CREATIVE DIRECTOR, ALONA PODOLIAK & HER LIFE STORY

“ALONA PODOLIAK’S STORY”

Before I start, I would like to thank you so very much for your positive feedbacks my dear friends on the previous blog post. I was pleased to receive every single one of them. And today, as I mentioned in my previous post, I will answer some of your questions.

Joanie M. asked that I share the “Alona Podoliak’s story”. Here it is )))

Many of you already know that I was born and raised over in Ukraine in the capital of Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic – Kyiv, in a simple christian family that struggled financially from time to time like most families did at that time. It was Stalin’s and other leader’s brutal methods in achieving their goals, which included party purges, political repression of the general population, and forced collectivization, that led to millions of suffering and deaths.

Lack of produce, household products, along with shortage of clothes is what forced many to fall into survival mode and meet their bare minimum  needs with what they had. Despite these cruel times, it is thanks to them and my ancestors that I got to where I am today. I learned to be strong, work hard, risk, believe and of course enjoy what you already have.

During my whole life I have always been surrounded by different type of art: sewing, knitting, cross-stitching by my mom and my grand-mother; various still life paintings done by my grand-father on one side and iron tool making on the other. It is not surprising that the very first signs of styling and creative outburst came on to me when I was about 5 years old. I decided to cut holes in my tights just around the knee caps as I was waiting for my mom and all dressed up ready to go home from visiting my grandparents. I guess that is where you can say PEcado was born!! LOL

I was blessed to take my first private art and sewing classes when I was 6. Over the years, I learned how to sew, knit, cross-stitch, crochet, and how to paint and use my creativity. I participated in local fashion shows showcasing my own clothes. And parallel to graduating high-school, I also graduated from a technical College receiving 2 year associate degree in Fashion Design. I can proudly say that 80% to 90% of my wardrobe at that time I had personally made myself. From light tops, suits, to outer wear: wool coats, jackets, and even some knitted sweaters.

Despite entering a university to be an interpreter (4 languages: Spanish, English, Russian, Ukrainian), I continued to sew and design for myself and many private clients. It was my passion.

A few years later upheaval happened. I got an opportunity to study abroad and so I chose United States of America to be my destination. That was also at the same time when “Devil wears Prada” movie coming out and I got so inspired by New York’s high-end luxury fashion world, by Paris – the land where fashion was born, all the fabulous exclusive designs featured in the movie created a spark to make a handbag, just for myself. And so I did!

I made one. And then another one… With many people complimenting me on my new accessories and asking where I got that, I switched directions and started diving into the handbag making once I came to United States.

Completely self-taught through numerous sources of information: YouTube, Instagram, leather and crafting articles along with some mistakes here and there, I started creating custom made handbags and accessories using different types of leather: from lamb, cowhide python, ostrich to alligator. The word got out and special requests started coming in. Over the years I made a number of interesting accessory and decor pieces: python horse halters, alligator chairs with folding train option, alligator back bone travel bag, shooting scope, gun cases and travel bags for gifts for private airplane manufactures.

(if you look closely, some of these drawings were done in Spanish and/or English classes; you can probably read through).

Despite this amazing adventure and great experience, after visiting Paris over New Year just this past year, walking the streets of Paris, breathing its art: from Atelier des Lumieres immersive multi-media exhibition featuring Vincent Van Gogh and his art (which I strongly recommend to do), to the Palais du Louvre Museum, and a private fashion tour through worldwide fashion houses of Coco Chanel, Hermes; I realized that my heart continues to belong to women’s clothing, its effortless looks, chic luxuries fabrics, unique designs that highlight women’s elegance and grace while exposing her frisky personality.

Today, I am thrilled to announce that PEcado Spring-Summer 2021 Women’s Ready-To-Wear Collection will be showcased in fall of 2020.
Simple elegance of solid colors combined with bold print and textures dominates this season. For day, we introduce PEcado’s timeless knit wear designed with Italian yarn and embellished with leather accessories. The final touch will be a gorgeous selection of fine jewelry designed and made in New York by fabulous Hassan Bounkit of Bounkit Jewelry.

Stay connected as we are getting closer to showing PEcado’s exquisite designer collection.

As always, if there is anything specific you would like for me to share my opinion on, please send me an e-mail with title: “Blog question” to info@pecadolimited.com and I will be happy to open it for a discussion.

With love ❤️

Alona Podoliak