Fashion Programs: Graduate Highlights
Blanche Macdonald Centre is pleased to highlight some of our notable alumni. These graduates have excelled both personally and professionally, making an impact on a local, national and global scale. Read about their success and how BMC impacted where they are today.
Amy Lu
Fashion Merchandising Graduate
Fashion Stylist - The Plutino Group - national Artists' Agency
Amy Lu began her career as a fashion stylist in 2001, and has worked with top photographers, celebrities, national and international publications. Her success in the industry can be directly attributed to her passion and innate fashion sensibility.
She has styled editorials for FASHION, Interview, Ocean Drive, Zink and Vanity Fair as well as national advertising campaigns for Coca Cola, Nike, Air Canada, and Timberland. Amy was the fashion editor of Donato Magazine and has had a weekly fashion column, Kool Thing, in The Georgia Straight for more than 5 years.
In 2003 Amy was awarded B.C. Apparel's Fashion Stylist of the Year and voted one of Canada's best dressed by FASHION Magazine. Her work with photographer Barb Cole won Grand Prix of Fashion Photography at the 2008 International Festival of Photography in Cannes. In 2008 Amy was honored to be highlighted as the Trendsetter by BC Business Magazine. She frequently appears in the media as an expert on style.
Chances are you've seen this fashionphile guesting on Inside Entertainment and Canada's Next Top Model.
"The Fashion Career Director's encouragement and vision gave me the confidence to get started. She knew where I was headed before I think I even did."
Amy Lu is represented by The Plutino Group. To view her incredible portfolio of work, check out their website at http://www.plutinogroup.com/stylists/amylu.html.
Also check out her amazing website at www.amylu.ca!
ASHLEY & JESSICA WEAVER
Fashion Merchandising Graduates
Owners of Tickle Trunk and Weaver Agencies
They say you never forget your first love. For Blanche Macdonald Fashion Merchandising Grads, sisters Ashley and Jessica Weaver, fashion has always made their hearts thump wildly. So when they recently opened their fashion agencies Tickle Trunk and Weaver Agencies in Vancouver, it was the beginning of a stylish love affair.
This sister act attended BMC's Merchandising Program together and had a lot of fun learning about the fashion industry and about each other in the process.
"Blanche Macdonald has a great reputation in the industry and a good success rate. That's why we chose to go there. We wanted to go somewhere where the faculty was knowledgeable and where we could grow as fashionistas! The entire faculty was inspiring. They all have a genuine love for fashion and want to see everyone succeed", says Jessica.
They jumped right in after graduating and opened two wholesale agencies, Tickle Trunk, their hip kids division and Weaver Agencies, representing some of the hottest lines for fashionphiles of every age. And just like their classes at Blanche Macdonald, they still maintain their close, sisterly bond in business.
"We are a partnership. We feed off each other's strengths and weaknesses. If one of us doesn't understand something, it's important we teach one another. We both know the fundamentals of our business and everything is split 50/50", the Weavers say.
Tickle Trunk was born from countless childhood memories and the desire to have fun with kid's fashion. They currently rep Smitten Baby, the stylishly empowering line of clothing for the whole family that combines positive messages and original art, Ooh La La Mama, recently featured in US Weekly, Life & Style and OK Magazine, a fave of celeb Jamie Pressley and rock star parents Slash and Perla Hudson for their little ones and Dream Baby, a line of cute onesies and tee's for the rock star baby adorned with Sworovski crystals. Paris Hilton bought Sweet Dream Tee's cute onesies for Nicole Ritchie's little bundle of joy, Harlow.
Claudia Da Ponte
Fashion Merchandising Graduate
Fashion Stylist - Da Ponte Style
No one is going to hand your dreams to you. Blanche Macdonald Fashion Merchandising graduate Claudia Da Ponte understands that.
She’s talented, of course. But it’s Claudia’s positive attitude and work ethic that’s turning her into one of Canada’s leading young professional stylists. The Vancouver native has worked backstage at concerts by Céline Dion and Britney Spears. She’s styled models for European fashion magazines and high profile advertising clients. She’s even appeared on Entertainment Tonight Canada, providing the fashion expertise for Cheryl Hickey’s Makeover segment. In fact, she’s rapidly approaching celebrity status. The facebook page for her company, Da Ponte Style, now has over 850 official fans.
That number is poised to grow as she’s recently taken the plunge and relocated from Vancouver to Canada’s fashion epicentre, Toronto. Looking back, it was a move that was almost inevitable.
Irene Yokoo 横尾ちとせ
Fashion Merchandising Graduate
Production Coordinator at Mountain Equipment Co-op
Talk about a multi-dimensional career in Fashion and Merchandising! Moving from one continent to the next, Irene started off as the Operations Coordinator for Uppercut Menswear. Sold in fashion forward boutiques such as Fred Segal in the US and Eugene Choo in Vancouver, Uppercut is an emerging Canadian Menswear Design and Wholesale company based in Vancouver. As Operations Manager, Merchandising Grad, Irene Yokoo, oversaw everything from corresponding with customers, shipping out samples for magazine photo shoots, prepping for trade shows to receiving inventory and preparing import and export paperwork. Then, bitten by the travel bug, she moved on to the UK and landed a position as Production Manager for the major label Burberry womenswear in London. She made such an impression that the legendary brand named a jacket after her! Now, back home in Vancouver, she has landed at Mountain Equipment Co-op as the Production Coordinator.
"Blanche Macdonald met my expectations in that it provided me with the basics needed to start in the fashion industry. The school is always evolving and growing to incorporate new and relevant industry education! Blanche Macdonald allowed me to see that even within a creative industry such as fashion that there are many different roles and career paths to follow, not just as a designer or a buyer.”
“I feel the Fashion Merchandising program at Blanche Macdonald provided me with the fundamentals necessary to take the plunge into the fashion industry. The Instructors and Career Coordinator are great sources of information and provide support even after completion of the program. Being connected to their network circle gave me the confidence to embark on a new career path in this highly competitive industry!”
Leighann Boquist
Fashion Merchandising Graduate
Owner of Oliver & Lily's Clothing and Accessories Inc. - Vancouver BC
"My experience at BMC was invaluable. Having a Fashion Merchandising education from Blanche Macdonald opened up work experiences that I would never have received otherwise. It was one of the best education decisions I made.
BMC is an inspiring place to be. The directors are so knowledgeable and create an environment for you to absorb all the relative information that you really need to pursue the suitable fashion career for you. Upon entering BMC, I had no expectations and I came out with many possibilities."
LEILA BANI
Fashion Merchandising Graduate
Fashion Stylist, THEY Representation Inc.
Stylist Leila Bani's passion is fashion. She loves the opportunity to be creative, putting her passion and innate fashion savvy to work. For Bani, it's all about creating amazing pictures, team work, and sometimes the craziness involved in getting those shots.
"We were on location in Las Vegas doing a shoot slated for the Latin American Marie Claire. The whole team was so excited. The location was over the top and we had a great model who wasn't showing up! We tracked her down two hours later. The shoot was madness, with hundreds of gawkers, because we were shooting in the middle of a huge tourist attraction. The model had to make fast changes in public, with onlookers snapping pictures! Lucky for us, she wasn't shy!"
Leila Bani has also styled episodes of Canada's Next Top Model. Her client list includes Chulo Pony, Elle Canada, Glow Magazine, and Ion to name a few of many. She has dressed singers such as Diana Krall, Cory Lee and Lisa Brokop, supermodel Coco Rocha and actress Lucy Lawless and many more.
"Learning proper fashion terminology, understanding fabric and historical fashion references are crucial to my career as a stylist. As a student, I was able to ask questions and get answers from a working stylist. Our final project was a photo shoot. It was a great opportunity to start a budding portfolio"
"I was lucky to have many wonderful teachers. Peggy Morrison is a national treasure! She is so incredibly talented and knowledgeable. When it comes to textiles, Donna Baldock is the Jedi master!", says Bani.
Leila Bani is represented by Theyrep.com. To view her incredible portfolio of work, check out their website: www.Theyrep.com/leilabani.
NICOLE BAMPTON
Fashion Merchandising Graduate
Regional Sales Manager for Sixty Canada
Riffing on everything from Grunge, 80ʼs, Disco and the Arts, hip hot Italian design group, Sixty, has their global fashion ears to the ground. With streetwise menswear labels Sixty and Energie, progressive and edgy Miss Sixty style to the sassy babe Killah collections, Sixtyʼs uber cool fashions turn up the urban heat with an urban beat.
Miss Sixty recently kicked off New York Fashion Week with their inaugural catwalk show that had Nelly Furtado, Kelly Rowland and Natasha Bedingfield in attendance.
As the Regional Sales Manager for Sixty Canada, Nicole Bampton, represents all of the Sixty labels. Meeting with store buyers, planning fashion shows and booking models, assisting stylists with photo shoot selections, and generating sales are all in a dayʼs work for Bampton. And no two days are ever the same!
"I love my job because I get to be hands on in the fashion industry, utilizing both my analytical and creative skills. My job has so much variety - it changes with the time of year, from selling season, to sample sales, to down time."
"My year of study was made truly valuable and fulfilling by the combination of the Instructorsʼ extensive knowledge and comprehensive course material. The projects I completed were challenging and contributed to a striking portfolio that Iʼm very proud of".
"The Fashion Merchandising Diploma I received helped make me a top candidate with the fashion wholesalers I applied for positions with. I believe itʼs because industry professionals are keen on the level of education BMC grads leave with and they are aware of the strong reputation of their Instructors", says Bampton.
Nicole Ritchie-Oseen
Fashion Merchandising Graduate
Owner of body politic - Vancouver BC
"Attending Blanche really gave me the confidence to tackle every aspect of the industry that I would encounter when starting and running my store. Previously I had only "studied" fashion as a hobby so to be able to indulge in all the information, especially fashion history, was so captivating. I also became close friends with two Blanche students who work with me to create a seasonal "lookbook" for body politic. Help like that is invaluable!"
Bo Wu
Sales and Merchandising Head, Bong Wear
Nordstroms, Boys’ Co, Aritzia, Below The Belt, Off The Wall, Levi’s Stores, and Smart Set. What’s the link? Bong Wear, a private label manufacturing company that owns factories both locally in Vancouver and overseas in China. Specializing in denim and fashion knit tops for the junior ladies and mens markets across North America, Bong Wear also produces their own hot international labels, London Red, Fiftees, B-Wear and Mully and Pip.
Travelling across North America and abroad to work with clients is all in a day’s work for Bong Wear’s Sales and Merchandising Head, Bo Wu. This Blanche Macdonald grad loves his job and he is crazy busy.
“I am having a blast at my job! I would not have had this opportunity if I did not go through Blanche Macdonald’s Fashion Merchandising program. It really laid out a great foundation for what I needed in the real world. Moreover, BMC provided a smooth transition from school to the work field. It really teaches you the essentials required for whatever fashion field you decide to get into!”
“Throughout the Blanche Macdonald Fashion Merchandising program, students are given great opportunities to get a sneak peek into whatever field they are interested in entering into. I truly enjoyed my time there!”
Carmen Watson
Merchandising Coordinator, The North Face
From Mount Everest to Mount Seymour, The North Face is responsible for it’s own kind of global warming with everyone from hip hop artists to trendy urbanites outfitted in their upscale outerwear. Known for quality, endurance and streetsmart style The North Face, according to Wikipedia, got it’s name from the north face of mountains which are generally the steepest, coldest and most difficult face to climb.
BMC Fashion Merchandising grad, Carmen Watson’s fashion career is on the rise as a merchandising coordinator with The North Face. A typical day’s work combines merchandising The North Face concept stores, working with key clients in the showroom during busy selling months and researching new fashion accounts. Every day is different and Watson loves that aspect of her job. Not being chained to a desk, she has the freedom to create her own schedule.
“Blanche Macdonald definitely helped open my eyes to other opportunities in the fashion arena since the courses were diverse. Career Coordinator Joy McLean was tremendous when it came to helping me find work. She was always available and eager to help. Even when things weren’t looking good she was onto the next opportunity.
I speak with her frequently and keep her abreast of what I’m up to.”
“Like most things in life, school is what you make of it. If you choose to seriously pursue a career in fashion, Blanche Macdonald is a great school that provides its students with the resources and opportunities to excel in the field of fashion”.
Chris Lam
Director of Stores, Menswear, Zara Canada Inc. - Toronto ON
Chris Lam started with Zara as a part-time sales associate while attending Blanche Macdonald. His career quickly took flight when he was promoted to Assistant Manager and then Menswear Manager in Toronto.
According to Chris, "The recruiter for Zara actually came to Blanche Macdonald looking for fashion students to employ. I was hired as a part-time sales associate while attending school. With the knowledge I had, I quickly became an important part of the team, especially in training."
One of Lamʼs fondest memories is the first time he led a store opening on his own with great success. Since then, he has led six other openings and overall, has been part of nine of fourteen stores opened across Canada.
Over the course of his studies in Fashion Merchandising at Blanche Macdonald, he realized how many different facets of the industry there actually were. He uses what he learned daily.
"Donna Baldock said it at the beginning of the course and she was right! The textile course I use on a daily basis, whether at work or at home. Peggy Morrison was an amazing encyclopedia of information when it came to the history of fashion. She showed me how fashion from the past influences every aspect of todayʼs designers and gave me such an appreciation for the art of design. Everything you see new today has an old reference point!", says Lam.
Danielle Swanson
Visual Display Stylist, Le Chateau - Vancouver BC
Le Chateau is known for their quick i.d. and speedy response to fashion’s trends. Having a whole store of clothing to create the newest, hottest looks is Le Chateau Visual Display Stylist and BMC grad, Danielle Swanson. Though it means being up and down ladders, drilling, stapling floors and lifting heavy mannequins, it’s total glamour for Swanson. Creating something beautiful, exciting and sellable is all in a day’s work for this grad.
Lillian Lam
Art Director at Together Productions Creative Group Inc. - Vancouver BC
Blanche Macdonald Merchandising grad, Lillian Lam has worked as a Senior Custom Artist for Sugoi, Vancouver performance wear manufacturers who outfit runners, swimmers, hikers and cyclists worldwide. Now a partner in the design and print firm, Together Productions, she designs jewelry for the international brand Playboy and is a graphic designer and media assistant for the Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
Nicole Denis
Manager, LaCoste Boutique - Vancouver BC
LaCoste, the upscale sportswear and lifestyle wear brand, recently opened it’s first freestanding boutique on Vancouver’s Golden Mile, and hired BMC Merchandising grad, Nicole Denis as Manager. Loved by sports stars, hipsters, prepsters and fashion elite, LaCoste has grown from LaChemise LaCoste, the white polo shirt designed and launched by tennis star Renee LaCoste in 1933 to a luxe line of colourful women's and men's apparel, footwear, fragrance and furniture. The crocodile logo? Renee LaCoste’s nickname.
Pat Yang
Assistant Coordinator, Insight Film Studio
With film productions like “Blonde and Blonder” starring homegrown Pam Anderson, “When a Man Falls In The Forest” starring Sharon Stone and award-winning docs, Vancouver’s Insight Film Studio is having a banner year. According to their website, Insight’s film production has doubled from the previous year. Wow!
As an Assistant Coordinator at Insight Film, Pat Yang, is currently working on a feature film with Kim Basinger. From office-related duties like booking hotels for cast and crew, data entry and ordering supplies to the fun stuff like picking up cast members at the airport, booking Insight’s wrap parties at this city’s trendy restaurants and getting paid to shop, every day is different for this recent Blanche Macdonald Fashion Merchandising grad.
“The education I received from the Fashion Merchandising program at Blanche Macdonald helped me get here. The Marketing and Advertising courses gave me an idea as to what to expect in this industry, whether it was fashion or movie related. In my department I am dealing with all the other departments like Props, Set Decoration, Wardrobe etc., and there will be the odd question and it’s good to know that I have the answer.
The Instructors at BMC have been so helpful and great!! Donna, Peggy and Joy have all been wonderful. I have learned things that I had no idea about - the Instructors knew the business inside and out and what it is like out in the real world.”
ROLL CALL
A selection of Blanche Macdonald Fashion Merchandising graduates and their career placements.
Alanna Kuznetsov, moved from North Face as Regional Merchandiser to Corporate Sales, Kenzie
Allison Mcleod, Assistant to the Brand manager, LK Collections
Amanda Anderson, Agent Booker, Liz Bell Agency
Amanda Moorby, Assistant Denim Buyer, Bootlegger
Amanda Woods, Head Visual Merchandiser, The Gap on Robson Street
Amber-Lee Schneider, Fashionista Blogger
Amelia Mackenzie, Freelance Fashion writer, ION Magazine, Skinny Magazine
Amy Lu, Fashion Stylist, Judy Inc. - national Artists' Agency
Amy Wutzke, Stylist Expert, Pacific Centre.
Ashley Bachmeier, Assistant Denim Buyer, Bootlegger
Ashley Weaver,Co-owner, Tickle Trunk and Weaver Agencies
Bridie Morgan, Assistant, Judy Inc. - national Artists’ Agency
Carmen Watson, Visual Merchandiser, North Face
Chris Lam, Director of Stores - Menswear, Zara Canada Inc.
Christine Visnjak, In-Store Merchandiser, Le Château
Claudia Da Ponte, Stylist, www.dapontestyle.com
Candice Chic Fashionista Blogger
Carmen Watson, Merchandise Coordinator, Arcteryx Wholesale
Christine Pallen, Brand Manager, Gentle Fawn
Danielle De Coste, Manager, Spanks
Danielle Swanson, Visual Display Stylist, Le Chateau
Emma Pickering, Admissions Associate, Blanche Macdonald Centre
Frances Pei, Airfare Product Coordinator, Flight Centre
Irene Yokoo, Production Coordinator, Mountain Equipment Co-op
Jennifer Pitura, Wholesale Agency, Shelley Renfrew
Jessica Weaver,Co-owner, Tickle Trunk and Weaver Agencies
Jillian Crago, Operation Style and Wardrobe, X Weighted (Reality TV Show)
Jessica Cote, Director of Marketing, Wear Else
Jill Connolly, Canadian Rep, Fluid Agency
Jodi Sam, Fashion stylist, www.jodisam.com
Jonita Parhar, Assistant Stylist to Luisa Rino Fashion Stylist
Jordan-Ann Piper, Event Coordinator for Miss New Westminster
Jordan Kawawaki, Fashion Merchandising Current Student Full time, Manager in Training JNBY
Jourdan Schmidt, Mens Furnishings, Holt Renfrew
Julianna Christie, Floor manager, Aritzia
Julie Duquette, Owner/Operator, Dirty Girl Uniforms
Justin Barrington Foote, Sales Associate, Betsey Johnson
Karen Tran, Visual Merchandiser, Wear Else
Karen Wyder, USA Operations Manager, Lululemon
Kristy Rogerson, Operation Style and Wardrobe, X Weighted (Reality TV Show)
Kyle Ziegenhagel, Visual Merchandiser, Zara
Laura Norbury, Associate Style Producer, Honey Mustard
Laura Spencelayh, Sales Associate, Babes on 4th Avenue
Leila Bani, Fashion stylist, THEY Representation Inc.
Lhasa Porter, Buyer, Please Mum
Leighann Boquist, Owner, Oliver & Lily's Clothing and Accessories Inc.
Lillian Lam, Art Director, Partner, Together Productions Creative Group Inc. - Vancouver BC
Lilyanne Nguyen, Sales Associate, Gucci
Lindsay Helm, Designer on contract, Lav & Kush Designs
Lindsay Wilkins, Visual Merchandiser, Esprit
Lindsay Wikens, Visual Merchandiser, Mexx
Lisa Salsbury, Assistant Buyer, Off the Wall
Lisa Schminowsky, Assistant to Brand Manager, Gail B Wholesale Agency
Maggie Hou, Broadcaster for TVB, Travelling for the TV stations for Asia and Europe
Margaux Jackson, Major Accounts Manager, Roxy
Mariana Reynose, PR/Marketing - Front of House, Spend on Trend
Melissa Rosvold Lynne, Owner of Vie Maternity & Children’s boutique
Melody Rhind, Freelance Stylist & Head Designer, Escargot Kids
Michelle Corner, Assistant Buyer for Sporting Goods, The Forzani Group
Michelle Kulas, Agent, Hidden Talent Agency
Nadia Chu, Editor, Fashionberry.com
Natasha Campbell, Owner of Tashae Productions (Telus Ski & Snow Board Weekend, 2010 Winter Olympic Apparel, Chum Television, BC Fashion Week)
Natalie Willson, Lululemon Educator, Lululemon
Nazreen Nawaz, Wholesale Representative, BMA Apparel Group
Nicole Bampton, Regional Sales Manager, Sixty Canada
Nicole Denis, Manager, LaCoste Boutique
Nicole Ritchie-Oseen, Owner, body politic
Peter Hoang, Representing Oakridge Centre, Oakridge Style Agent
Raffaele Megaro, Buyer, JNBY
Sandra Nanavaty and Renata Milanovic, Owners of wholesale agency THEORI
Sarah Chen, Fashion Merchandising Current Student Promoted to Assistant Manager BCBG
Selina Lam, Assistant Buyer, Mariposa
Shelby Schramm, Office Manager, Blanche Macdonald Centre
Sonia Jagpal, Admissions Associate, Blanche Macdonald Centre
Sydney Gibson, In-Store Marketer, The Bay - Park Royal
Tanya Albulet, Marketing Manager, Vitamin V
Tiana Kruzel, Fashion Wholesale Sales, Horton Berner
Vanessa Brown, Merchandiser, CanSki Village and CanSki Blackcomb
Vicki Chang, Sales Associate, Leone
Yumi Mizuno, Manager in Training, JNBY (Metrotown)
Note: some of these fashion merchandising graduates may have changed positions in the interim.
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