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The best designers you’ve never heard of.

Made to Measure
Using classic French dressmaking techniques, designer Yana Brink crafts stunning one-of-a-kind garments for a discerning clientele.

Name: Yana Brink
Age: 30
Business: Yana Brink Couture (YanaBrink.com)
Location: Hoboken, New Jersey

What was your earliest creation?
I’ve been sewing for as long as I can remember, but I made my first serious creation—a costume for a New Year’s party at school—when I was nine years old.

You earned a master’s degree in applied mathematics in Russia but decided to turn your focus toward design. What prompted you to make that decision?
The most valuable knowledge I gained during my mathematical studies was the ability to learn quickly in almost any field. Fashion design was the path that interested me the most, so I made my first steps into private dressmaking while I was still studying math full time. I don’t have any regrets about the path I chose because many of the mathematical principles I learned have been helpful when it comes to design, too.

What are your approximate price points, and which materials do you most like working with?
My prices usually start at a few hundred dollars, but they are always negotiable. The material I enjoy the most is wool, especially tweeds and bouclé. Typically, my clients are involved in every step of the process, from the initial design to choosing the fabric to the final unveiling. I’m very receptive to my clients’ ideas and encourage them to make suggestions at any point along the way.

Has your approach changed much since you got started?
I work for private clients doing one-of-a-kind clothes, so each piece is a new, unique design—that hasn’t changed at all over the years. I create clothes ranging from glamorous and feminine to underground, from evening dresses to outerwear. It’s so rewarding to create a garment for a client, because that garment represents her uniqueness and makes her feel comfortable, both physically and emotionally.

What’s your workspace like?
I have been working out of my home for many years, but as soon as they finish the renovation, I’ll be moving to the Monroe Center for the Arts in Hoboken.

You’re known for using traditional French dressmaking techniques. What exactly does that entail?
It’s a classic technique that has been used for centuries, before the invention of fusible interfacings and other shortcuts. I do lots of hand-sewing and hand-rolled hems, and I don’t use commercial patterns or templates. Instead, I create a new pattern for each and every garment.

What trends have you been identifying among your customers lately?
The biggest trend I’ve seen is that my clients don’t want to follow trends anymore. They no longer ask, “What is fashionable now?” They’re approaching style in a more individualistic way.

How would you describe the Yana Brink client?
She’s a woman who makes decisions to express herself, not to simply reflect what’s fashionable. At the same time, she’s not obsessed with clothes or a victim of perfection. She’s a bit ironic about fashion, even if she’s all dressed up for an occasion. In other words, she’s a real woman with her own life.

Photo Credits: Jay Yao. Makeup: Spring Super.

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