Today we’d like to introduce you to Alena Fede.
Alena, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
“…I was born with the desire to design dresses…” I always just had a love of creativity and fashion for as long as I can remember. I was a little girl and my mother loved crafts and sewing, it was more like her hobby, she was making clothes for my younger sister and me, curtains etc. and she always had lots of fabrics at the house. She taught me to sew and we made a dress for a doll. After that, I made all kinds of doll clothes. I was always making things for myself to wear, playing with old clothes. I had to make them more interesting, fit better, etc. I often took vintage dresses from my grandmother′s house simply for the fabric and took them in to fit my measurements, shorten them, wear them backward, re-arrange panels, essentially do whatever instinctively feels right to take something old and make it relevant again but in a different way.
I loved creating drawings too. Besides dance classes taking while elementary school, my parents took me to the Art school as well, where I studied for five years. Then University of Art and Design. The third year in is when I realized that Fashion Design is what I wanted to do when I chose my major in Fashion Design after challenging myself participating in multiple-city competitions and got big support from people, judges. I wanted to go to a level of “You can′t find that anywhere.”
My business started as a hobby when I was making dresses for my friends, which eventually became my profession, and was solely financed by my savings. I always hoped and planned for my designs to be a serious business. I moved to USA from Russia in 2008. I started from showing my newest collections on Runways and shooting catalogs to making private orders for the occasional clients in my apartment and things grew from there. I learned how to manage a clothing store. And now I run my own studio and this is what I am doing full time-making new designs each season, and working with my clients on custom-made orders.
“Be unique, and feel special in the designs of your dreams -created and fitted just for you!
Has it been a smooth road?
It was not a smooth road; moving to a different country. I had to learn a new language, culture, and adapt/fit in. When you know more about the people you’re talking to, you have a greater chance of saying the right words at the right time. Understanding culture allows you to give the right meaning to each word, in the larger context, because you’ll be able to think in the foreign language, understanding cultural background–art, literature, lifestyle – helps reach language proficiency, etc. At the same time -I brought with me more of European culture, style to be able to offer to my clients here.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I design and make: Wedding dresses, Bridesmaids dresses, MOB/MOG dress, FlowerGirls dresses, Rehearsal dinner dress for the bride, Bridal accessories: veils, sashes, hairpieces. Prom dresses, Graduation dresses, Cocktail dresses, Quincionera dresses.
Other services: alterations/redesign, steaming, decorating with rhinestones and lace, etc. Dress rental, sample sale, buying pre-owned dress. Bride’s personal assistant on a Wedding day, The day of coordinator, Designer consultation, wardrobe styling.
There is nothing like seeing people on the roads, places wearing and loving your designs…just gives me goosebumps!! I really enjoy dressing people! When clients come into my studio and I put an outfit together for them and they look fantastic-they′re really happy! I like knowing that someone’s life is better because of what I do, which makes women who wear my designs feel special and one-of-a-kind!
“When I see that look of confidence on my client′s face…that′s when I know it′s the right dress. If she feels comfortable and confident, she will look and feel beautiful!”
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I lived in Charleston SC, NYC and have my business there, now Miami -Brickell, and I like it here so much! Known as the “Magic City,” Miami boasts a unique and exciting mix of hip urban culture, laid-back seaside vibes, and Latin and US traditions: the beautiful world-class beaches, ocean with clear water, tropical palm trees, foodie paradise with Latin-American edition, the sun is shining all year round, nature’s wild and wonderful, it’s all about healthy living and looking good, it’s bursting with Art and Fashion!!
Pricing:
- Custom wedding dresses $1000-up
- Custom Prom, Quincionera dresses $500-up
- Wedding, Prom dresses alterations: $100-up
- Personal Bride’s assistant on Wedding day, steaming service $70/hr
- Designer consultation $50
- The day of coordinator service $500
- Wedding dress rental $200-up plus cleaning
- Sample sale/pre owned dresses $500-up
- Decorating with rhinestones, lace $100-up
- Custom-made accessories $50-up
Contact Info:
- Website: alenafedefashion.com
- Phone: 3477406825
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @alena_fede_design
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
