What do you say to the woman who has single-handedly put Canadian fashion on the map? 

A bare “hello, nice to meet you” doesn’t seem to cut it.  On my chilly walk over, I fantasize about meeting her.  With L’Oreal Fashion Week days away, she must be swamped with glamorous tasks of all sorts as the head of the Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC). 

I scramble to come up with an appropriate greeting. A part of me wants to thank her on behalf of shopping enthusiasts across the country for fostering our fashion industry, and feeding our desire for Can-Couture.  

Arriving at the mother ship a.k.a. FDCC headquarters – I survey the space.  Every corner of the open-concept office is buzzing with eager employees, assistants, and interns, riffling through boxes of media passes and answering what sounds like a dozen phone calls at once.  Lulu and Grace Kelly – Robin’s ridiculously cute dogs – play in the waiting area while greeting guests.  

I come in to Robin’s office.  Before I can thank her on behalf of our entire country (in hindsight…definitely a tad too dramatic), she passes me a pair of oversized glasses to try on from a pile on her desk.  This is one of Robin’s favourite upcoming trends and she’s brought a pair for all her employees. 

So what else is on Robin’s wish list for the coming season? She predicts crazy colours, “absolutely acid colours, and people having fun,” as the spring/summer vogue.  I hope she’s right – fashion certainly has to make up for a LOT of winter! In that regard Robin isn’t taking any chances; the day Fashion Week ends she’s going on a month-long yoga retreat with no electricity! 

While Robin has great fashion sense, I decide to shift the focus onto us.  After all, it is the shoppers who ultimately feed the fashion industry.  I had to know – how should we change our shopping habits? Aside from familiarizing ourselves with Canadian labels and the stores that carry them, what else should we be doing? 

Robin reels me into her world with the flick of her bejeweled wrist – “you have the most influence…your entire age group.  What you think, how you act upon what you think.” For a moment I feel powerful…it’s a nice feeling, I’ve got to say.  She’s referring to the increasing tendency of Canadian designers to appeal directly to younger demographics. 

Robin identifies the biggest problem in our country, “we are just beginning to understand that fashion designers are artists.” Her comments are borne of experience. Robin was given a gift – she could design, recalling how she used “fabric and cloth to create my art.” 

She discusses Ontario.  “In our province, these artists are not recognized as part of the cultural landscape.” Often “ahead of the curve and outside the box,” designers are not eligible for tax benefits or grants.  This is appalling considering that everywhere else – from Columbia to Dubai, designers are endorsed for who they are and supported by the government. 

If she was given three wishes, what else would Robin change about the fashion industry in Canada? At first, she seems happy with the way things are running.  “What’s happening right now is almost like a cultural revolution, I think that one by one, and group by group, we are becoming much more a part of building something.  I mean how exciting – WE are writing the history book of fashion (by participating in it)!” 

After a thoughtful pause Robin’s optimistic outlook fades a little (though only temporarily) as she considers other factors.  Her first wish is for there to be a funding organization that supports fashion designers.  When she first began in the industry, the government revoked the possibility of cigarette companies to support designers; millions upon millions of dollars were lost.   

Robin’s second wish would be to end the turf war between Montreal and Toronto.  She believes there should only be one Fashion Week and a series of fashion festivals, as it doesn’t make sense for two cities so close together to hold the same event.  What’s more, the Quebec government refuses to help their designers showing in Toronto, so as an added expense, the FDCC shells out around $150, 000 in support of these designers – covering everything from gas to PR.

As for Robin’s final wish, she says looking me straight in the eye, “ is that what I’m doing right now impresses you enough so that you would do it next, because I’m not going to do this forever, I need to pass it on.”  I eagerly offer to take on the torch.  Fingers crossed… 

With so many responsibilities, I can hardly imagine that Robin has any free time to ‘hang’, but I ask anyway.  As it turns out, she’s really into the Ossington strip right now and has been spending a fare share of time exploring the hood.  She loves dining at FOXLEY BISTRO (207 Ossington Avenue), and shopping at I MISS YOU (63 Ossington Avenue) – one of her top picks for vintage in the city.  She also frequents galleries in the area, and gets her downward dog on at YOGA SPACE (148 Ossington Avenue). 

Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve dreamt of having my own fashion label from the day I was old enough to cut out my own paper dolls.  Who wouldn’t love to have a line of funky graphic tees, or a private label of one-of-a-kind accessories (chains, found objects, and a can of metallic spray paint can go a long way these days!)? 

Robin assures me that’s its all too easy to get caught up in the glorification of being a fashion designer.  Her most important piece of advice for budding designers is to concentrate on ‘the business of fashion.” 

First and foremost, one must develop a supporting circle – friends, mom and dad, or anybody else who believes in your craft.  “It’s not possible to be the bookkeeper, the manager, the sales rep and everything else."

She also suggests going to school – “it’s very smart to go to school, no matter what you study – anything – just to learn how to appreciate what has gone on before.”  

I’ve got to know – if Robin could take on a different career for a year, what would it be?  Initially, she decides to be a painter on the beach, but upon second thought, confides that her real passion is to be an inventor – “there are ALL sorts of things I want to invent, I already have!”  She’s invented objects and devices that are “very necessary but aren’t there – very simple, obvious things – where you’re just like I can’t believe this doesn’t exist!” In fact, that’s what Robin was going to do before she was asked to become the chair of Fashion Council.  Hard to say no to an opportunity like that! 

The clock in my head starts ticking and as much as I want to pester Robin with a dozen more questions I realize this is a pressure packed time for an already super-busy woman. I suddenly see a hazy image of myself being lifted and dragged out of her office by exceptionally well-dressed bodyguards as I shout “just one more Robin – please – who are your favourite…”  

Determined to not over-stay my gracious welcome I select a few final questions.  I have to know what are Robin’s thoughts on ‘going green.’ Is this social consciousness here to stay, or just another fad?  

Robin recalls being involved in the green movement in the early 80’s and has some difficulty with her answer. “It’s a tough question because yes, of course I do (want it to stay), but it’s all about the money…there are however more strides towards the green movement than ever before.  Did you know that there are no plastic bags allowed in China, that’s huge. They’re not allowed to manufacture or use them!” 

What else must be huge? Robin’s closet…or so I imagine, the thought alone makes me salivate.  ARTHUR MENDONCA and PAUL HARDY dresses, RUDSAK jackets, perhaps even a little something from Project Runway Canada winner and designer extraordinaire EVAN BIDDELL? (While I have no idea what’s actually in Robin’s closet I maintain my right to dream!) 

Speaking of incredibly talented designers, if Robin was invited to attend an ultra-glamorous ball, who would she have make her gown? “KARL LAGERFELD!” is the immediate answer. “I just think he’s so incredible!”  

So amongst Robin’s possessions, which can she not live without?  “On the most horrible of levels – my Blackberry,” she admits. However, I was determined to dig deeper, and I’m glad I did.  Apparently, Robin always wears her mom and dad’s wedding ring on her pinky finger.

At this point, Robin has caught on to my theme and some rather interesting dialogue transpires. “I didn’t know this was going to be such a fantasy interview,” she exclaims.  I assure her that this is what we want to know, we just want to put ourselves in her shoes.  In response, she blurts out and chuckles, “apparently I have really big hands and feet, this is all the talk!” 

In one way, that’s very true.  Because whenever Robin does decide to give up her stylish thrown, hers will indeed be some pretty big shoes to fill.