How do you balance creativity with wearability in your designs?
That's Dar Ann Studio's mission: to achieve this perfect balance. We want women to be able to wear our items every day and feel both professional and fashionably creative.
What is your design philosophy?
I want women around the world to feel special every day, even during their work lives. I dislike the feeling of seeing spectacular celebrity outfits and wondering why my everyday life isn't like that. Or waiting for a month for an event just to wear a "wow" outfit. I want that feeling to be a part of my everyday life. While most of us can't wear a cocktail dress daily, we can make your office outfits feel just as extraordinary.
How did you become interested in fashion design?
I've loved fashion since I was a kid. Growing up in Ukraine, we didn't have many local designers or international brands. I remember always trying to find a way to browse boutiques or shopping malls, even without the money to buy anything. So, while the rest of my group was sightseeing, I was usually dropped off in a shopping area or fashion museum.
How important is sustainability in your designs?
Sustainability, which goes hand-in-hand with high quality, has always been a priority for us. All of our items are produced in tiny batches by a small team of artisans in Lviv, Ukraine. This allows us to produce only what meets existing demand, preventing overproduction, and guarantees the highest quality of every piece. Additionally, we launch only small drops, where we iterate multiple times over a single item to ensure the perfect fit and design. That's why our return rates are extremely low.
How do you stay inspired?
I try to surround myself with beauty: interiors, cutlery, people, movies, museums, and of course, fashion. You never know where you'll get an idea for your next piece. Sometimes it's a Star Wars spinoff, sometimes it's a coffee place in the neighborhood, and sometimes it's a three-hour hike in complete silence in Iceland.
