ra fsana@nsnewscomm AS Renee Strong sat. in the darkened ball. om of the: Hyatt . Regency Hotel in ” Vancouver with'l, 200 other people, ‘she felt 4 gin dent was watching a preset: her confic lence Brow: ° north sh ore news A FASHION — Ww owner wins Women of Distinction award The West Vancouver rete tation "at the: CA’ _ Women’ , of. c awards dinner, at. which she * was nominated in the’ entre: _ preneur or innovator catego. “tye oo WAg’ ‘T watched | this film ‘about ‘how “the YWCA: has. Distinetion” supported women, E realized that T might have a chance of’ “Winning, because that’s what, “my company is allabout, It's “about women. ‘She had -more. than ae chance, She won. 1°! In 1990, Strong worked in probation, but. she was tired of it... 7 ‘Pregnant -with her son. “are self “employed, have flexi: wble hours, and work with a” company: thar understands the extra challenges’ that _working women face, For example, at weekly, * gales meetings, consultants: are. welcome to bring. their. children, “ It’s an aspect of the busi. sngss that Strong i is proud of i 0 y i ind! Waray, sno, Me 1997 - Nonh Shore Nove = 99 “ot lost, a “When you start’ ‘bee Ness you have'no idea where _ Its golng, you're: constantly trying to, balance. it with: the rest of your life.” It’s been a. struggle for’. ‘her, but now. she'll be. get’ “ting ahand) a Dermot: recently © joined" ‘Coutute’as accotintant, He'll be taking ‘over, the administrative’ side, of ‘the: - business: while, she ‘gets back’ . the 30-year-old: wanted ‘to: “That's" the” real’ reason to’ the ‘sales and: marketing, 1 find work she could -do out. why I’m doing it,” she said... which will also: free‘up: time’ , of her home... Ho “The women')are empows to spend with both of their" She began’ ‘to sell clothes” i ‘children, : re ae ‘out of fier North Vancouver 4 But in ithe expansion of “Dcan’t: waite, ’'m really “apartment, inviting clients in,” the tins her,own need’, looking forward | fo: ihe she ~, to look at the. fashions she'd" _to balance home “and work said. af . hun on the. walls, ve nee a ot long after, she’ and Pon! " ; * husband Dermot moved i into . ; chouse and she moved the. fledgling: business, Couture... Fashions, to the basement. — “Someone asked ‘me to ’ 2s three times a‘ AT didn’t: know about. clothing. racks’ or “clothing bags, but I: trained myself,” “e And so her, home {fashion j parties” began." Couture Fashions is now’ $2 million.a year, business: i The: company i is based out “The | “fashi n partic’ are = the heart of the business. uiting; "soft ’ dressing; denim, tencel-and a— cotton knit/lycra: line: — to”. ; homes to. sell:at ; Parties, "s : pe “