we don’t have a fashion council in Canada, a council that helps designers with grants or organizes shows or fashions weeks. Fashion weeks are dying, actually. The govern- ment just isn’t sponsoring this industry. Most designers in Canada have to struggle to promote themselves and unfortunately, many have to leave the country to find success. For now, I’m focused on Canadian designers only for the reason that our fashion industry is comparably weak. Giving talents in Canada the chance at recognition is step number one.” It wasn’t hard to tell that Okoro is serious. Her knowledge of local, regional and national talent is comparable to the baseball card expert everyone grew up with. “The designers on-board in the pre-launch stage are amazing. They are mostly graduates from the Richard Robinson Academy of Fashion Design, the top fashion school in Ottawa. Designers like Ines Kljajic and Rebecca
Rowe are on-board and I couldn’t be more excited. They’ve been showcased in the Runway for Hope where they raised $4,000 for CHEO, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, so their profile is well-established.”
Okoro is equally faithful in her market.
“Our clientele is going to be diverse. There won’t be any restrictions on the demographic. I could tell you 18 to some other arbitrary age but really, Perfect Fit shoppers will be anyone who has had frustrating online – and brick and mortar, for that matter – shopping experiences when it comes to finding fashion that fits. I know I’m an idealist, but I believe people should be able to go online and find products that are tailored for them in all facets of life.” “I hope Perfect Fit can bring people in the design commu- nity together – I hope it brings everyone together. We’re going to work hard to connect designers with shoppers.”
“Giving talents in Canada the chance at recognition is step number one.”
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NOVEMBER 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
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