collection.
The designer says she creates luxurious women’s gowns that make women feel and look beautiful. The gowns are manufactured in Shanghai and Toronto, and delicately made with Italian jersey fabric. “It is exceptional quality fabric that looks and feels beautiful on women’s bodies,” Granger says. The gowns come in white, black and red.
But the entrepreneur wanted to widen her demographics and in 2015, she launched her menswear line, Lusso Bamboo. “I had the idea of creating luxurious t-shirts for men,” says Granger. The t-shirts were sold in two stores in Toronto and her brand is managed through her social media account.
This year, Granger branched out with her business and creates customized made-to-measure women’s suits. But, these are not just your typical suits. Granger says a woman’s outfit expresses personality and personal style. “The suits are bold and striking – it shows confidence,” Granger says. “I always push my boundaries – it’s about getting outside of your comfort zone and taking risks.”
Left – Granger in one of her customized made-to-measure women’s suit. Right – Granger wearing Hendrix Roe
Granger is currently pursuing new ventures in the beauty industry as well. In November 2017, her handcrafted and cruelty-free lash company, Duchess Luxury Lashes, was launched. “I brand myself out to different products that I feel will cater to my clients’ needs and to market myself,” Granger says.
Her mission is to use her platform as an entrepreneur, model and pageant queen to promote giving back to the less fortunate. Granger spends most of her time managing her own charity, called The Karebear Community.
“My favourite part is influencing others to do more and help others.” Granger says, “I feel so much joy when I spend time with the less fortunate and I can’t wipe the smile off my face – a little truly goes a long way.”
Despite all that she has already accomplished, Granger says her ambitious pursuits are far from over, “I feel that I have the ability to do much more.”
