and is now retired. “Business will come if you’re passionate
about it and you work hard. Our business was all based
on word-of-mouth. You try your best to make sure your
customers are happy.”
New and loyal clientele are not only happy, they’re wowed
by the new cutting-edge printer that creates 3-D wax models
of custom-designed jewellery in a mere hour.
Three design consultants are on staff to help design
unique, special pieces of wearable art containing any of the
varied selection of colour stones or Forever Mark Canadian
diamonds that are responsibly sourced.
“[The printer] makes a huge difference,” says Justin. “It
primarily takes the guess work out for the customer. They
know what they’re getting. There’s no surprises and if the
customer doesn’t like it, we can change it.”
Only 30 years old, Justin practically grew up in the store.
But it wasn’t until he was 15 years old and on payroll that he
became enamoured with watches and the business itself.
“I have a passion for watches because I think they have a
lot of personality,” says Justin who is sporting a retro MadMen-era watch by Hamilton, one of three lines Gem by Carati
carries. “Hamilton has the best blend of design and function
and offers a really unique collection.”
Despite his growing passion for learning and running the
business, his father insisted Justin get a university education.
But the four-year-economics degree couldn’t keep him away.
In fact, he furthered his studies by attaining his Graduate
Gemologist title to give him that much more credibility with
his father and the clientele.
“My dad pushed me to go to university to make sure that
this is what I wanted to do 100 per cent,” explains Justin. “He
suggested that I don’t [come into the business] unless I was
willing to commit the time because it’s a lot more than 9 to 5.”
It’s more like 24/7.
“But I love it,” says Justin. “It keeps me on my toes.”
And it keeps him happy.
“It’s a happy business,” says Justin. “It sounds kind of cliché
but it’s true. People come to us when they’re happy. They
come when they’re celebrating something or marking an
occasion so it’s kind of nice to share in people’s happiness
and be a part of it.”
(This page, top to
bottom) Supreme
Men’s Wear; Darren
Biedermann.
(Opposite page, left to
right) Oska; Neal’s Yard
Remedies.
38
THE ESSENTIAL CALGARY 2016/17
It’s not unusual to see first, second and even third generation
clientele shop at La Chic, the posh women’s clothier in
downtown Calgary’s Bankers Hall.
“We know our customers and we know our products,”
says Elena Achilleos, the stylish owner of La Chic. “We have
customers who have been coming to us for 40 years. The
grandmother comes, then the daughter, and now the granddaughter.”
In 1976, when Calgary barely had a fashion pulse with a
population of about 470,000, Achilleos’ mother, Victoria,
launched La Chic shortly after immigrating to Canada.
Equipped with eleven years of experience manufacturing
garments with her late husband Stelios at their design house
in London, England, Victoria was ready for a change.
She opened one of the city’s first boutiques that
introduced designer brands from Europe such as Louis
Féraud of Paris and Cojana of Lady-Diana’s-engagement-suit
–fame to the Calgary market.
Even today, La Chic is the only one in town carrying the
Etro brand from Italy and the casual, modern line called
Margittes from Germany. This is in addition to long-time
customer favourites such as the Swiss couture line of Akris
PHOTOGRAPHS: BY ROB MCMORRIS
La Chic