Iggy interviews a Fashion Designer

Today I got to interview Miss Reina. 

She is a friend of my mom’s and a really nice person with many talents.

Miss Reina has had her own Clothing Boutique and many of her paintings are in peoples homes, mine included! 

Hello Miss Reina! Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed today!

Where were you born?

I was born in Holland.

What special memory do you have as a kid growing up? 

I loved my school years there and playing with all of my friends.

When did you come to Canada? 

I immigrated to Canada in 1951 with my parents.

Where did you live? 

We lived at the Blue Church, between Brockville and Prescott.

Do you have any siblings? 

I had four brothers and two sisters.

Did you have any pets growing up?  

Growing up, we always had cats and a dog.

How did you learn to make clothes?

I started to sew when I went to work. It was much cheaper than buying clothes.

I entered the Young Style Maker contest in Brockville in 1960 and won for Eastern Ontario.

What was the first piece of clothing that you made? 

The first piece of clothing I made was a dress.

What did you like best about the fashion business?

The thing I liked best about the fashion business was meeting people and making them look good.

What did you find most challenging? 

The most challenging thing was working with different body shapes and making them all look good.

Do you have a fashion design/piece that you are most proud of? 

I have a couple of pieces that I am proud of.

Did you like to draw and paint when you were a kid?

When I was a kid, I was always drawing and coloring.

Did you take some art classes?

I never took art classes.

Did someone inspire you or encourage you to sell your artwork?

Yes, a friend encouraged me to sell my artwork.

Do you have any hobbies? 

I also love to garden.

Do you play any instruments?

Since I was a child, I always wanted to play the accordion, but there was never any money.  But when I turned 40, I decided it was time to do that…so I took lessons for three years, and I still play.

What’s your favorite dessert? 

My favorite dessert is pie with ice-cream.

What advice would you give a kid if they wanted to be a fashion designer? 

If someone wants to be a fashion designer, I would encourage them to pursue it and not to give up when things get tough or difficult. Perseverance pays off.

Thanks a whole lot for saying yes to this interview. It was nice seeing you again…