TFI Outreach Members receive 120 minutes of consultation time with TFI volunteer mentors as part of your yearly membership. Sign up for a 30 or 60 minute appointment using the TFI Consultation Request Form (see link below).
Our on-site industry experts include:
Click the link at the bottom of the page to download the TFI Consultation Request Form. Please complete and send it to TFI. We'll get back to you with an appointment date and confirmation as soon as we can. Please note that appointments are scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis, depending on the availability of your requested TFI Mentor.
Catalin Asody, Industry Consultant: With over 20 years in the fashion industry as a retail buyer, bridal designer and costume jewellery designer,
Catalin Asody has the kind of experience that can help you grow your business. Need advice on how to approach buyers, open a retail shop or learn how to manufacture and import from abroad? Catalin can also provide experienced tips on how to market your brand and product through various opportunities, how to please buyers and fulfill their market's needs, and how to create an efficient and consumer-attractive retail selling environment. Catalin began her fashion career designing costume jewellery in the mid 1980's. Her designs were sold in small fashion boutiques throughout Toronto where she regularly met with buyers and customized her pieces to co-ordinate with their current collections. In the early 1990's, Catalin opened a small, temporary retail operation in Yorkdale Shopping Centre and then subsequently in Scarborough Town Centre and at Centerpoint Mall, with a partner. The boutique at Centrepoint Mall carried a variety of purchased clothing and accessories that complemented her custom-designed costume jewellery which she created for clients, especially for the bridal market. This latest venture developed into a bridal collection which was sold both privately and to bridal shops throughout Ontario. The line was picked up by a major bridal distributor and sold across North America. She gained media exposure in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, as well as other magazines and her pieces appeared on City Line and various television programs.
Donna Bishop: Editor-In-Chief, Bamboo Magazine: Donna has been a fashion insider for over 10 years. As founder and Editor-in-Chief of Bamboo Magazine, Donna steers the lifestyle vision of this modern eco-magazine to be one that's stylish, contemporary and eco. Donna regularly appears on TV's Marilyn Denis Show and has been featured in InStyle Magazine and numerous other publications. Donna is also the principal of Green Beauty (www.greenbeauty.ca), a curated online beauty boutique featuring eco-friendly beauty products. Together with Bamboo Magazine, both ventures exemplify her passion for insisting that making conscientious and responsible choices in fashion, beauty and lifestyle does not lead to a compromise in style, product performance, aspiration or efficacy. Donna’s favourite expression? “Love that!”
Sabrina Fiorellino, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP: Sabrina is an associate in the Business Law Group and the Fashion Industry Practice Group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. Her experience includes conducting research on intellectual property and fashion law issues, assisting with various aspects of merger and acquisition transactions involving both public and private companies and drafting a variety of commercial agreements. Sabrina has a specific interest in the fashion industry, and she has assisted in connecting industry players and drafting and negotiating exclusive distributorships, agency, retail and other agreements for numerous luxury brands as well as start-up designers. She also practices in the areas of entertainment, not-for-profit and franchise.
Jennifer Ger, Foxy Originals: Jennifer Ger is the Co-Owner of Foxy Originals Inc, a Toronto based jewellery design company. Jennifer graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in 2002, at which time she and her partner were honoured to receive the ACE Canada CIBC Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Upon graduation, they launched Foxy Originals as a full-time enterprise. Today, Foxy Originals jewellery is sold in over 600 independent fashion boutiques and gift shops across North America, including Shopper’s Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques. The line is also distributed in Malaysia, Mexico and Japan. Foxy has created jewellery lines in partnership with Mattel™ , Hello Kitty ™ and Umbra™ brands. Jennifer and her business partner have been the subject of widespread media attention including a feature on the cover of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, as well as being the subject of stories in The Toronto Star, the National Post and CBC television. Jen’s widespread interests in marketing, sales, public relations, product design and distribution are a vital part of the brand's continuing success. Jen recently continued her education as a participant in the Entrepreneurial Master’s Program at MIT.
Wanda Ho, Business Consultant: In the 1980's, Wanda worked as a Chartered Accountant for KPMG LLP, the Canadian member firm affiliated with KPMG International,a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services. At the time, many of Wanda's clients were based in the retail sector. In 1986, Wanda opened her own practice whose clients included fashion designers, apparel manufacturers and sales agents. Wanda is a consummate volunteer who serves, or has served, on many Boards and Committees including: Chair of Development, North York General Hospital; Chair of Finance, St. Clement's School; Chair of Finance, Royal St. George's College; President, Condo Corporation #1740; Campaign Cabinet, Royal Conservatory of Music.
Clara Northcott, Northcott Communications: Clara Northcott is a senior public relations/communications professional with over 15 years of experience in marketing, public relations, special events and sponsorship. As President of Northcott Communications she has successfully handled public relations for an impressive list of international clients including, Diageo, Smirnoff, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Phantom Industries, Sara Lee Hosiery and Mondetta. Northcott handled the Canadian launch of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin's "La Grande Dame" PR Program recognizing Canadian women in the arts and business fields. In addition, she played a pivotal role in popularizing the Smirnoff International Fashion Awards in Canada and abroad--Canada hosted the International Final twice, it won two international titles between 1992-2002, and in 2002, Smirnoff accepted an Industry Award from the City of Toronto, for its contribution to Canadian Fashion. Earlier in her career, Northcott held positions at Estee Lauder, Eaton's, Ryerson University and Sanger Harris in Dallas , Texas . Northcott's current client list includes: Painter/Sculptor Thi Tram Vo, Pianist/Vocalist Allison Crowe, Arthur Mendonca, Lulu B Wines (Sopexa Canada) and The Canadian Multicultural Hockey Championships. http://northcottcomm.com/
Pheinixx Paul, Creative Director, Pencil: Pheinixx specializes in fashioning the artistic and graphic look of a brand. This involves her in design, art direction, marketing and communication planning: leading other creative professionals to realize branding and marketing goals throughout Canada, United States, Eastern Europe, China, Korea and Western Europe by supplying a unique and innovative vision.
As the daughter of an accomplished painter and fashion designer, Pheinixx grew up with a paintbrush or camera in her hand at all times. She studied communications arts and creative advertising at Seneca College where she won awards for media planning, copy writing and graphic design. She has lectured on web design for the Design Exchange and taught creative thinking and graphic design at the college level.
With over a decade of experience within the entertainment and fashion industry, Pheinixx is currently creative director and president of Pencil, a graphic design firm that focuses on creative brand design, creative direction and graphic design. Pheinixx is also Co-Regional Director & Communications Chair, Fashion Group International, Toronto.
Evelyn Reynolds is Principal of Retail Resource Partners, a consulting company that she formed to work with retail, wholesale and design companies in the USA and Canada. She is focused on helping her clients maximize existing business opportunities, as well as working with them to evaluate future requirements for growth or brand repositioning.
Her experience covers both wholesale and retail in multiple market segments, giving her a uniquely balanced understanding of the need to maintain a design aesthetic with a commercial reality. She has over 30 years of experience in the industry in specialty, luxury and mass retailing in both women's apparel and accessories. She spent 12 years at Holt Renfrew and 3 years in manufacturing with Mr. Leonard in Toronto, then a leading domestic resource.
She is highly accomplished in business management and merchandising. She has worked closely with partners to create innovative marketing plans, develop sourcing / production strategies and retail operations. Her business plans and entrepreneurial vision have resulted in growing both brands and companies in terms of annual volume and profitability.
Clint Scott, HR Talent Scout & Recruiter has spent the past 12 years partnering with a blend of innovative start-ups through some of Canada's leading fortune 100 companies. As a search consultant, Clint represented three leading luxury retailers globally. Clint was also an Associate directly accountable to the Managing Partner, Consumer and Retail Practice at arguably Canada's leading national retained executive search firm here in Toronto.
Clint has recruited both locally and internationally, in various industries and across all vocations. He has ongoing commitment to, and passion for, recruitment best practices, innovation and service levels. A budding entrepreneur himself, Clint runs his own consulting firm where he trains other recruiters on appropriate recruitment techniques and strategies while also coaching, hiring managers and clients on recruiting sources, resume assessing and interviewing skills etc.
When not scouting talent, Clint can be found shopping, working on some home/garden decor/improvement project or at his archery club.
Amy Verner
Amy is a fashion and lifestyle journalist with the Globe and Mail in Toronto. She studied media criticism at New York University, graduating in 2002. After interning at a record label, an ad agency and a gossip rag, she moved back home and began writing for Flare magazine. In 2004 she wrote her first piece for Globe Style. As a freelancer, she kept herself busy, writing memorable pieces on fashion, design and social trends for Globe Style and Globe Toronto, as well as for nearly every Canadian fashion publication, from Fashion to Flare. In 2006, she became Features Editor for the twice yearly Holt Renfrew men's and women's magazines. Amy joined the Globe and Mail as the paper's style reporter in March, 2007. Since then, she has produced memorable interviews and attracted a loyal following to her widely read (now-retired) Suitable column about the dos and don'ts of what to wear to work. Other regular features include seasonal fashion reports, profiles of noteworthy Torontonians and a bi-monthly trial of new workouts and fitness gear. This is the third consecutive year that Amy will be covering the party beat at the Toronto International Film Festival. Amy also contributes to Toronto Life, Canadian House & Home, Fashion and Wallpaper* magazines.
Natalya Willy, Design Consultant: TFI members in need of advice on how to develop a cohesive, marketable line can now tap into the expertise of Natalya Willy, a design consultant responsible for designing and developing several luxury fashion brands in Canada. Specializing as a Design Director and Line Developer, Natalya specializes in assisting and nurturing innovative start-ups to build fashion brands and collections from conception to completion. She possesses the innate ability to develop innovative and marketable collections that deliver a premium product with a strong vision. Through her expertise, several of her clients have become heavyweights in the industry garnering critical acclaim from coveted media, press and industry insiders. Natalya studied Fashion Techniques and Design at George Brown College and classical music at the University of Toronto. She was awarded the Jones Apparel Scholarship and Fairchild’s Most Promising Designer Award for excellence in design.
Wendy Wong, Designer, House of Spy: A science lab couldn’t contain the creative prowess of former biology student Wendy Wong who burst onto the fashion scene in 2000 with her clothing line, House of Spy. While studying biology at the University of Toronto, Wendy took a part time job as a receptionist at the International Academy of Design and Technology. Discovering that one of the perks of the job included free classes, Wong enrolled in the pattern drafting and clothing construction courses. Although she completed her biology degree, upon graduation she immediately went straight to work making clothing samples.
Trading in her test tubes for fashion design was a bold move which paid off. House of Spy is now being sold in many stylish boutiques throughout Canada and the US and the list of countries yearning for House of Spy style keeps growing. Wong’s bold use of colours and prints make for a sweet, playful, quirky line. The edgy feminine shapes have garnered this brand a loyal following among hip young women everywhere.
Wendy is a former TFI Resident member who has been named in Sportswear International’s prestigious ‘Who’s Who’ list for two consecutive years (2006 and 2007).
Join TFI today to take advantage of this exclusive membership opportunity!
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