Meet Olya Stoyanova | Fashion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olya Stoyanova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Fashion has been part of my story since early age. I grew up running around my family’s clothes manufacturing company and playing with fabrics. The devotion of my parents into their work made me dream about clothes making so much, that creating my own designs was a natural step. My design language was paved with my fashion education in IED Milan, where I nourished my knowledge with the deep Italian traditions of tailor-made clothes and understanding of ready to wear. My career continued with working in the luxury company Akris in Switzerland where I was part of the design team.

But creating my own brand and preserving the roots of my family has always been a dream for me. This is how the brand OLLAE was born. With its sophisticated silhouettes, OLLAE explores the idea of intimacy, delicacy and body relation. I am really inspired by the love narrative of touch and connection which led me to create OLLAE’s signature gloves.

My biggest wish is much bigger than creating beauty through designs. My dream is to create a Design School that nurtures new talents in Bulgaria.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
To create a fashion brand is never an easy journey. My personal story is shaped by a long way of learning how to believe in my ideas and vision. I think the first step takes the biggest courage, but every next step though is another challenge. Because for us, the creative people, we not only devote ourselves in the work but we express our personalities, we show our emotions, we speak with our hearts.

The process of creating my brand was actually in the beginning therapeutical. It was a need to keep my spirit during covid time and to escape the reality. As I kept receiving interest from stylists for collaborations with my work, I started believing more and more in my creations. And this is how it all started. The more energy I invested in my dream, the more real it became. It requires so much effort, work, belief. All these emotions are embodied in OLLAE’s designs.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My country Bulgaria is so special. Colourful, vibrant, with ancient history, a little bit messy, but very authentic. I would make a trip around Sofia, our capital. Then we will explore cities like Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Karlovo.
We will make a trip around the beautiful nature of Bulgaria. Mountains where people sing with their magical voice national songs telling stories of centuries ago. A trip around the Valley of Roses, a special cultivation of Damascena Rose developed since Roman times. We will go to the Seven Rila Lakes, the favourite place of the Bulgarian spiritual teacher Beinsa Douno.
Bulgaria has a very authentic magic. It is impossible not to fall in love with it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To have people who inspire and motivate you is the most precious present of life.

My first shoutout goes to my grandfather who made me dream of the endless opportunities this life can give me. He first saw my creative potential and supported it. To my family that is behind me during all the creative process. Because when a creative person has the support of the family, then dreams really become a reality.

A big shoutout to my tutors in IED Milan who welcomed me in the world of fashion and design. Who made it sometimes so difficult but so sweet to complete a project and helped me find my own vision.

And to my friends that inspire me every day.

Thank you!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollae.studio/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olya-stoyanova-720670167/