ALBION ORCHARD EDITORIAL // LISA VIGLIOTTA PHOTOGRAPHY

May 16

Orchard blooms, vintage details, and bespoke stationery — the incredible narrative of this spring editorial is woven together through Lisa Vigliotta’s creativity, and is brought to life by her storytelling imagery.

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Photographer: Lisa Vigliotta Photography

THE 1919 LOVE STORY OF OLIVIA + MARCUS

The year was 1919, and Canada had just lifted its immigration restriction on allowing wives and children from India to be reunited with their husband and father. Years previously, Queen Victoria had proclaimed throughout the Empire, that the people of India would enjoy "equal privileges with white people without discrimination of colour, creed or race." But upon her arrival, Olivia did not receive a warm welcome. Apparently all the Queen’s people did not take to heart the Empress of India’s words of equality some decades earlier.

Marcus and Olivia met on the Transatlantic steamship sailing from Britain to Canada. Olivia had been travelling alone to be reunited with her father; her mother and brothers had died the year previous from the Spanish Influenza. She stood at the rails moments before the boat was set to launch, and watched with amusement as a tall blonde Scottish-looking man nibble picked his way through the crowd to catch the last boat home. Like her, he’d packed light. One bag. Marcus was returning home from the battlefields of France a weary but unbroken man.

She was struck with the kindness she saw in is eyes, and hoped he’d end up standing accidentally beside her. When he did, she did not expect her heart to drop and beat deep within her breast. The presence of a man, or any person for that matter had never arrested her like he instantly did. He was a fresh breeze. He was light and dark all at once; a beautiful mystery to her. She watched as he stood there eating an apple that he had procured from his pocket, and tossed into the air before he caught it with his mouth. Such confidence. She was quite certain she had just fallen in love with a stranger.

It took till nearly the apple was done for Marcus to realize he was standing beside a lady. But not just any lady, a young woman from a far away place. Peace surrounded her like a cloud. She was beautiful, with the richest umber-brown eyes he had ever seen. He looked down at her and smiled, and without thinking, offered her the last bite of his apple. Olivia was taken aback with his boldness, but his sweetness was disarming and before she realized it she took the apple from his hand and finished the last bite. They stood for a long moment looking at one another before words would form on either of their tongues. Each moment felt like a lifetime, languid seconds passed as their eyes locked. He knew in an instant he would love her his whole life.

Marcus and Olivia spend the remaining five days at sea, together always. He had a way with words, and she had a way with reading his mind when he could find none. Two twin flames from different worlds, shining brighter now that they were together. They had stepped on the ship alone, and stepped off the ship never to be alone again.

As was the way with many people in that time, upon arrival, her ancient Indian birth name “Olevia” was anglicized to the English version “Olivia” but in both languages her name meant the same: “an olive branch who brings peace.” Marcus meant “warrior, fighter” for true to his core he was all that and more. Little did he know he’d have a different battle to fight upon returning to Canada.  Their love was not welcomed by his countrymen. Forbidden but not forsaken, disdained but not denied; Marcus fought to make Olivia his bride.