Interviews
6 October 2025
In tune with the times, Yekaterina Ivankova doesn’t exactly create clothes, she imagines them from textile stocks and vintage pieces. Her signature? Elegance and irregularity, unique creations, and high-end, responsible fashion. Proof that ethical fashion can draw inspiration from what we call secondhand, long seen as the poor cousin of couture. Yekaterina Ivankova founded her brand precisely to shake up conventions and prove that fashion can be done differently. Discover her fascinating interview for La Grande Boutique and keep a close eye on this committed designer!
I was born in Kazakhstan and my passion for fashion and craftsmanship comes from there. Ever since I was little, I was fascinated by sewing machines and what could be done with a piece of fabric. Of course, there is a lot of influence from Asian culture, which is a bit nomadic, where nothing was thrown away at home, and even scraps of fabric could be used to make a masterpiece.In Italy, on the other hand, I learned haute couture, where quality reigns supreme. I learned to check my work a thousand times and never be satisfied. I think this mix of two completely different but equally beautiful worlds has led me to create my vision for my brand today, and I am truly happy that I had the opportunity to experience both.
I think that opportunities always come your way in life. Everyone gets what they want and seek. I always knew that I would have my own brand. Perhaps I had a lot to say. In my final year at Polimoda, I did a project dedicated to Lake Aral and I realized how important it is to work towards sustainability.I saw how much is produced and how much remains at the end of the season. Instead of two seasons, they also do two or four other collections, and I realized that perhaps a different brand is needed, with a different approach and different consumption. That’s how my first unique piece was born…
Surely awareness is studying how much industrial fashion really hurts, polluting more than any other activity.The numbers are crazy. CO2 is being emitted in huge quantities, and what’s more, almost 70% of each season’s collection remains unsold. We have already produced far too much. The only way out that I can see is to work with materials that have already been produced and that nobody wants, and to make something truly beautiful. It has also been a bit of a personal challenge for me.
And their beauty and uniqueness. Obviously, the garment is checked first. We wash it and treat it specially, then we do everything we can to bring out the imperfections that make it unique and special. It is manual and tailoring work, and today it inevitably becomes special.
I work like all designers. Perhaps in my case, I first sort through all the garments I have, because working on a slightly different ready-to-wear garment, after that I already know what I have available and I start designing my collection.Each collection has a name and is always inspired by an event, trip, or mood of mine. After that, I move on to making the garments directly. Perhaps in my case, I work with a pattern maker who works on paper, and everything is tailor-made.
For me, it has to go in this direction. In my case, it was easier because I created everything from scratch, already thinking about sustainability. For companies that are structured differently, it is a little more difficult. But if fashion does not become more responsible and aware, we may struggle to have a future. Clean air.
Lately, I have been very perplexed by what is happening to women around the world. All these victims of violence, many women suffer
Violence. Perhaps the next collection will start from there.
Definitely expand my workshop, help other brands recycle clothes and not throw them away, make sure that upcycling becomes accessible to everyone. Everyone who works with clothing knows how much is left in stores after the season. Help them not to throw it away, but instead to create something new and even more beautiful. I think that in my sector there will always be work to do. Every year even more so.
