MIRANDA ANTHISTLE
A&E REPORTER
After starting her own company, a Humber graphic design alumnus is achieving further success south of the border by planning a series of events with a major beverage company.
Yvonne Kai, 25, from Toronto, is launching various events with FUZE Beverages throughout the year like fashion shows, cocktail parties, beauty events and fundraisers.
This is just one of many projects for Kai, who is a social media consultant, founder of a promotions and event hosting company, an L.A. fashion blogger and a beauty marketing master’s student.
Kai moved to L.A. to pursue what she loves – fashion, beauty, and cosmetics, just to name a few – at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
Although a long way from home, Kai said she hasn’t forgotten aboutwhat helped contribute to her success.
“Humber gave me the skills I needed,” said Kai. “All the things I learned have totally helped me and given me an edge.”
Graphic design program manager, Lorna Turner, said she remembers Kai as being very talented.
“I’m really pleased at how successful she’s been. She was so innovative and the design concepts she came up with in class were huge,” said Turner.
Since graduating in 2005, Kai has not only founded her own company, but she has also created the blog – www.heydoyou.com, which covers Toronto street fashion and special events.
Business owner and student, Bella Mumba oversees the Toronto side of the blog while Kai is in L.A. and said she isn’t surprised at what Kai has accomplished.
“Everyone else plays it safe, but Yvonne isn’t afraid to jump out of the box and have fun with life,” said Mumba.
Spontaneous, yet organized, Kai knows exactly what she wants in five years.
“I’ll open a marketing company and bring my contacts from the U.S. into Canada,” she said.
For students who are thinking about their own futures, Kai offers this advice: “Think of something you want to do and just do it, but only if you believe in it. What you want, wants you as well.”