JOANNA WALA

Joanna Wala has been designing ever since she can remember. Her first “collections” consisted of elaborate dress creations for her Barbie collection. Her pursuits in design took her to the University of Alberta where she studied Textiles, Clothing and Culture. She them moved onto Vancouver where she graduated with an award in Fashion Design and Technology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

After honing her skills and gaining business expertise from the industry Joanna Wala launched her Sofiss Apparel label at Toronto Fashion week in 2004. A first for an Edmonton based designer. Known for her extensive use of luxurious Italian fabrics, Joanna’s collections impart a feminine spirit and an underlying hint of playfulness. In 2012, Joanna rebranded to her namesake and continuous to give today’s woman something to embrace other than a t-shirt and jeans.