Maria Ruseva

Founder & Designer

Maria Ruseva is a London-based fashion designer and founder of Moda de la Maria, an independent womenswear brand dedicated to craftsmanship, natural fabrics, and timeless design.

Born in a small village in southern Moldova, Maria's childhood was shaped by creativity, nature, and traditional craftsmanship. Without electricity, evenings were lit by homemade beeswax candles while her mother and grandmother knitted and sewed by hand.

One of her earliest memories is an orange silk dress with brown dots. It was the only special dress she owned, and her mother carefully protected it so it would last for years. That treasured dress sparked a lifelong appreciation for beauty, quality, and the belief that clothing should be cherished.

Much of Maria's childhood was spent exploring forests and meadows, observing wildflowers, colours, and textures, and drawing the natural world around her. These early experiences continue to influence her work today.

Her Ukrainian grandfather crafted dolls from corn husks and carved wooden spoons by hand, teaching her the value of patience, creativity, and working with her hands.

From an early age, Maria designed clothes for her dolls using fabric scraps, dreaming of becoming a fashion designer.

She later fulfilled this dream in Istanbul before continuing her creative education in London.

In 2013, Maria founded Moda de la Maria in London.

Today, she creates timeless womenswear and accessories using natural fabrics including silk, wool, tweed, cotton, and cashmere. Each piece is designed with longevity in mind and produced with a commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and made-to-order production.

Maria's work has connected her with leading organisations supporting entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and independent business, including Buy Women Built, f:Entrepreneur, Small Business Britain, and the Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre.

Her work and brand have been featured, recognised, and shortlisted by organisations and publications including Tatler, Drapers, ECLAIR, Darling Magazine, LUXlife, FAB UK, Business Awards UK, USA Global TV, and ALB TV.

What began with fabric scraps, wildflowers, sketches, and a treasured orange silk dress has grown into a brand dedicated to preserving craftsmanship, heritage, and timeless design in a modern world.

Rooted in heritage.
Shaped by craftsmanship.
Created with purpose.