In Chloe Angus’s pursuit of happiness and success, her greatest lessons have been defined by “doing it right because it’s the right thing to do.”
My fashion label, Chloë Angus Design, is a Vancouver-based, independently owned, collaborative Canadian brand that has dressed movie stars, media personalities, politicians, and princesses. My designs have graced runways and red carpets around the world, and in 2018, (after recovering from a spinal cord injury that left me paralyzed from the waist down, that is a story for another day) I had the honour of being awarded The Industry Innovation Award recognizing my contribution to growing the fashion industry.
My career is everything a successful fashion designer could dream of. But there’s always more work to do in the sometimes-dirty world of fashion. And doing it right, just because it’s the right thing to do, remains a turbulent, but worthy journey.
In fashion, body image, ageism, even racism impacts the industry. For some, fashion and style equate to being young, thin, tall, and white. In doing it right, my brand leads with diversity and inclusion.
I show models of all ages, shapes, sizes, identities, ethnicities, and mobilities. I say it takes little talent to design for young, tall, beautiful people; true talent lies in designing for all shapes and sizes, for everybody who wants to feel strong, powerful, and included in fashion.
I also care about our Earth and do it right by choosing natural and innovative fabrics that are better for the environment. Growing up on the pristine BC coast, on an organic seafood farm, consideration for our environment is second nature to me. I support sustainable change in all areas of my business, from packaging to promotion. We stand proudly Made in Canada, in step with Canadian labour standards and their associated costs.
But my most profound honour is doing it right in my collaborations with Indigenous artists. I have committed my career to changing cultural appropriation in fashion; my collaborations strive to set industry standards for working with Indigenous artists around the world.
Through honest, fair, transparent collaboration (licensing, compensation, representation), we ensure that collaboration equals inclusion and celebration; that it eliminates appropriation and elevates reconciliation.
When done right, fashion can uplift and empower the wearer, giving them the confidence to go out and to do what they’re born to do. I was born to do fashion, born to help uplift and empower others through my confidence in doing fashion the right way; not the easy way, but the only way that makes me happy and successful.
Connect with Chloe:
Website: https://www.chloeangus.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloeangusdesign/
Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/chloeangusdesign/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chloeangusdesign
