timeless elegance


nathalie kraynina


nathalie kraynina is a brooklyn-based fashion designer who’s been tearing up the catwalks of new york with her sophisticated and original threads. She cut her teeth at badgley mischka and michael kors before setting out to design independently. her twenty thirteen line was taken up by any old iron. black is a favorite of nathalie’s as she designs her elegant pieces that empower and enhance the individuality of the women that wear them. nathalie is a designer with a conscience, who has a focus on designing work which is both socially and eco responsible.
interview with i.t.a.

check the nathalie kraynina fashion gallery


welcome to powder nathalie, it’s an absolute pleasure to have you here. we simply adore the threads you make and really dig the ethical vibe behind them.

so firstly, nathalie what set you down the road of fashion design? was it always on the horizon or did you have a realisation?

Ever since I can remember I always wanted to be a designer- I have no idea why or how I came to that conclusion but I always knew that this is what I want to do. Both my mother and my grandmother are very fashionable and love clothes. They taught me about the importance and the power of clothing. When you look good you feel good and that makes you more successful in everything you do. I grew up in the 80’s so my mother’s outfits were very outrageous and extravagant and I loved it. She had clothing tailored all the time so I was exposed to the creation process and I just fell in love with it. And my grandmother was very strict about looking presentable at all times- she would never leave the house without at least putting on some lipstick. I used to put up fashion shows for them all the time. I even designed my first collection when I was six and I titled it “French Rag”. You can see all the pieces are patched hence the “rags” in the title. I honestly don’t remember why or how I came up with that. After I graduated high-school I moved to NY to pursue my dream. I studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. School gave me the foundations. I learned how to sew and make patterns the right way and it gave a true understanding of what it really entails to make a garment. I was really lucky to study under people who were in the industry for a very long time. I also had 2 internships with Badgley Mishka and Michael Kors, which really helped me to get the full understanding of a designer fashion house. I worked with the design teams and I was backstage at fashion shows as well in sales and marketing meetings. It was hard at times because I worked full-time and went to class at night but that experience really made who I am today.

your designs are so original. how would you describe the clothes you make? is there a certain style that you’ve veering towards?

I strive to make clothing that is truly inspired by women themselves and that is very wearable. When I create a new piece I imagine the woman who is going to wear it - where she is going, what she is doing. Fashion is an art form that doesn't really start to exist until someone puts it on and wears it out. It is kind of commercial, in that way, but that's also the best part. When I see someone enjoying my creations it is the most rewarding experience - that’s what really keeps me going. My ultimate goal is to make women feel beautiful and confident. I want to create pieces that are feminine and elegant and stay in women’s closets for decades to come. I want my clothes to say: Timeless elegance.

who inspires you from the fashion world; both locally and internationally? past and present?

I can’t pinpoint one designer or style. One of my ultimate favorites is McQueen - the first time I saw the exhibit at the MET last year I cried; I love Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs to name a few. The Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibit last month was breathtaking. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for 10 days after I saw it.

your twenty thirteen line was taken up by any old iron. tell us more about them.

Any Old Iron was the first big boutique to take up the line. They carried the whole spring collection and kind of gave me an official debut on the New York scene. I had a few pieces in different boutiques in the Brooklyn before that but they were the ones that really gave me a start. I had to go into my first official run of production after they picked up the line. They also featured my line on Farfetch.com which gave me international exposure since we had orders from all over the world. It is an amazing feeling to picture someone in Tokyo or Holland walking around in my creations. I hope it’s only the beginning.

you’ve been showing your clothes at the williamsburg fashion weekend for years now. what is it about the williamsburg fashion weekend that keeps you going back?

I have showed in WFW for the past 3 years (6 seasons). It has been great for me. As a new designer, fresh out of school, one faces many challenges. You not only have to design your collection, figure out how to create it and then produce it, but (and this is a "big" but) but spread the word out about it. WFW does just that. It gave me a start and I am really thankful to be a part of that club. I met a ton of talented and motivated people that are doing exactly what I am striving for. Arthut Arbit - the curator and founder of WFW - has become my mentor and good friend. He is a designer as well so he knows all the ups and downs that come with starting a fashion line. I truly wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for the show.

you were a part of brooklyn fashion league. what were they all about?

Brooklyn Fashion League was a design collective in Brooklyn where we shared studio space with 4 other designers. I worked out of there for a year and I loved it but unfortunately we couldn’t keep up with the expenses and it closed last year. I collaborated on 2 collections with the owner Kaci Head who is an accessories designer. She has since moved to New Mexico to continue her line but we are still in touch. It was great working in a shared space because just like WFW I met many people that are in the same boat as me - starting out. It is really great to collaborate and feed off each other’s energy and ideas. I wish there were more places where start-up fashion designers like myself can afford to work out of.

is it important to you to be an independent fashion designer?

Well, yes it is even though it is very hard. BUT once you start, you can't look back and you can't stop. Making clothes is truly what I love to do and I really can't imagine myself doing anything else with my life. I learn and get better with every mistake and ultimately grow. It takes a really “thick skin” to make it in this industry. I know people always say that and I’ve heard it so many times, but it is actually so true. You just have to keep going and move forward. That's how I look at life.

there’s been a lot of talk about the plight of bangladeshi garment workers of late. over a thousand workers died when a building collapsed last year and more recently many perished in a factory fire. what do you think should be done in response to this situation?

Yes, this is one of the messages I am an advocate for and I like to talk about as a designer. It is not only that when you buy locally made garments you support local business and growth, but also you actually take a stand against the current standard. The more we all (as a collective body) buy garments that are produced in a socially responsible and eco-friendly way, the more the standards and regulations are going to change. The industry will change only if the consumers change their taste.

A friend of mine says this and I like to repeat it: “You vote with your money” every time you time you buy a $10.99 T-shirt there is someone on the other end that is paying for it with their blood.

I know it sounds dramatic, but it is actually true. And we are all guilty of doing it. After all, it is a great “deal” to find a super cute top for only $10.99, I know I have in the past; it is almost impossible to live in our present time and not have done that. But, if consumers get more educated on where things are made and how they are made and they ask more questions they will see that it is not such a great “deal” after all. Most things that are on ”sale” are not left over stock or extra inventory that all of sudden you are getting a super exciting discount on, they are made to be sold at that discounted rate and in most cases they are made in very poor countries in horrific circumstances. I am not asking people to stop shopping, but just to start making small changes and make educated decisions. The companies will respond. Fashion is business and if want to change the way people make clothes we have to first change the way people shop.

you’re a socially responsible fashion designer. how does this shape your work?

I really wanted to feel proud of my work and knowing where and who is making my clothes is very important to me. It is not only about the woman that wears my clothes but also the woman that makes them; they are both equally important aspects in my creation process. I hope I can build business where I can sustain socially responsible principles even though the big corporations are making it harder and harder every day. I can only hope we can change step by step as I know there are many young designers like me trying to do to the right thing.

you’ve lived in new york city for many years. how does the city affect your work and what does nathalie kraynina get up to on a night out in nyc?

I love being in New York. This is my city and it inspires me every day. In a blink of an eye you can go from an underground artist’s studio in Brooklyn to a ritzy and extravagant Soho loft and both experiences are so different but equally fantastic. I love the mix of different people and cultures and the way life just happens here. Everything happens in NYC.

what’s coming up for you in twenty fourteen nathalie? what are you working on now?

I’m making a new fall/winter collection of coats and sweaters that I will be presenting next spring. It will be a little different from what I have shown so far but that’s all I can say for now… more details to follow.

thanks once again for speaking with us nathalie. powder looks forward to checking out your next line…

@nathaliekraynina

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photo credit: brian schutza