Interview With Journalist/Blogger Colleen Tsoukalas of Clothes Line Finds

How did your career in K-12 Education lead to Fashion/Event writing and photography?

My background in English Lit, Reading and Language Education (Elementary/Secondary) and Library Education, provided lots of training in Research, Reading and Writing. Teaching, Consulting, and lesson preparation and delivery, provided extensive experience with teaching in the classroom, at the universities and outside of the Vancouver District. 

A world of people, places, events and writing for them, with them and about their interests and achievements. Fashion/Event writing gives me a specific focus, that I take with me when I read and travel. I meet and marvel at so many local and international Designers, Artists, Makers, Writers and Photographers. And guess what? Some are former Students!

How did the Fashion Blog, Clothes Line Finds begin?

Clothes Line Finds was a way to attend and write up local events and Designers. We all read Vogue, watched Fashion TV and read The Georgia Straight and Culture Editor, Max Wayman, former Culture Critic for The Vancouver Sun, but how to do that kind of coverage? Through blogging! My daughter, Anthea, covered Vancouver Fashion Week in 2008 and I have continued since then. 

Anthea took the blog to Japan and we went to Tokyo Fashion Week. She met with other bloggers, in Toronto, who were making their living with their blogs. We followed them and they followed us. She covered events while she was in Grad School, and when I visited, I covered events, too. When we used to meet up for travel adventures, Toronto, New York, Austin, Palm Springs and more, we blogged. We are always looking at the world through our Fashion glasses. 

With @sandibasset and @parveshjai

What is your process when you are invited to cover a new event?

First, reach out and say thanks and yes. Next research the details and past info about the Designer/Event. Then I chat with other bloggers/Media contacts to see if they know and are going. This way you can provide different perspectives, spread the word and increase attendance/support. Go early for photos and perhaps even an early, on the spot interview. Chat with other attendees and take photos, always lots of photos. Tag people and link to their socials. 

After covering the event, share a draft with the one who invited you, say thanks and see if they have more to add and if they will share your post. Ask to be on the media list for next events and for future interviews. Make sure if you use another photographer’s photos to give credit and also give credit to someone who takes your photo during the event.

What’s involved in a write up?

It depends on whether you are writing a Facebook post, creating an Instagram reel or writing a longer blog. I still take pen and paper to all events. I have moved from camera to phone, so the phone and extra chargers are a must. My photos inform my writing. I start by writing a draft outline, so I can fill it in right away. That is the key. Get to it immediately. I do a few ‘pre-ads’ on fb and Instagram and X if I have enough notice. That way, readers are alerted of up and coming events and also know that I will be writing about the event as soon as I’ve seen it. I also encourage my readers to follow who and what I cover, so they can go and enjoy the event while it is on, rather than just reading about it, later. Be prepared to cover a wide range of events here and when you travel. 

Left at Art Vancouver - Right with @foresttomlinillustration

I write about Vancouver Fashion Week, Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, Art Vancouver, The Vancouver Mural Festival, The Vancouver Art Gallery, Pendulum Art Gallery, The Polygon Gallery, Bill Reid Gallery, The Vancouver Writers Festival, and The Vancouver Public Library Events, to name a few. There are many Fashion Schools in Vancouver and they host portfolio and open houses, regularly. You will see Lasalle College Vancouver, this time at Vancouver Fashion Week. Spectacular.

How can those mentioned on the blog and on your social media, help support this writing and increase readership?

You can follow my blog - Clothes Line Finds - and on Instagram, Facebook and X.  Links are listed below. If I have written about you, it would be helpful if you follow and include the article or post on your socials. If you read about an event, join and follow and attend. Please contact me as I am happy to cover new events, update interviews or being interviewed, myself.

What are you most looking forward to at Vancouver Fashion Week Oct. 22-27?

I am most excited for the Welcome, the latest Collections from local and international Designers, and seeing those who continue to show extraordinary evolving designs: Tetyana Golota, Alex S. YU,  HAZI Haus, Attira X EWMA, and Lasalle College Vancouver, all of whom have been on my blog and Instagram. I am fascinated to see the Originator Awards, to see our Designers, Artists, Makers, Inventors and Entrepreneurs nominated for their contributions to the Fashion Industry and Community. Below is a reel that I made to show you what an opening night at VFW looks like.

Could you share a favorite fashion quote you love? 

Issey Miyake said this: 

“I believe there is Hope in Design.”
“Design evokes Surprise and Joy.”

Anything else you would like to share in closing?

Thanks to Marilyn R. Wilson, for asking for this interview. This adds to the excitement of Vancouver Fashion Week running Oct 22-27! If it is happening, Marilyn knows about it. Follow and read her blog here. Below is a photo of Marilyn, me and Andrew.

Fashion brings hope, surprise and joy to me, too. Our creatives make me hopeful about the future, surprised and delighted by their vision and joyful that I can be part of their world.

Links - 

• Website - www.clotheslinefinds.com
• Facebook - www.facebook.com/ctsoukalas1kalas
• Facebook -www.facebook.com/ClothesLineFinds/
• Instagram - @ctsoukalas
• X -  @c_tsoukalas

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