Italian Fashion at its Finest
Vestis Fashion Group Inc. is a Vancouver-based luxury brand retail company founded in 1985. Brands under the Vestis umbrella are Max Mara and Weekend Max Mara.
Vestis operates Max Mara stores under license from Max Mara USA. Its 3,850 sq.ft. flagship store is located at 14th & Granville in Vancouver, and another Max Mara store is located at Pacific Centre – making it the largest concentration of Max Mara shops in one city in North America. Vestis Fashion Group also operates Weekend Max Mara boutiques at Pacific Centre in Vancouver and Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby.
Our Leadership Team
Catherine A. Guadagnuolo
Founder & President
With an eye for fashion, Catherine travelled to Italy and fell in love with European style, especially the craft of Italian clothes-making and exquisite detailing. Catherine decided to introduce these garments into the Vancouver market. In 1985, she opened her first women’s retail store on South Granville, carrying well-made, ready-to-wear brands like Max Mara. In 1989, Catherine opened a Max Mara boutique. Today, Vestis operates the largest concentration of Max Mara and Weekend Max Mara boutiques in North America.
Mike B. Smith
COO & CFO
Mike brings his extensive financial knowledge to Vestis Fashion Group, having started in the beer industry as a finance lead for both small and large breweries. For the past four years, Mike has played an integral part in analyzing and developing new revenue streams and growth opportunities for Vestis.
Pooneh Soltani
Brand Director – Max Mara
Pooneh has been with Vestis for 23 years. She embodies Italian style and luxury, qualities Max Mara is known for. In her current role as Brand Director of Max Mara, Pooneh spearheads the growth of the brand among current and new clients who love luxury fashion.
Donald P. Hayes
CEO
Donald has been Vestis Fashion’s CEO for 10 years, coming from the forestry industry. Over his extensive career, Donald has earned the award for Canada’s best managed companies and served on the BC Ferries’ board of directors for several years. As a chartered accountant, Donald has combined his financial and retail expertise to grow the Vestis business.
Harriet F. Guadagnuolo
Vice President, Retail
Harriet has been working in the fashion industry for 8 years, honing her vision and skills in both retail and product development. Whether she’s analyzing data, planning for the fashion market, or developing strategies and budgets, her role is the backbone of Vestis.
Kathryn Cutt
Brand Director – Weekend Max Mara
Kathryn joined Vestis Fashion Group in January 2020. She has been in the retail industry for 16 years and has spent most of her career in luxury retail with companies such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Dior. She is a results-driven brand director who has obtained high performance through strong leadership and team building. Client experience and having a hand in all elements of luxury retail is a common thread throughout her career.