Desinger Story

 

Moda de la Maria: A Story of Love, Resilience, and Dreams Sewn Together

I grew up in a small village in the south of Moldova, right on the border with Ukraine and Romania. It was a place of green, endless landscapes, with the Prut River gently dividing us from Romania. Though nature’s beauty surrounded us, life wasn’t easy. I still remember the scent of the earth after the rain, the way the wind whispered through the fields, and how the sky felt close enough to touch. But my clearest memory is of the silk dress I wore for what felt like forever—an orange dress with black dots.

That dress wasn’t just a piece of clothing. It was a symbol of my mother’s love and our resilience. We lived through the hard days of communism, where resources were scarce, and every little the thing was precious. My mother dressed me in that silk dress every day for years. It was my nursery dress, my play dress, my best dress. She would bring me to nursery school in it, careful to take it off so it wouldn’t get dirty, and put it back on when it was time to go home. This became our routine, year after year until the day I could no longer fit into it.

Times were tough, but my mother was a beacon of strength. Every morning, she would wake before the sun, around 5 a.m., to knead dough and bake fresh bread for us. We didn’t have a refrigerator, gas, or even proper electricity. By the light of handmade candles, she baked using firewood, packed the bread for school, and then rushed off to work. When she returned late in the evening, she would cook, clean, and sew, always making sure we were taken care of.

I still remember the soft glow of the oil lamps my mother crafted herself, as well as the wax candles she made from beeswax and reedy plants. We lived without electricity for most of my childhood, relying on these flickering lights. Yet, in that dim light, I found my love for creativity. I would spend hours in art classes at school, pouring my heart into drawing and painting. I was Fascinated by biology, geography, astronomy, and history, but art was my true passion. After school, I would escape into the fields, hidden from the world, watching insects and collecting herbs and flowers. The beauty of nature captivated me.

In my little world, I began designing dresses for my dolls. I would drape them in scraps of fabric, adding flowers to create flowing gowns and imagine them on a grand stage with people applauding. I would call for my mother, eagerly showing her my creations, her tired eyes lighting up with pride.

But it wasn’t just my mother who shaped me. My Ukrainian grandfather, on my mother’s side, was a craftsman, and he inspired my deep love for creation. He made dolls for me out of corn husks and wheat plants, their hair long and flowing. From wood, he crafted spoons, pipes, and woven baskets, while also working with sheepskin to design traditional Ukrainian winter hats and coats. I spent hours by his side, watching his hands work magic, turning raw materials into art. My curiosity for craft bloomed during those long days with him, just as I loved knitting and crocheting in the evenings with my mother and grandmother, their needles clicking in harmony.

As I grew older, my dream became clear: I wanted to design and make clothes, not just for myself or my family, but for the world. After finishing school, I set off to Istanbul, Turkey, where I studied and trained in fashion design. It was there, in the vibrant streets and bustling workshops, that I refined my skills. I learned the intricate process of creating garments from scratch—hand-cutting patterns and sewing with precision and care—skills that had been with me since childhood, now honed in a professional setting.

Eventually, I moved to England, bringing with me the heart and soul of my journey. It was there that Moda de la Maria was born. Inspired by my mother, my grandmother, and my grandfather, I wanted to create something that honoured the traditions I grew up with while offering the world a new kind of beauty—one that was authentic, sustainable, and filled with love.

At Moda de la Maria, we create each garment from scratch to finish, just as my family did. We hand-cut patterns and use only the finest natural and organic fabrics—silk, wool, cotton, and cashmere. Every piece is made with intention, just like the dresses I once dreamed of for my dolls, but now for women who value the same care and beauty.

Moda de la Maria isn’t just about fashion. It’s about honouring where I came from, the hands that shaped me, and the resilience that carried us through those difficult years. Every stitch, every seam, is a tribute to my mother’s strength, my grandfather’s craftsmanship, and my journey from a little girl in an orange silk dress to a designer with a dream.

When you wear Moda de la Maria, you’re not just wearing clothes. You’re wearing a story—a story of love, creativity, and the beauty that comes from the hardest times. Every piece is made to last, just like my childhood memories. And when you put it on, you become part of that story, too.

Because true beauty isn’t just in the fabric—it’s in the heart behind it.