Freda Iordanous
Interviewer(s):
Theo Xenophontos
Project:
Film as Mediator: Cultivating a Cypriot Canadian Community Audiovisual Media Archive
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Zoom
LANGUAGE:
English
DATE:
February 21, 2022

Interview Summary:

Freda Iordanous was born in Kalo Chorio, Cyprus in 1953. In 1971, she migrated to Canada due to her marriage. She works as a fashion designer and co-founded Freda’s Originals Inc., alongside her husband.

Date and Location
February 21, 2022
Zoom
Interviewee(s)
Freda Iordanous
Interviewer(s)
Theo Xenophontos
Languages
English
Reference ID
FAMREF002
Project
Film as Mediator: Cultivating a Cypriot Canadian Community Audiovisual Media Archive
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Categories
Tags
Decades Referenced
Locations Referenced
Cyprus; Kalo Chorio (Limassol District); Limassol; Kyperounda (Limassol District); Amiandos Asbestos Mine; University of Cyprus; Canada; University of Toronto; York University; CN Tower; SkyDome; Vancouver; Arizona; Greece; Thessaloniki
Occupation(s)
She is a fashion designer and entrepreneur. In the 1970s, she worked as a stylist and photographer for Simplicity Fashion Magazine.
Parents Occupation(s)
Her father was a landowner and sold Caterpillar land levelers.
Names Referenced
Constantine II of Greece; Constantinos (Costas) Christofides (University of Cyprus); Demos Iordanous; Elaine Iordanous; Ephraim of Arizona; Paulina Georgiou; Theodoros Xenophontos

[00:00:19] Early memories of Cyprus and of her father

[00:03:24] Migrating to Canada due to her marriage

[00:04:02] Siblings coming to Canada, but not staying

[00:06:57] Her daughter's desire to live in Cyprus

[00:08:30] Her uncle working in the Amiandos Asbestos Mine

[00:09:16] Describing her first job in Canada

[00:10:37] Background on her fashion career

[00:14:08] Adjusting to Canada

[00:16:19] Various uses of audiovisual media

[00:20:23] The divide between being Cypriot and Canadian

[00:21:13] Class relations in Cyprus

[00:23:35] Religion and Ephraim of Arizona

[00:29:58] Building her business; meeting King Constantine

[00:38:38] Meeting with CIBC executives on 9/11

[00:39:55] Working with Cypriot companies

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Freda with her daughter Paulina, 1970s
A model wearing one of Freda's designs, 1980s
A model wearing one of Freda's designs, 1980s
An article from The Globe and Mail with one of Freda's designs, November 30, 1982
A newspaper article about Freda's designs for Expo 86
An article from The Observer about Freda's designs for Expo 86, February 3, 1986
Freda's designs for Expo 86
An example of Freda's designs, late 1980s or early 1990s
Document announcing Freda's win of the 1991 Canada Award for Business Excellence
Freda's 1991 Canada Award for Business Excellence
Letter from Brian Mulroney congratulating Freda's husband Demos on their award
An article from the Toronto Star about Freda's business, September 21, 1992
Drawings of Freda's designs for Canada 3000 Airlines Limited
Drawings of Freda's designs for Canadian Airlines
Drawings of Freda's designs for CIBC
Drawings of Freda's designs for the CN Tower uniforms
Drawings of Freda's designs for Cyprus Airways
Drawings of Freda's designs for Cyprus airways
Drawings of Freda's designs for North American Handling
A drawing of Freda's design for a Toronto Blue Jays jacket
A drawing of Freda's design for a Toronto Blue Jays sweatshirt
An article from the Toronto Sun about Freda and her husband Demos, 2005
An article about Freda and the involvement of her daughters in the family business, 2014
Freda with her two daughters, Elaine and Paulina
Freda with her family
No items found.
Freda with her daughter Paulina, 1970s
A model wearing one of Freda's designs, 1980s
A model wearing one of Freda's designs, 1980s
An article from The Globe and Mail with one of Freda's designs, November 30, 1982
A newspaper article about Freda's designs for Expo 86
An article from The Observer about Freda's designs for Expo 86, February 3, 1986
Freda's designs for Expo 86
An example of Freda's designs, late 1980s or early 1990s
Document announcing Freda's win of the 1991 Canada Award for Business Excellence
Freda's 1991 Canada Award for Business Excellence
Letter from Brian Mulroney congratulating Freda's husband Demos on their award
An article from the Toronto Star about Freda's business, September 21, 1992
Drawings of Freda's designs for Canada 3000 Airlines Limited
Drawings of Freda's designs for Canadian Airlines
Drawings of Freda's designs for CIBC
Drawings of Freda's designs for the CN Tower uniforms
Drawings of Freda's designs for Cyprus Airways
Drawings of Freda's designs for Cyprus airways
Drawings of Freda's designs for North American Handling
A drawing of Freda's design for a Toronto Blue Jays jacket
A drawing of Freda's design for a Toronto Blue Jays sweatshirt
An article from the Toronto Sun about Freda and her husband Demos, 2005
An article about Freda and the involvement of her daughters in the family business, 2014
Freda with her two daughters, Elaine and Paulina
Freda with her family
No items found.