PG 07

FRIENDS FOR LIFE MY AICI JOURNEY

BY HELENA CHENN, AICI CIM

When you ask 20 image consultants about how they started their image business, you’ll hear at least 20 different stories. In 1986, I graduated from design school and hung out my shingle as a custom dressmaker in a small town in what has now become part of Silicon Valley. I had already had many years of sewing garments for myself and family. Attending design school opened my eyes to drafting patterns and introduced me to manufacturing and production sewing.

At one time, I explored designing a clothing line and having it manufactured overseas. Lack of resources and the need to travel back and forth from the US to Hong Kong would be too difficult, so I did the next best thing and started a local dressmaking business. I had one set of skills (sewing and patternmaking), but not much business experience.

I began networking through local organizations, Leads Club and the Better Business Bureau, and heard about a group called Association of Image Consultants (AIC). This was a group of local women who had interest in fashion, wardrobe styling, and colors. Naturally, I joined and quickly got involved with helping with the newsletter and marketing the group. I was thrilled that I had found a group of women who shared my interests and in partnering with some of the members, found a small niche for my skills.

In 1990, AIC merged with AFIC (Association of Fashion & Image Consultants). I found this newly chartered organization to be very different from the previous group, the emphasis was on education, networking, and building a business.

I started volunteering at the local AICI San Francisco Chapter and ended up in leadership roles, serving as VP Marketing, VP Membership, Secretary, VP President-Elect and President.

The year after I joined, I attended my first AICI Conference — I was hooked! Meeting so many members from around the U.S. was exhilarating! We all had come from different backgrounds, but had a common love for education, fashion, color, closets, and wardrobe styling.

My involvement with AICI then expanded to being on the International Board, where I was AICI Image Update newsletter editor and graphics layout person for the newsletter and the conference brochures. I was fortunate to be AICI’s VP Conference for five conferences.

Fast-forward to today, I have not missed one annual AICI conference. I have been fortunate to meet so many of our AICI members from around the world and so proud to call many of them friends and colleagues. I have been fortunate to teach at AICI conferences and workshops in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and in Malaysia in 2020.

"I HAVE ENJOYED MY ASSOCIATION WITH AICI OVER THE YEARS, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE — I HAVE DEVELOPED TRUE FRIENDSHIPS."

HELENA CHENN is a wardrobe expert, AICI certified image master (CIM), and an industry leader in the field of custom couture design and fit specialist. Her specialties include: comprehensive wardrobe design for private clients, complete closet organization, professional personal shopping, and exceptional tailoring and alterations for both men and women. She is in demand as a workshop leader, teaching “fit” to image professionals around the world.

www.helenachenn.com