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Kristina Decheva is a designer who seamlessly blends diplomacy and fashion into a unified vision. Her brand was born out of the philosophy of slow fashion, where every piece carries meaning and style is defined not by quantity but by quality and intention. Her work radiates elegance, boldness, and a deep sense of responsibility toward the planet. From her academic research on sustainability to the creation of her debut collection Pure Opulence, Kristina proves that true luxury can be both beautiful and conscious.
Your mission statement mentions challenging modern fast fashion and embedding slow-fashion principles. Could you share how you define slow fashion, and what inspired you to build your brand around this philosophy?
Hello! First and foremost, I’d like to thank you for this opportunity to spread brand awareness; I am very grateful. Secondly, yes, that is absolutely correct. My mission statement is embedded in the idea of shining a light on high-quality fashion by consuming less, also known as slow fashion. In other words, a woman can still be a fashion icon without the need to have 500 pieces of clothing in her closet, but rather 50 high-quality pieces that make a bold fashion statement.
My inspiration to build my brand around the idea of slow-fashion principles developed during graduate school at DePaul University. I studied International Diplomacy, with a focus on Sustainable Diplomacy. As I learned more about sustainability, international business, and relations, I began brainstorming ways to integrate sustainability into fashion. I decided to write my thesis on “Achieving SDG Integration in the Eastern European Textile Industry,” where I learned so much about the business that I was inspired to start my own brand based on the philosophy of slow fashion.
Your debut collection, “Pure Opulence,” features striking pieces like the Metallic Cabernet Goth Sleeve and a Shiny Metallic Blue One-Sleeve—both listed as sold out. What inspired these designs, and how do they reflect both luxury and sustainability?
All my designs are inspired by my fashion style. “Pure Opulence” is a term for “great wealth” and “affluence.” The inspiration behind the designs is not something you can vividly describe—it is a vision that exists in your head. For example, I envision the dress in my mind, along with the elements that will make it iconic, followed by rough hand sketches. My mother studied fashion design, so I would show her the sketch and describe the dress. Using her expertise, she recommends the fabrics that would be most suitable, and then we book a mother-daughter fabric shopping day!
The dress designs reflect luxury because they use high-quality fabrics that are sourced locally, produced in limited runs, and usually very expensive. I often have to wait months before the next batch of fabric arrives at the local store. This naturally reflects the philosophy of slow fashion. After all, if you want something to last, you need to be willing to wait for it!
Could you walk us through your design and production process? Specifically, how do you source materials, manage production runs, and ensure each step aligns with your earth-conscious, slow-fashion values?
Yes, absolutely! As I mentioned above, the designs are based on my personal style and vision for fashion. I draw inspiration from the world around me, from the moment I step outside in the morning to the moment I return home. For example, if I see a fashion diva wearing an iconic suit down the street, I stamp it in my mind. When sketching, I let my creative juices run and shape the clothing in a way that reflects my style, adding my personal signature.
I source all my fabrics locally. Again, as mentioned above, high-quality fabrics can take months to be restocked, putting the production line on hold. When this happens, customers connect with us and place orders ahead of time via our website www.KristinaDechevaDesignHouse.us. The production process takes about two to three weeks for the dress to be made.
Additionally, customers also have the option to customize their dress with their measurements. For example, if a customer is 5’2 and would like a petite fit, that customization is available. By limiting production to existing orders, we eliminate the excess leftovers of a mass production system. This allows us to stay true to our mission of slow-fashion values.
Building a slow-fashion brand often means smaller inventories and slower turnover. How do you balance creative expression, market demand, and sustainability in your operations?
Yes, slow-fashion brands do have smaller inventories and turnover. However, smaller inventories allow start-ups to be more creative because, rather than focusing on mass production, we focus first on CREATING. In other words, we are building our brand as our clients see the creative expression and quality reflected in our designs. Creativity is what draws in loyal and long-term customers. We don’t just duplicate designs; we adapt them to our clients’ needs.
As market demand grows, we will expand our inventories for clients who simply do not have the luxury of time to wait for a custom dress. That being said, we are currently in the process of expanding our inventory by outsourcing to Europe. This interview is a nice “welcome back to the old continent” moment, as I will actually be spending a significant amount of time working from Europe while we focus on growing production.
Sustainability is, of course, at the heart of our operations. We cannot run a business without expanding our inventory, but we can always choose to source local textiles and enforce quality control to make sure our products meet luxury standards.
Sustainability can mean different things—from eco-friendly textiles to fair labor or zero-waste design. What are the key pillars of sustainability for your brand, and how do they manifest in your practices?
We use a mixture of eco-friendly textiles and zero-waste approaches. Eco-friendly textiles take longer to produce, which naturally results in smaller inventory. However, it also enables zero-waste design because we are able to sell out our stock.
Many sustainable fashion brands talk about transparency and empowering artisans or local producers. Does Kristina Decheva Design House partner with specific artisans or communities, and how important is this to your brand story?
Yes, I touched on this topic earlier. What makes our dress designs so unique is the quality of fabric they are made with. We partner with and support local manufacturers who provide us with these fabrics. (And no, I will not give away our secret of who they are—after all, that’s what makes us so special!)
Looking ahead, what are your ambitions for evolving Kristina Decheva Design House? Any plans for expanding your sustainable practices, new collections, or collaborations that eco-conscious customers can look forward to?
Moving forward, we are going to continue growing our inventory while staying loyal to being eco-friendly. We are currently working on our fall/winter collection. Our designs are released on a recurring basis, and we will begin releasing closer to the end of the year. Thank you for having me, and I am looking forward to visiting London in the upcoming months!
