Avis Charles is a graduate of the London School of Fashion and former apprentice at Susan Small, Haute Couture where clients included the British Royal Family and various global celebrities. Her career at Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell secured her couture expertise, which has laid the foundation for her to work with many leading designers including Ossie Clark and Jean Muir.
In 1995, Avis founded Avis Charles Associates (ACA), a fashion consultancy that specialises in product development and technical expertise. Clients include Dame Vivienne Westwood and a new generation of designers; Jonathan Saunders, Christopher Kane and Victoria Beckham. In 2004 the company was invited to South Africa to develop an educational programme for design students in colleges and universities and a vocational programme for new and young designers entitled ‘Shaping the Future’. Avis’ passion of fashion for development has led to the launch in 2013 of her own 2013 fashion and lifestyle brand KiVU, which actively supports the growth and development of women in developing countries.