Design Inspiration

Cheri's vision is to inspire women to celebrate their individuality and diversity. In Fall 2009, in honour of the women she is inspired by and designs for, she took the bold step of being one of the few courageous designers in the world to feature "real women", non-professional models, on the runway. Her message was to challenge the status quo beauty and body image ideal in the fashion industry. The response from the media and general public was overwhelming. Cheri was featured in regional, national and international media around the world and received hundreds of emails from women praising her courage and design talent.

My vision is to inspire women to celebrate their individuality and diversity

Cheri has traveled extensively to the fashion capitals of the world including Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Beijing, London and New York. She has experienced international fashion and how it influences different cultures and lifestyles. Regular trips to Italy are used as inspiration for each collection. Research and trend forecasting are done along with sourcing of fabrics, knits and accessories for future collections.

Cheri is known for her ability to enhance her collections with special couture details and outstanding Italian fabrics, as well as her quality of workmanship. She achieves this by studying the fabrics and using various draping techniques. She has worked with countless types of textures, fabrics and silhouettes. She loves to manipulate fabrics through ruching, pleating and gathering to create interesting collars, seams and cuffs.

Central to Cheri's philosophy is the idea that her designs are analogous to a canvas that conveys an expression of one's true self. Cheri recognizes the importance of being current and contemporary, but emphasizes the need to step outside the box and be an individual. "When we take the step to personify our true selves through our style of dress, we automatically look and feel confident," says Cheri. "Our clothing thus enhances our individual beauty. We see the whole package, rather than just seeing the clothes themselves."

Our clothing enhances our individual beauty. We see the whole package, rather than just seeing the clothes themselves.