Meet Our Mentors

What You Receive

TFI Outreach and Affiliate members get 120-minutes of free, personalized, private, one-on-one consultation time within their membership year. Meet with one or more of our world-class professional mentors for two hours or divide your time into 30 or 60 minute sessions. Get expert advice on your business plan, how to create cohesiveness within your line, learn the proper way to approach retail buyers and more.

Eligibility

Open to Outreach, Affiliate and Resident members only. Please note that we are unable to offer consultation time to TFI student members. Please contact us here if you wish to upgrade your membership.

How to Book

• If you're a TFI member, select the mentor with whom you would like to meet from the list below
• Select the "talk to" button below the mentor’s name and position; you will be redirected to a webpage containing an online form
• Fill out the form and read the Mentor Consultation Guidelines located at the bottom of the form
• Once you are done, select the “submit” button; we will then contact you to confirm a date and time

Meet Our Mentors

An Exclusive Experience for Members

Huma Aslam

Consultant,
Fashion Tech

Talk to Huma

Huma Aslam is an expert in Fashion Innovation, with a passion for phygital (physical and digital) strategy and a history of facilitating scalable business growth. She is versed in traditional fashion and digital design, digital assets such as NFTs, smart textiles and clothing, technological innovation, Web 3.0 and brand strategy. Huma has a mission to help brands with impactful storytelling.

Donna Bishop

Founder & CEO
Green Beauty Inc.

Talk to Donna

Donna has over 10 years experience in the fashion and beauty industries. Meet with her for advice on establishing and running an online business and general entrepreneurship, as well as to learn how to incorporate eco/sustainable elements into a line.

Patricia Butler

President
Butler & Associates

Talk to Patricia

With over 30 years of sales experience, Patricia can coach you on the “Art of Sales” so you can watch your sales grow! Meet with her for advice on effective sales and marketing, how to boost your market expansion and how to build long-lasting customer relationships.

Joeffer Caoc

Designer 
JOEFFER CAOC

Talk to Joeffer

Joeffer Caoc is a Canadian brand that has become synonymous with enduring style for over two decades. Designer Joeffer Caoc, the man behind the brand, is ready to offer in-depth guidance on women’s ready-to-wear design, fabric and notion sourcing, and working with local contractors. Having managed a sales team and agents he can offer suggestions on how to approach specialty boutiques in Canada and the USA.

Christian Dare

Merchandising Director & Co-Founder
Stylist Box

Talk to Christian

Christian spent most of his formative years working in Canada’s major fashion centres where he worked in visual merchandising for companies such as the Gap, Club Monaco and Holt Renfrew. Christian is an expert on how to set up effective pop-up shops, windows or tradeshow displays.

Christine Faulhaber

CEO & Founder
Faulhaber Communications

Talk to Christine

Christine is an acclaimed public relations and digital marketing expert who can give you invaluable advice on how to grow your brand and work with PR professionals. She knows how to nurture and grow the entrepreneurial spirit into a successful brand. 

Sabrina Fiorellino

Lawyer, Legal Agreements
& Business Law

Talk to Sabrina

Sabrina is an associate lawyer who can offer advice in the areas of fashion law, business law, contracts and commercial agreements. She has a specific interest in the fashion industry, working with luxury brands, as well as new and emerging designers.

Holly Fisher

Founder
DIMMI DIMMI

Talk to Holly

Holly (B.Sc International Fashion Business Management) has been working in the Toronto fashion industry for brands such as Uncle Studios, Canada Goose, and Roots. She recently founded DIMMI DIMMI, a design agency that supports up-and-coming designers by providing guidance on back-end operations (sourcing, production, logistics, e-commerce, marketing/branding strategy, and private label/collection expansion).

Cynthia Florek

Fashion Stylist, Creative Director
& Trend Forecaster

Talk to Cynthia

A creative force behind several major retailers, Cynthia has worked with teams on product design, merchandising aesthetics and style direction. Meet with Cynthia to learn about trend forecasting, working with stylists and careers in fashion styling.

Ashlee Froese

Lawyer & Trademark Agent
Froese Law

Talk to Ashlee

Ashlee is a go-to for advice on intellectual property concerns, such as intellectual property law, commercial and corporate law and branding and fashion law. Meet with her to learn about the importance of trademarks and protecting your ideas and brand. 

Wanda Ho

Consultant, Business Planning
& Financial Management

Talk to Wanda

A former Chartered Accountant, Wanda is expertly qualified to review and assess your business plan and provide advice in the areas of finance and accounting. She knows what it takes to turn brands into viable businesses. Meet with her to brush up on the business side of fashion.

Jeffery Kong

Domestic & International
Design Consultant

Talk to Jeffery

Jeffery is your point person if you’d like to reach an international market. As a Canadian designer, he has extensive international work experience in all areas of women’s and men’s fashion design, including luxury, bridge, contemporary and more. Meet with him to expand your brand.

Todd Lynn

Designer, Todd Lynn

Talk to Todd

Todd Lynn is a Canadian designer who lives and works in London, UK. After graduating from the MA Fashion program at Central St. Martins, he built an eponymous fashion brand selling to the world’s top retailers (Net-A-Porter, Matches, Barneys, Browns, Lane Crawford, Holt Renfrew, L'Eclaireur, etc.). He currently teaches at Kingston University London and collaborates with a number of “rock royalty” including U2, The Rolling Stones and PJ Harvey.

Carmen E. Martinez

International Marketing, Licensing & Sales Professional

Talk to Carmen

Carmen is a passionate and energetic leader who excels at generating and executing out-of-the-box initiatives locally and globally. Meet with her to gain advice on sales and marketing, such as how to forge strategic partnerships to maximize your exposure and reach.

Gail McInnes

Founder, Magnet Creative Management
Public Relations, Venturepark

Talk to Gail

Gail has been involved in the fashion industry for over 25 years as a publicist and brand manager. She brings her entrepreneurial expertise and insider knowledge to TFI, providing invaluable advice on using social media and publicity to promote and market a brand.

Franco Mirabelli

Fashion Designer, Creative Director & Retail/Manufacturer Consultant

Talk to Franco

Franco is an acclaimed Canadian designer who can offer advice in designing, sourcing, manufacturing, fitting and selling to major retailers (Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom) and US trade shows (Magic, Coterie). He has also designed uniforms (Four Seasons Centre, Hazelton Hotel, Intercontinental Hotels).

Evelyn Reynolds

Founder & President
Retail Resource Partners Inc.

Talk to Evelyn

Highly accomplished in product development, merchandising and retail management, Evelyn has worked in retail and business development for over 30 years, including in manufacturing and wholesale. With her in-depth fashion retail knowledge, Evelyn can provide business assessment and strategic advice for business growth.

Heidi Ruggier

President
Matte PR

Talk to Heidi

Chat with Heidi about how to create a universe for your brand and capture your target customer. Work with her on overall brand strategy, e-commerce, PR and digital. Established brands can discuss how to engage markets globally while keeping production and design local.

Livia Zufferli

Branding & Retail Consultant

Talk to Livia

Livia is an experienced strategist who has launched national campaigns, social activations and in-store marketing. Planning a pop-up? Livia provides expert advice on creating and merchandising the perfect pop-up assortment, in-store evaluations and more techniques to help grow your brand.

Please remember to read the Mentor Consultation Guidelines at the end of each request form regarding
cancellations, no-shows and guest fees.