St. John�s fashion designer receives national award

Clothing designer and manufacturer Karen Pottle has won a major national fashion award. The St. John�s businesswoman and owner of Exploits Design Inc. was one of 25 Canadian designers who received awards Thursday night in Toronto from the Matinee Fashion Foundation.

The Matinee Fashion Foundation was established in 1992 to provide financial support to talented Canadian fashion designers. Ms. Pottle plans to use the award to hire two consultants to help her achieve greater efficiencies in her production business. "The consultants will work with our staff to attain production optimization and they will provide sewing operator training that will significantly enhance our in-house manufacturing processes," she said.

"Ms. Pottle is a talented entrepreneur who has worked steadily to improve her businesses using a variety of resources," said Kelvin Parsons, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. "This is the fourth time she has won this particular award and each time she has used it to improve an aspect of her business. I congratulate Ms. Pottle on her energy and drive to create high quality fashion garments in Newfoundland and Labrador for export to Canada and the United States. Ms. Pottle is an example of the good things that are happening in Newfoundland and Labrador within this industry and beyond."

Exploits Design Inc. uses traditional materials such as oiled cotton or oilskin to produce a range of outerwear that rivals the best British designs that have long dominated the Canadian market. Exploits� products are sold in Boston, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Seattle. Ms. Pottle was recently commissioned to re-design the product lines for the Grenfell Company in St. Anthony, Atlantic Canada�s oldest and one of its most recognized brand name garment producers in the region.

The craft and apparel industry has been identified by the provincial government in its Renewal Strategy for Jobs and Growth as an industry with significant potential for growth and new employment in all areas of the province. It currently generates $38 million in sales annually and creates over 2,000 jobs. A recent five-year development strategy indicated the industry could double in size and create an additional 500 jobs over the next five years. In February of this year, the provincial and federal governments announced funding of $1 million for implementation of the strategy.

Media Contacts:

Clifford Grinling, ITRD, (709) 729-7066
Karen Pottle, (416) 368-2511 or (709) 579-1234

2002 10 18                                        5:10 p.m.