Unzipped - Claudia Chan Shaw

Name
Claudia Chan Shaw

Age
44

Position
Director of Vivian Chan Shaw

My childhood dream job
To be a doctor so I could help people. Then I discovered that I hated maths and science and much preferred artistic endeavours

My first job 
Layby department of David Jones. I loved that it was compulsory to wear black to work

My big break
Growing up in a family business which ultimately became my career

My proudest moment
Selling my first piece of artwork

My biggest regret
Not following through on an offer from an Indian film company when I was a teenager

My biggest fashion faux pas
The parachuting baby dress.  I made this masterpiece to wear to a party. Plastic babies with upturned cup cake holders for parachutes were sewn all over the dress. They had all jumped out of a plastic aeroplane, with cotton wool for smoke coming out the back of the plane. It was the '80s

My mentor
My mother, Vivian Chan Shaw

If I could do it over
I'd work shorter hours

If I wasn't in fashion
I'd be in the film industry

My idea that never took off
Warm over-garments to wear with Saris. Looks better than a parka

In my spare time I
Love movie marathons. All three Godfather films in one sitting

People would be surprised to know I
Used to be taller

I want my epitaph to say
I thought she was taller or she always said her feet were killing her but nobody believed her