Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/985850
20 We all want to look smartly dressed and polished when we go out the door in the morning. But if you don't fit the 'standard size' or your curves are a little too womanly, feeling like a square peg is almost a torment. Orchidée Fashion Boutique co-owner Chantal Darzi knows that story from experience. Darzi grew up in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes and was educated in Ottawa, where she just completed her PhD in psychology. She and her husband, Ishaq, recently moved to Winnipeg ... with an idea. They wanted to open a business that would fill a gap while providing a service that is compatible with their values. Those values are embodied in a flower: The orchid. "Orchids are a family of flowers with a lot of diversity — all shapes, all sizes, all colours," Darzi says. "People portray orchids as fragile, but they are actually very resilient because they thrive in tough climates and conditions." That idea resonated with Darzi. "We see women like orchids. No one says they're ugly or criticizes them — they admire them," she says. "We want women to be admired in the same way." And so the idea for Orchidée ... blossomed. Located at St. Vital Centre, the boutique offers a body positive experience in a beautifully appointed setting, with accessories and fashions in sizes 10-32. Its fresh, contemporary clothing lines — including Kiyonna, Yest / Yesta, Maitai Fashion and Winnipeg's own Silver Jeans — are designed specifically for women with curves so they fit and wear properly, "We really value diversity and inclusiveness, and we want to convey that message through our store and provide confidence-building experiences in a safe space for women," Darzi says. CHANTAL DARZI Co-owner, Orchidée Fashion Boutique fashion forward BODY POSITIVE BOUTIQUE CATERS TO THE CURVY By Wendy King As a size 12, Darzi had her share of discouragement trying to buy fashionable, properly fitted clothing. She says the low point came two years ago, during a holiday in Turkey "The Turks are huge fashionistas, they sell beautiful clothes," she says. "I was so excited to go shopping, I had saved up some money." She had set aside a whole day just to shop in Istanbul. "Nothing fit me," she says. "I remember thinking, 'Wow, all the women back home must feel what I feel right now, which is frustrated, embarrassed and really sad.' I think that's when it really clicked." Darzi says Ishaq had run a retail business in Ottawa, and after a bit of research she completely "fell into" the Orchidée project. When she is not in the store, she is putting her PhD to use in a private practice. But those well-honed listening skills are an asset at the boutique, too. "When you are doing therapy, you have to be empathic, you have to practise the art of putting yourself in someone else's shoes," she says. "I think that has really helped me in the store." Soon after opening, Darzi assisted a client who needed exactly the kind of thoughtful, supportive attention that Orchidée set out to provide. The woman had recently lost weight and came in looking to buy a dress — something she hadn't done in a decade. "It was so nice to help her find one that she loved. She was so excited about it and she looked so, so nice," Darzi says. "It was a pleasure just to see her face — it was a really touching experience to see her glow like that." ❚ Learn more at orchideeboutique.com Photo by Darcy Finley