Vancouver Fashion eZine - Online Magazine | Fashion Designer

Chloe Angus first received national recognition when she participated in the reality TV show "Making It Big", but that was only one step in her journey from living on a small farm up Jervis Inlet to running her own clothing business. Along the way there have been many ups and downs, but she has shown a remarkable resourcefulness in dealing with hurdles that she attributes to an early upbringing where you had to use creativity to find a solution. That lesson has served her well and "NO" is not an answer she will accept.

Home-schooled in an isolated area, Angus always felt the lure of the big city. Her bags were packed and as soon as she completed her high school diploma, she was off to Vancouver where she worked in a bar and traveled, ending with a seven-month backpacking trip through Bangladesh, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. On return she started a successful landscaping business that provided a chance to learn first-hand the skills necessary to run a small company. After six years she had to choose whether to let her company grow or make a change of career. The decision was made to realize a childhood dream of studying fashion design and she began her studies at Helen Lefeaux while a hired a crew maintained her business.

In the beginning, Angus was most concerned about the illustration classes but found she had a natural talent. In fact, her drawings have now become her trademark and are used as sales tags and on promotional material. What proved to be a challenge was pattern drafting. "...Pattern making is definitely what is the hardest to grasp…It's really just about practice over and over again". The morning after graduation she began creating her first four-piece collection that was shown in Vancouver Fashion Week two months later. Shortly after the show she received a phone call from the "Canadian By Design" department at The Bay. After a brief first meeting she sold her business to design full-time and created a holiday wear collection that was a top three seller that season.

Concerned about the message the fashion industry gives, Angus makes her samples in a six/seven and uses models of all sizes and ages for her catalogs. Drafted to fit the curve of the back, the classic pieces also have softer fit in other areas. Her collections always include several wraps. My favorite is the signature wool knit with buttons in seven colors and two sizes that be worn multiple ways. Another, the Spirit Wrap, has original artwork from Haida artist Clarence Mills. Holiday 2007 consists of separates and dresses in strong jewel tones with rhinestone buttons that not only will get you through the holiday season, but could also work well for spring weddings. Her Spring 2008 collection will hit stores in February and is called "The Peony Collection". Fabrics include Vintage Silk, Linen, Bamboo Linen, Silk Cotton Blends, and Lyocell Knit that are styled into separates and dresses from casual to formal. Inspired by the beauty of peonies, you will see a palette in shades of pink, white and natural earth tones.

Eco-chic, sophisticated and innovative, Chloe Angus is a welcome force on the fashion scene. With both a ready-to-wear line and a custom design service there is a perfect fit for everyone. For more information please visit the website at www.chloeangus.com.