VAIKEN – Emerging Fashion Fridays Valérie Tolila is a woman on a mission. Back in 2000, Tolila embarked on what would be a 13-year trip through Europe. While living in Istanbul, she decided to take a chance and enrolled in fashion design at LaSalle College International. She graduated with honours in two years and was chosen as the assistant to Vivienne Westwood during Istanbul’s first fashion week. As part of this highly publicized event, she had the opportunity to work with several high-profile designers, including Ferragamo, Roberto Cavalli and Missoni. Honing in on her craft, she was invited to Paris fashion week and attended shows for Balmain and Valentino, amongst others. Following this, she began working under the tutelage of famed Portuguese designer António Augustus who encouraged her to develop a capsule collection. Her passion for creating was cemented and upon returning to Montréal in 2013, Tolila launched her label:…
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