Dori Szabo: Fly To Paris Fashion AT FORTY FIVE Magazine Issue 2021 16

In 1989 Dori opened her first
Vancouver men’s boutique
specializing in custom-made
shirts and suits. Her business
flourished with three more
locations opening over the next
years; The Bay, Nordstrom, and
Park Royal.
Then in 1991, Dori had the
opportunity to design and
manufacture leather garments
for ladies and men. It was in New
Delhi, India. The people were very
poor, and Dori had the chance to
give jobs to 200 people who then
had the means to provide for
their families. She counts it as one
of the most rewarding aspects
of her career. She remembers
the fabric shopping was simply
amazing and the range of fabric,
like stunning silks, was so unlike
in her childhood sewing days it
was overwhelming.
With the internet serving as an
industry disrupter, bespoke men’s
wear offered online made the
men’s clothing space untenable.
So, in 1997 Dori decided to pivot
to women’s special occasions
and bridal wear.
WORKING WITH STARS
We see pictures of Halle Berry
in her catsuit, and other famous
people Dori has worked with on
the walls of her shop. Sharon
Stone, Anthony Hopkins, and Tom
Cruise are just a few. Dori speaks
highly of Halle Barry and her
friendliness and kindness. She
found Tom Cruise was delightful
to work with too.
Dori provides on-the-spot
alterations, designs, and copies of
designs to the movie industry. She
showed me a stunning wedding
dress which was identical to a
Valentino. Annabeth Gish wore it
in the movie Gone Mom.
Dori shares she made a suit
for Michel Bublé before he was
famous. He was on his way to Las
Vegas and said he wished it was
Armani. Dori told him soon you
will be famous and will be able
to afford any Armani and that is
exactly what happened.
COVID 19 has been brutal on
the fashion industry. There is
cautious optimism that the world
is on the upswing and events are
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