Claudia Chan Shaw

Claudia Chan Shaw is an internationally acclaimed fashion designer for Vivian Chan Shaw, which is renowned for its exquisite handmade knitwear and jewellery, and whose designs are represented in the permanent collection of the PowerhouseMuseum, Sydney.

Born and raised in Sydney, Claudia has worked in the fashion industry for most of her life. Claudia is more widely known around Australia as co-host and presenter on ABC TV’s popular program Collectors and is a presenter on Eastside Radio 89.7FM.

An author, photographer, broadcaster and public speaker, Claudia has curated a number of fashion exhibitions, contributes to design and collecting publications, and is the recipient of an award from the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association.

Claudia completed her Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design at the Sydney College of the Arts, is a past Regional Director of the Fashion Group International of Sydney, and served on the board of the Fashion Industries of Australia (FIA).

While fashion design has been a consuming passion for much of her life, Claudia also channels the creative process into other artistic endeavours.

She is an avid photographer whose solo exhibition Poster Boy was presented at NG Art Gallery, Chippendale in 2012; featuring photographs taken in the streets of Paris, Barcelona, Sydney and Melbourne, the series focuses on the transitory nature of street posters and the beauty that is left behind once their messages have faded.

Her book Collectomania (2012) explores the world of collectors and their obsessions, celebrating collections both strange and beautiful. Claudia also shares secrets about her own love affair with everything from tin robots to contemporary art.

Claudia is in high demand as a keynote speaker, MC, convener and panellist. With topics ranging from collecting, to fashion through the ages, design, art history, Chinese heritage and Art Deco, Claudia is a regular at the Art After Hours series at the Art Gallery of NSW, the State Library of NSW and The Museum of Sydney.

Her MC work includes such events as media launch of Chinese New Year 2014 for the City of Sydney, the NSW Premier’s History Awards 2013, the launch of Asia on your Doorstep 2012 for the City of Sydney, the Business Leader’s Luncheon for dignatories from Shenzhen, China as part of the Lord Mayor’s Chinese New Year Celebrations 2013, HSBC Chinese New Year Celebrations in Canberra (where she was the MC and keynote speaker at the same event), Pink Ribbon Diamond Gala as co-MC with Karl Stefanovic, and seventeen events for Ipac Securities Client Lifestyle roadshows with Paul Clitheroe. She has appeared at the Sydney Writer’s Festival, Byron Bay Writer’s Festival and Newtown Writer’s Festival. In 2013 she delivered a keynote address as part of Chinese New Year at the Museum of Sydney entitled “Tales from a camphorwood chest”.