Tree-planting brought her to B.C., but the ballrooms of Europe are about to lure her away. If you want to buy a Hrissa Soumpassis–made item direct from the designer's hands, time is running out. After just nine months working full-time out of a taller-than-it-is-wide studio near Chinatown, Soumpassis flies away, possibly forever, on August 1.

"I want the opportunity to make very eccentric and detailed grand dresses and gowns, to be creatively wild with my ideas," she told the Straight during an interview at Tinseltown. "It's tough to sell that kind of stuff in Vancouver. There aren't as many big events."

Fair enough. But streetwear by Soumpassis, who is only 25, is flying off local racks. Let this be a farewell salute to the top two wear-with-anything pieces from Soumpassis's Elika Designs.

First up, her short, draped jacket ($100 to $200). Designed to be worn either over eveningwear or to spark up jeans and a T, the jacket has a whiff of the 1930s but is deeply modern. It hits mid rib and mid bicep. Each jacket is one-of-a-kind and features a unique oversize button. Soumpassis's favourite is jet-black stretch cotton with a five-centimetre abalone fastener. Next up, her gauzy cowl-neck draped top ($180). Crafted from a single piece of jewel-hued fabric, the sleeveless top is hand-detailed at the left breast. The top closes with a snap below the open back, and fabric bustles in a cascade behind. Again, it can complement jeans just as well as eveningwear.

"Before I started [designing full-time], I had all these horrible dreams that no one would like my stuff or no one would buy it," Soumpassis confessed. "But the first things I ever sold were at Portobello West in September 2006, and I did really, really well. I was blown away. It boosted my confidence that, okay, I can do this." Other confidence boosters include selling a gown, via Dream Apparel and Articles for People (311 West Cordova Street), to a woman who wore it to the Academy Awards, and selling a jacket to someone–she's not sure who–from the New Pornographers. Plus, she has never had to sell on consignment, the usual route into retail for new designers. Store owners have snapped up her designs wholesale.

If anyone understands how difficult running a small business can be, it's Soumpassis. She's the daughter of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan–based business owners, and growing up she witnessed how Wal-Mart's entry into the northern city emptied the downtown of family-owned shops.

But the experience didn't scare her off competing in the fashion business. Since leaving home at 18, she has earned two design certificates, including one from Blanche Macdonald; tree-planted; backpacked through the South Pacific; and done stints at local design houses Obakki and Lotuswear, plus a bridal salon ("Bridezillas–ack!") before investing in her own creativity full-time.

Success, however, has not bred efficiency. She still designs, cuts, and drapes all of her items herself. She has only recently hired a part-time sewer, to catch up with demand.

"I'm a one-woman show, and I like it. Maybe I'll never mass produce."

This weekend, Soumpassis is hosting a studio sale at 119–119 West Pender Street. It runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday (June 15) and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday (June 16). Her last appearance at Portobello West ( www.portobellowest.com/ ) will be next Sunday (June 24). A listing of Soumpassis's local retailers can be found at www.elikadesigns.com/ , and she'll continue to sell, once moved, on www.etsy.com/ .