Sophie Gregoire waves happily to the crowd as her husband, victorious Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledges his supporters on election night.
It was an iconic moment from Monday night鈥檚 election that everyone saw. So, what鈥檚 the big deal?
Gregoire鈥檚 dress, that鈥檚 what.
That beautiful golden yellow long sleeved dress is part of a collection by dress designer, Eliza Faulkner, who grew up on Vancouver Island in B.C.
When Faulkner posted a picture and message on her Facebook page, saying 鈥淪ophie Trudeau in my dress today鈥�, the page lit up with comments from friends (and probably clients) across the country, some of them transplanted Cowichan Valley folks like herself.
鈥淎mazing,鈥� said Valley designer Pipi Tustian, while Brenda Colby added, 鈥淭his is the best.鈥�
The dress, which is named Pandora, can be seen on Faulkner鈥檚 website https://elizafaulkner.com/
Asked in a phone interview from Montreal about when she first heard that the Prime Minister鈥檚 wife would wear her dress design for all the country to see, Faulkner said, 鈥淚 figure I heard about two weeks ago. I know the store she bought it from in Ottawa. They told me she鈥檇 bought it. I was excited about that, and then a couple of days later, they messaged and said that she would wear it on election night. I was excited but still a little skeptical because people do change their minds; I do all the time. So, I thought, we鈥檒l wait and see.鈥�
Faulkner has worked with Gregoire鈥檚 stylist in the past but had not heard much lately.
鈥淓ven though I鈥檇 known, I was surprised that she did wear it.鈥�
The designer, now based in Montreal, has a studio and an elegant online store, but no personal retail outlet although she stocks various stores around Canada with her clothing.
The Pandora dress has already been popular.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already sold a lot of them but when we found out she鈥檇 bought it and was going to wear it we鈥檇 actually just started production on more because it was selling so well. We鈥檝e sold out, but we鈥檙e taking pre-orders for them now. They鈥檒l be ready next week.鈥�
Faulkner鈥檚 interest in fashion started early.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been my whole life. I鈥檝e been making things since I was a teenager. My mom made all my stuff; she has Cardino鈥檚 shoes in Duncan. I sort of grew up watching her. Before she had the shoe store she made all our clothes, and made curtains and prom dresses for people. She taught me how to sew.
鈥淲hen she opened the shoe store, I was a teenager and I got to watch her have a business. I worked for her for a few years, and I鈥檝e learned a lot from her, too.鈥�
Faulkner was born and raised in Duncan and went to Cowichan Secondary School.
鈥淎fter high school I went to London, England to study design there. I went to a school called St. Martin鈥檚 [a world renowned arts and design college] and studied fashion there. I graduated in 2008 and then I was kind of back and forth between Duncan and London for a bit and then I ended up back in Duncan for four years, where I worked for my mom.
鈥淚 started my brand when I was there. Then, four years ago, I moved to Montreal. I met my partner in Duncan and he was from Montreal so that brought me out here. It鈥檚 been a good move; there鈥檚 a lot more of an industry here, as you can imagine.鈥�
How does Faulkner think this chance may affect her?
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know. I鈥檝e been doing this for so long now that I can鈥檛 tell.鈥�
She has dressed some well-known people but those were items that are worn all the time.
鈥淭his was such a historic moment,鈥� she said.
As for the dress itself, 鈥測ou can still order it from my website. We鈥檝e sold out of the yellow, but we鈥檙e getting in black and dark red for Christmas.鈥�
lexi.bainas@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
