Miren Valdes is a Vancouver stylist that specializes in television and film as well as fashion and editorial work. Recently we caught up with Miren and she was gracious enough to answer our questions about what she's learned since branching out to full time styling, how to stand out from the pack in a creative field as well as where personal aesthetic and creativity comes in when styling for a job or client. This is a conversation with insights and principals any creative will benefit from. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

New student Sophie Thien is originally from Kuala Lumpur and Taipei. She immigrated to Vancouver in 2006 and has called the west coast home ever since! When not spending time with Milo - her Maltese-Shih Tzu mix - she is researching historical fashion and sketching.

New student Sophie Thien is originally from Kuala Lumpur and Taipei. She immigrated to Vancouver in 2006 and has called the west coast home ever since! When not spending time with Milo - her Maltese-Shih Tzu mix - she is researching historical fashion and sketching.

New student Sophie Thien is originally from Kuala Lumpur and Taipei. She immigrated to Vancouver in 2006 and has called the west coast home ever since! When not spending time with Milo - her Maltese-Shih Tzu mix - she is researching historical fashion and sketching.

STYLE Canada Spotlight on Liza D! “With 30 years of industry experience and expertise, Liza Deyrmenjian has dedicated her career to improving and progressing the world of fashion. After crafting an invaluable skill set and business sense in the garment, textile, and manufacturing industries, she was ready to put her knowledge into a new business that would change how fashion/design students learned.”

Some things in life are so unpredictable! It was unlikely that 5-years ago, Claire Wong was thinking about returning to school and possibly starting a small business in 2022. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Claire and her family (husband and two sons), moved to Vancouver almost 4-years ago. Since then, they have been enjoying exploring the beautiful west coast and trying their luck at biking, kayaking, and snowshoeing.

From owning and operating her own furniture maker and upholstery company, Vancouver’s Sunny Thorne is always seeking new challenges that add her to already creative nature! As a new student in Pattern-making and Assembly, we are sure that her love of design and fashion will come in handy as her journey at The Cut moves forward.

As a small business owner, Maya Grigoruk multi-tasks as the head pattern drafter at Designer Apparel Services for the past 3-years while being an instructor at The Cut Fashion Design Academy and does marker making, grading and oversees production. What a dynamo!

As a freelance dressmaker, 28-year-old Gayuh, loves to spend time with her sewing machine. She calls sewing ‘her meditation’ and it is this pursuit that has brought her to The Cut. The desire to learn more, upgrade her skills, and follow her passion to create gorgeous gowns like the haute couture designers that inspire her.

The Cut’s newest instructor - Micol Joanka Medda - is a Sardinian Artist and multifaceted Designer who has been professionally involved in Art, Fashion, Film and Theatre for more than two decades. Most recently, she served as Head of Wardrobe for the Laboratory of Arts at Teatro della Pergola, the National Theatre in Florence.

As we wrap-up another year, it is just natural to give in to our curiosity and check-out which of our stories connected with the most amount of people. As you know, there is always something happening at The Cut.

When Bronwyn Jeeves, a full-time accountant and mother of two who lives in Whangarei, New Zealand, wanted to take Pattern-making online, little did she know that her search would not be easy.

Mallory Gosselin was at a point in her design career where she knew a big change was needed. Her business ‘Designs by Mallory’ had a significant impact on her life and she was ready to take that skill-set and all she learned to the next level. After examining all her options, Mallory decided a major location, to Vancouver, is what she needs to progress.

#DYK The Cut is the only accredited educational institution that offers diploma and certificate course customization with a 1:8 teacher-student ratio? By removing the 1 to 4-year commitment, Liza D. design effectively eliminates the accrual of excessive student debt and with its small-class size allows students to develop skills quickly and more expertly to move into the workforce and succeed. 

When you have a passion to learn and the desire to push yourself to build your skills, you don’t let location stop you from following your dreams! Inuit student Lori Tagoona completed Pattern Making in spring 2021 and has started Technical Pattern Making this semester - all remotely from her home in the North.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Sam grew up involved in organized sports and played hockey his whole life. When not at the rink, he likes hanging out with friends, biking, and going to the beach for a swim. On his creative side, he has always enjoyed making music and clothing.

When a designer with such a dynamic and colourful story decides attends The Cut, we are immediately curious to learn more! Saakhi Chhatwal is enrolled in our Fashion Marketing program while collaborating internationally. So much drive and passion for the industry.

Currently enrolled in TCFDA’s 2-year Diploma Program, entrepreneur Ghali Alissami arrived in Canada as a Turkish refugee. He is pursuing this line of study to acquire the needed professional academic and technical knowledge to help launch a career as a fashion designer.

With the September semester rapidly approaching, we wanted to share the stories of two new students who will be joining us. Heather Ho has a fascination with costume and is excited to build her skill-set to launch a career in film and television.

I cringe when I read 'sustainable fashion' online or 'sustainable' as an adjective to sell everything from cheap shoes to over-hyped seminars. The dilution of this word makes it as meaningless as 'natural' or 'organic.'