By Darcy Milfull
Stepping into Merthyr Village clothing boutique Via Vai, it’s hard to believe that owner Fiona O’Donohue hasn’t spent her life in the fashion industry with her flair for curating chic, vibrant outfits.
But when Via Vai’s then-owner Christina Koutapidis suggested her shop assistant Ms O’Donohue take over the store 11 years ago, she said she was completely “thrown in the deep end”.
“I had no fashion experience except my ten years working for her,” Ms O’Donohue said.
“I think I went to one buy with her before I took over, so I had no idea what I was doing!”
Ms O’Donohue described her former boss as a “legend” and “mentor”, a woman whose flair for fashion was learned “from the womb” as the daughter of a then-famous couturier in Brisbane.
“Christina held my hand and taught me so much,” said Ms O’Donohue.
“She was tough, she didn’t tolerate fools, and she could dress you with a snap of her fingers.
“She really did know her stuff,” she said.
Ms Donohue’s credits much of her boutique’s success to the collaborative spirit and shared expertise of her three employees: Vanessa, Tamsin and Nerida.
“We’ve all has been in the business a long time, and we all bring a different eye to the store,” she said.
