We were lucky to catch up with Olga Greenberg recently and have shared our conversation below.

Olga, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I always loved art and making things. I first got into fashion as a child. It all started with drawing outfits for paper dolls. Then my mom introduced me to hand stitching, and I moved on to making clothes for dolls. My friends liked what I was making and some of them even offered money in exchange for their favorite doll dresses. It was a fun awakening. It was my entryway into fashion and eventually led me to obtain a degree in clothing design. Those formative years were some of the most fun but also challenging periods of my life. I loved pattern making and sewing. I was obsessed with the process of turning flat ideas into 3D garments. At the end of every year, senior students had to show their final projects at a regional college competition. That is how I first found myself in a runway show, where clothes became alive and told stories, where music and light created mood, and hair and makeup completed each look. The experience forged my youthful passion into a lifelong commitment of pursuing my own expression of fashion and design.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

First and foremost, I am an artist at heart. Since I was a child, I have always loved expressing myself through the arts. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be, but I was certain that my profession would involve some form of art, hands-on creative, visual, performance or otherwise. I grew up in Eastern Siberia with my twin sister. My older sister was a stage actor in the regional theater. I was always thrilled to visit her at work and see all the costumes and the area where they were being made. My twin sister and I had same interests and, after dabbling with designing clothes and costumes in our formative years, we both decided to pursue fashion design in college. Finding steady employment afterwards, however, was challenging and I moved around a lot in search of income.
Almost a decade ago, after making clothing just a side hustle for myself and my friends, I came up with Zeya Couture to be my brand for all of my creative work. It was time to get more serious about my fashion business activities. I’ve actively showcased my designs at fashion nonprofit events and fundraiser events to support good causes. A limited number of my runway pieces are available to lease for special events or photoshoots. I also take on orders for custom-made dresses and gowns for women and girls as well as mother-daughter matching outfits.
Being a fashion designer and a custom dress maker might look glamorous from the outside, but behind the seams, there are some real challenges. Clients don’t always know what they want. I take time to understand clients’ vision and turn their imagination into something they can actually wear and feel good in it. There’s something magical about watching a client light up when they wear something made just for them. It’s like turning fabric into confidence. The process requires not just imagination and technical skills, but patience and resilience. On rare occasions, even if I pour my heart into a piece, a client might not love it. I am always open to constructive criticism and welcome feedback without taking it personally. I believe there is room for improvement and growth no matter how good and successful you are. When I design one-of-a-kind pieces for runway, I feel free to experiment, mix styles, and create something unique every time. It keeps things exciting and constantly challenges my skills. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching my garments being modeled on a runway and thinking, “I made this!” Every stitch, every seam, and detail is made by me. It’s wearable art, and my hands created it.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I didn’t get into fashion in the US right away. I first obtained a degree in computer aided drafting and worked at an engineering firm in Oklahoma for many years. After my children were born, I found myself stressed out, wishing to spend more time with them. So, I made a decision to leave my career and continue education in art. I returned to school and was enjoying time with my family and had some time to spare for making cute outfits for my daughter. Besides that, I also started exploring fashion events in the area. I went to see a few fashion shows and discovered that local organization called Runway Tulsa was planning a Fall fashion week and was looking for new talent. I applied to be considered for the show as a designer. Shortly thereafter, I found out that I was one of the selected participants in the emerging designers show. Now I had to come up with a collection, and that is when my daughter inspired me with the idea of mommy-and-me matching dresses. I worked on my collection all summer and created eight sets of matching mother and daughter looks. My six-year-old daughter assisted me by being a test model for the girls’ dresses. Finally, after selecting models, doing fittings and rehearsals, the moment arrived to present my collection. The show was a big success. The audience loved watching cute little girls walking down the runway alongside tall models they were paired with. It was a real milestone for me and inspired me to continue pursuing my artistic ambitions.

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

I was continuing my education studying full-time in college when I was invited to participate in a local fashion designers’ competition that resembled “Project Runway”. Each designer was paired with a local food truck and had to create a garment inspired by it. I knew I had very limited time besides being a mom and having to study, but I accepted the challenge. I spent sleepless nights researching the food truck themes and menu, brainstorming ideas, sketching concepts, draping fabric, fraying and bleaching denim, starching and shaping lace, making 3D pieces out of plastic, and stitching it all together. When my garment was completed, I was very exhausted but believed that none of the other designers made anything quite like it. I was happy that I managed to finish the garment on time and was able to keep up with my classes. My fashion creation was awarded first place in the competition, but the thrill of winning was secondary to what I gained in personal growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zeyacouture.com
• Instagram: @zeyacouture
• Facebook: @zeyacouture

Image Credits

Photographers:

Fry photography
Ian Yankton
Michelle Lee

Models:
Johanna Prado
Madison Cross
Elain Liu
Rinda Pfister Tottress
Brianna Kristen
Erica Jean
Diana Voda Kever