My 40+ year career in the luxury fashion industry has been empowering, energising and inspiring. It blends deep insights into all aspects of haute couture, a passion for traditional crafts and heritage and an active commitment to the support of women artisans in developing countries. This multifaceted experience, underpinned by extensive cultural and historical research, has opened fresh, exciting opportunities for creative collaboration, academic teaching and mentoring and has strengthened my reputation as a highly respected thought leader and EDI specialist.Early experiences have given me an excellent creative and commercial grounding. I worked with fashion leaders, Susan Small, Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies, and then joined Vivienne Westwood as Head of Studio, working with her technical team to produce seasonal collections. This was followed by six years as Personal Shopper at Harrods, with royalty and celebrities among my clients.I launched my consultancy, Avis Charles Associates (ACA) in 2003, to advise on creative strategy, industry training, artisan development, design and branding and sustainability, and guide major stakeholders looking to achieve EDI, decolonisation and sustainable goals. Notable achievements included association with industry fashion leaders, AHNDE Malaysia and Chrstopher Kane, and a post as Creative Technical Consultant for Victoria Beckham for 12 seasons. My commitment to EDI underpins everything I undertake. Its primary focus is on promoting equitable opportunities throughout the global fashion industry through encouraging designers to re-examine their product planning, marketing and retail strategies. At ACA, I pioneered ground-breaking initiatives such as the ITC UN Artisan project that brought together fashion students and women artisans from Peru, Ethiopia, India, Papua New Guinea, Palestine and Mongolia. My EDI expertise and value in the world of fashion has been widely recognised, most recently with an Honorary Arts Doctorate from De Montfort University for my advocacy and mentoring work, and efforts in supporting the advancement of talented women and girls in emerging nations. My burning ambition at this stage in my life is to share my vision, knowledge and unique perspectives through consultancy, non-executive and advisory roles and speaking engagements. My EDI expertise is a strong and valuable asset. It is based on respect for ethnic diversity and a deep appreciation of cultural and historical differences, and helps to deliver lasting, sustainable industry benefits.Contact me for more information.