Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anastasia Talan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Anastasia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

How did you learn to do what you do?


My journey into fashion and costume design came from a range of experiences. When I was a child, many of the clothes we wore were sewn by hand since ready-made garments were scarce. Most mothers and grandmothers knew how to sew or knit and passed their skills down to their daughters. Later, as a high school student, I helped run a drama club in an elementary school. We didn’t just design costumes – we handled the entire production process, from directing the shows to bringing them to life. This hands-on experience sparked my interest in storytelling through clothing.
These experiences led me to pursue a formal education in fashion – a Master of Arts in Fashion Design.
Along the way, I gained experience through collaborations with Bay Area professionals on various art projects, many of which were creative, commercial, or editorial photoshoots. Working with photographers, models, makeup artists, and art directors further developed my skills as both a photoshoot stylist and a personal stylist.
One rare skill I’m proud of and consider part of history of fashion heritage is corset making.

What skills do you think were most essential?


All of them! What excites me most is the wide breadth of my skill set.
I specialize in couture fashion design, creating custom pieces, and I also enjoy personal styling, working with clothing that is available on the market or already in my client’s wardrobe, helping people express themselves through fashion and navigate shopping.
Corsetry has connected me to a highly specialized area of fashion design, requiring skills that take years to master.
My work in costume design for the stage has been deeply fulfilling, as it allows me to support storytelling by creating garments that become integral to a production. This field is likely my favorite because theater and film are pure magic.
I love how diverse and expansive my skills have become, each project calls on a different facet of my abilities. This way, my work never feels boring or repetitive.
If there is one core skill that ties everything together, I’d say it’s an understanding of composition. It helps in creating harmonious looks in any area where dressing a person is required.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?


Looking back, I wish I had found a few mentors I respected who taught in the fashion field. Over the years, I was fortunate to learn from some of the brightest teachers: professionals in garment construction, corsetry, mastering fit and fabric manipulation for couture design.
Many of these skills weren’t covered in fashion school, and I had to seek additional education sometimes from unexpected sources! Researching multiple areas at once also helped me grow.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?


The biggest obstacle is time management. Balancing creative work, the business demands of running a design studio, and continuous learning isn’t always easy. Sometimes I want to dedicate more time to my craft and experiment with new techniques, but projects have deadlines.
Costume design for the stage comes with its own challenges: not only must garments reflect a character, but they also need to be practical for performance and fit within the production budget. These demands sometimes made it difficult to focus on exploration, but with some flexibility everything can be done.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, how you got into your industry / business

I graduated from the Academy of Art University and decided to start my own atelier. Early in my journey, I had the opportunity to work in the wedding dress industry. After gaining experience in bridal, I was drawn to the world of special occasion dresses, where I could explore more. That shift inspired me to focus on designing custom pieces that blend craftsmanship with individuality.

What type of services you provide, what problems you solve for your clients

My design studio offers a full-cycle service, ranging from custom designs to couture creations.
I specialize in corsetry, whether as statement pieces or for stage performances.
As a stylist, I provide personal styling services for everyday life, career transitions, photoshoots, and self-branding.
For the film and event industries, I provide complete costume design services: from character development to creation and on-site monitoring to ensure the final look aligns with the production and the performers look their best.

What problems you solve for your clients?

My goal is to help clients find something new, relevant, and reflective of their personality within budget. One bride came to me requesting a flame-orange dress. It may sound unexpected, but bold fantasies like this can truly come to life through custom-made designs.

What you think sets you apart from others.

What sets my work apart is the made-to-order approach, attention to detail, and the ability to create truly personalized pieces. Each design is crafted to complement the client’s body type, appearance, mood, and occasion. Whether it’s a couture gown, a stage costume, or a styled wardrobe, I strive to make each piece feel meaningful, and tailored to the individual.

What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients to know about you/your brand

I take pride in my ability to work with a wide range of artistic and personal visions while maintaining a sense of responsibility and professionalism. Timing is crucial to me: I plan projects carefully to ensure everything runs smoothly, without last-minute chaos.
One of the things I value most is the trust my clients place in me when they bring their ideas, whether they come with a clear vision or just the spark, saying, “Let’s create something, and let it be in blue.”
I work to transform those ideas into striking creations.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part is bringing unique ideas to life, whether for an individual or through collaborations. In this industry, I get to meet some of the finest people: open, curious, self-driven, and erudite. Sharing that creative journey makes it fun and creates the best memories.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I never expected an art degree to be so demanding in both time and resources. Most of the time, we functioned on serious lack of sleep, constantly racing against deadlines while navigating purposefully harsh critiques designed to push us further. Despite the workload, we had to stay creative under pressure. If you’re a young artist aiming for an academic degree, be prepared, it’s intense, possibly even more so than some other majors. It’s not just sitting by a riverbank with paints and a brush, it’s dedication and resilience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sivanaatelier.com/couture
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sivana.atelier/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anastasy.talan/

Image Credits

Photography by Yana Koyfman, Anastasia Talan, Jewel Klemp, Scott Heimerman