Avis Charles is a graduate of London College of Fashion (UAL) and initially started her career as a trainee at Susan Small, Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies, whose clients included the British Royal Family in addition to global high profile individuals. It is here she honed the skill of Haute Couture and later she founded Avis Charles Associates (ACA), a strategic fashion consultancy, working with luxury designer brands.
Avis works tirelessly to increase opportunities for young people, by working with the Prince's Trust along with mentoring, teenager entrepreneurs. She is a dedicated supporter of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Women for Women (WfWI). It is this relationship which has led Avis to combine personal ethics regarding sustainability plus the support for women, who strive daily in challenging environments to create Kivu.
Kivu - Avis’ own silk scarf range, with its exquisite print designs, inspired by countries where conflict has devastated the lives of women. Actively supports their growth through sales, thus incorporating luxury and philanthropic values. Avis has sat on a number of private sector and government boards and is a regular speaker at international conferences including the World Economic Forum. She was honoured as Women: Inspiration and Enterprise (WIE)’s roll call of 50 of the UK’s most inspirational women in business and leadership.
This is a wonderful opportunity to meet Avis and hear about her inspirational journey in the global fashion industry. We hope that you will be able to attend and we look forward to seeing you there.