As LG Fashion Week kicks off it’s Fall 2010 collections, we thought we’d interview Desia Brill, Owner and President of Brill Communications.  One of Toronto’s leading fashion PR firms, Desia and her team are instrumental in helping Canadian designers execute their shows flawlessly while also connecting them with the media; so that all of you get to know the exceptional talent that our country has to offer. 

What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed? Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I  am up early for boot camp from 7 am to 8am and the a walk to work so Thursday is my day to sleep in a bit. I rise between 7 and 7:30am, read the paper, Greg my husband/business partner makes me a smoothie, shower, dress and hop in the car and plan day with hubby. Arrive at the office between 8:00 and 9:00 and start right into everything from e-mails, conference calls, meetings, visiting with clients, responding to media inquiries, stylist pulls and VIP dressing out of our showroom. The beauty of owning your own business is no two days are alike; I wear a ton of hats.   Somewhere in there I fit in lunch and a bathroom break LOL.

What was your first job out of school? My first job was in Switzerland in the pastry department of a five star hotel.  LOVED it.  I had just finished my studies at George Brown college.   When I returned to Canada I worked in the food industry for a few years but felt  I needed a new challenge.  I decided to go back to school and get my Associate’s Degree at LaSalle College in Montreal for their Fashion Marketing and Merchandising program. It was here I got my first insight into what I wanted to do- I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship from La Fondation de la Mode de Montreal to      study at  FIT in New York.  I was hired as an intern at a mid-sized Fashion PR agency and the first event I worked on was New York Fashion Week in ’98. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Communications I worked as a PR assistant at the same agency until I started Brill.   I had the most incredibly passionate, intelligent and hardworking mentor.  I try and instill the same kind of boss qualities with my team—no question is stupid; empowerment is growth and first in last out does put you at the top.

What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well? Having patience, attention to detail, and the ability to multi-task.

What do you love most about your career? Working with brands: helping them grow and then watching that process as it gets threaded through the channels – that’s the most exciting part to me. I love the fact that the industry is always changing. I love the relationships between the media, photographers, and stylists, everyone – we work as pieces of a puzzle to move this machine forward and it’s really a collective / a community. 

Do you have any warnings? Anyone who thinks this job is glamourous or all about the parties/schmoozing needs a reality check. It involves long hours and hard work but the rewards are great. 

If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be? Costume Historian. While studying my two favourite classes were costume and art history. 

How are you preparing for LGFW right now: Securing interviews, reaching out, sending out invites, tasking RSVPs, seating charts – it’s all about being organized and proactive. 

What labels are you representing for upcoming LGFW? Pink Tartan, Brandon R Dwyer/Basch, and Lundström Collection.

How did you decide that fashion pr was going to be your niche? I took an aptitude test and it said that I should work in either food or fashion. Since I had already done the food thing, I chose fashion and began full speed ahead in New York.

What do you love most about fashion, and do you have a style icon? I’m a shoe and bag-aholic. I love a platform shoe. It’s all about fusion for me – designer wear mixed with high street brands. My style icon is Audrey Hepburn, I admire the way she was always chic and put together but never overdone. She always looked glamourous whether she was wearing a pair of skinny pants and ballet flats or a gown and heels.