Eyes born for details you could say. Absolutely, I was fully immersed in fashion magazines, watched endless runway shows on Fashion Television (pre-taped—thanks, Dad!), and made my own clothes. As a teen, I curated my bedroom like it was my own personal showroom ;)
How did you learn your skills?
I learned a lot of my earliest skills at home. My mom taught me how to sew, and I carried that into my teens and well into my 20s—designing and making special-occasion and even wedding dresses for myself and my inner circle. That hands-on work taught me so much about fit, fabric, quality, and construction. At the same time, growing up around my mom’s industrial sewing and design business gave me a real behind-the-scenes education: concept development, the sample stage, and launch ready prototypes, all of it. Her tenacity and work ethic shaped the way I approach my own career, and my business ethos is deeply grounded in that influence.
Right after high school, I landed at Fabricland’s head office, which became a fully immersive 2½-year training ground. I worked alongside a strong team led by Marg Wensley, who gave me endless opportunities to learn textiles, sales, receiving, cash, in-store marketing, and merchandising. Later, fashion school at Blanche Macdonald built the foundation under all of that hands-on experience. And thanks to Joy McLean, our Career Director, I gained access to so many volunteer opportunities—especially my internship at Ben Karls & Associates. Working trade shows, preparing showrooms, and supporting wholesale operations gave me a deep understanding of how the business works behind the scenes.
Teaching came next, and it brought everything together. I was invited to build a course for Blanche Macdonald’s International Fashion Program, and I jumped at it. Those early years meant balancing motherhood, teaching, freelancing, and completing the PIDP (Honours) in the evenings. Over the past 22 years, I’ve continued to grow through professional development, industry events, and a BA in Adult Education. My consultancy work—supporting emerging designers and creative entrepreneurs as a brand-launch partner—has kept my skills sharp and constantly evolving. All of these threads eventually led to the creation of the Fashion Brand Building (FBB): Student × Designer Residency, where I bring my industry background directly into an experiential, real-world learning environment.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur and launch your own company? What was that process like?
I’d reached the top of the corporate ladder in Canada and made a major pivot into fashion education. At the same time, local small businesses were seeking merchandising and marketing support, making it the perfect moment to apply my corporate retail experience to independent businesses. Choosing to keep my foot in the door meant balancing motherhood and teaching, and my mom’s resourcefulness reminded me that entrepreneurship could be the key to holding it all together.
Over the years, my business has evolved and adapted. Today, as a fashion market consultant, my work spans designer launch support, fashion education & program design and ongoing mentorship & growth strategy. Now that both of my sons have graduated high school, I’m stepping into a new chapter—taking long-planned ideas off the shelf and putting them into motion.
The journey has been a slow climb at times, and a whirlwind of opportunity at others. I’ve never shied away from the work required to stay relevant, and I genuinely love the variety that consulting brings to the table.
In the course of your work, what comes easy for you? What do you find a challenge? What is the biggest surprise you have had in terms of building the business or the work you do?
I naturally excel at ideation, innovation, concept planning, and finding solutions. Project management is also something I gravitate toward—taking a big idea and breaking it into clear, actionable steps feels intuitive to me. I bring a strong sense of commitment to every project, and I’m both technically savvy and visually sharp, which keeps me adaptable as the industry evolves. Creating structure, guiding the creative vision, and helping others shape their ideas into something tangible are the parts of the work that feel almost effortless.
The journey has been a slow climb at times, and a whirlwind of opportunity at others. I’ve never shied away from the work required to stay relevant, and I genuinely love the variety that consulting brings to the table.
In the course of your work, what comes easy for you? What do you find a challenge? What is the biggest surprise you have had in terms of building the business or the work you do?
I naturally excel at ideation, innovation, concept planning, and finding solutions. Project management is also something I gravitate toward—taking a big idea and breaking it into clear, actionable steps feels intuitive to me. I bring a strong sense of commitment to every project, and I’m both technically savvy and visually sharp, which keeps me adaptable as the industry evolves. Creating structure, guiding the creative vision, and helping others shape their ideas into something tangible are the parts of the work that feel almost effortless.
The biggest challenge is time. Even with solid systems, a detailed plan, and the best intentions, there are still only 24 hours in a day. Follow-through and consistency are what ultimately keep projects alive, and balancing teaching, consulting, and creative development requires ongoing recalibration. Another challenge is managing expectations—emerging designers and creative entrepreneurs often have big visions, and part of my work is helping them balance ambition with the realities of timelines, production, and resources, without dimming their excitement.
I’ve also been pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly every chapter of my career has woven itself together. Retail, sewing, wholesale, education, consulting—they all inform each other. And I’ve learned that what feels easy to me, especially organizing complex ideas and building clear pathways forward, is actually a unique and highly valued skillset. That discovery has been one of the most rewarding surprises of all.
When you take on a new client, what is the process you go through to create a marketing plan?
I immerse myself in the nature of a client’s business—learning what they do, understanding their mission, and getting to know their product or service. I get clear on what they want and need, listen closely to their goals and ideals, and ensure we have alignment from the start.
Research is a major part of my approach. Whether online or through physical presence, I study every customer touchpoint and run a full competitive analysis. I sort the data into digestible insights, create a big-picture rollout, and map out a methodical breakdown of tasks to achieve the goals.
One of the first garments I ever made was a forest-green fleece sweatshirt. As I cut the pattern and scraps fell to the floor, inspiration struck: hair ties. My long hair couldn’t handle bare elastic, so I sourced a piece from my mom’s scraps and wrapped it in matching fabric. In true teen fashion—always coordinated—I wore those handmade hair accessories with pride.
Then 1986 rolled around, Rommy released the Scünci, and the patent landed. Lesson learned. I’m still working on redemption ;)
A recent high: my Industry Innovator nomination for Teaching from Vancouver Fashion Week. Grateful—and just getting started.
What do you think is most important for young people to know who are hoping to become entrepreneurs or perhaps work in marketing?
Build your experience and pair it with education — real learning comes from trial and error, open-mindedness, and a strong work ethic. Be open to opportunities, show up, be accountable, nurture your skills, and give them time to bloom. Volunteer, intern, and start building a portfolio. Every step adds up.
In closing, is there anything else you'd like to share with readers?
Going into 2026, I’m expanding the FBB Residency within my Fashion Marketing course at Blanche Macdonald after four incredibly successful semesters. The program has demonstrated that when students work inside a real fashion designer brief, they graduate with industry-ready portfolios — and designers walk away with assets they’re genuinely proud to publish. It’s been powerful to watch both sides grow together.
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Now, I’m thrilled to share that we’ve reached a major milestone: the launch of our first collection of bespoke accessories. We’re ambitiously crafting a collaborative framework to partner with local designers as we set our sights on a LUERRE SS27 fashion presentation.
Thank you for the great questions!
Links - VFMRK | Van Fashion Marketing
- Website - www.vfmrk.com
- Instagram - @vfmrkvfmrk
- Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/vfmrk
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