A Whole Lot of Love

Susannah Kennedy

In contrast to her modern and edgy designs, designer Hrissa Soumpassis maintains honest and down-to-earth opinions about the fashion industry. Without sugar coating the huge risk starting a company can be, Hrissa admits that the birth of Elika Designs took ”a little bit of courage, a little bit of money, and a whole lot of love.” Hrissa, a Blanche Macdonald graduate, recently decided to follow her lifetime dream and thus came the birth of Elika. According to Hrissa, the label is for the “sophisticated woman who wants to portray her own intelligence and individuality through what she wears,” and even a quick glance at the unique pieces proves this to be true. Currently Hrissa is endeavouring to move Elika Designs into the global scene, specifically in Europe, which is fitting given that the label is named after a small village in Greece. She describes her collection as “high volume colour and detail, with a pinch of black and white” with “exaggerated shell buttons, architecturally inspired collars, and tattered silk squares and circles.”

For the time being we won’t be seeing much of Hrissa in Vancouver because she is currently researching distinctive cottons and silks in Southeast Asia in preparation for her next collection. She says the next collection is going to be “based on a combination of Buddhist and Muslim influences, as well as incorporating hand dying.” Sounds like something definitely worth keeping an eye out for.

Elika Designs is available in Vancouver at Hum Clothing, 3623 Main St., and Dream Apparel, 311 West Cordova St.