The Symbolism and Artistry Behind the NAVRO Designer Brand

The NAVRO brand collection, showcased at the Brands Fashion Show, captivated audiences with its prints, color combinations, and extensive range of clothing. Ukrainian designer Olga Navrotska drew inspiration from the image of an owl, with textured patterns featuring feathers and silhouettes adorning even socks and tights!

Olga Navrotska: The Designer Behind NAVRO

From Early Aspirations to Fashion Design

Olga Navrotska, the founder of the NAVRO brand, shares her journey into the world of fashion design:

“I wanted to become a fashion designer at the age of 15. I attended various studios and sketched designs. When I didn’t get into a design school, I explored other fields such as animation, working in a construction company and an oil corporation, and even writing. Writing led me to create illustrations for my stories. I took lessons from an artist, remembered my dream, and started sketching clothing designs again. However, I didn’t immediately become a fashion designer. Instead, I began as a stylist and costume artist. For a long time, I didn’t have my own atelier. In 2005, I finally opened my own studio, and by 2007, I registered the NAVRO trademark. I presented my first collection in 2011 as a stylist, and at the Ukrainian Fashion Week in 2013, I showcased my work as a designer.”

The First Collection and Inspirations

Navrotska’s first collection was titled “First Collection” and was designed in a boho style with a touch of the 1970s. Before the well-known events in Ukraine, she created the ethnic collection “Navro Inspired by Ukraine,” which featured stylized national motifs, extensive handwork, and vibrant colors. This collection marked the beginning of her use of prints, and she continues to print her own fabrics to this day.

The Little House Collection

The “Little House” collection emerged when Navrotska established herself as a designer. Her inspiration came from the film “Pride and Prejudice” starring Keira Knightley, her favorite movie. The film’s artistic beauty and style deeply influenced her. Additionally, a trip to Paris for an AC/DC concert led her to Versailles, where the gardens’ beauty and scale left a lasting impression. Upon returning home, she watched “A Little Chaos” with Kate Winslet, a story about the first female architect allowed to work on the Versailles gardens. Inspired by these experiences, she created her collection, featuring decorations with numerous flowers and intricate details.

Currently, NAVRO focuses on creating simpler, more commercial collections but plans to return to more unique designs in the future.

The Rock and Owls Collection

The “Rock and Owls” collection, presented in Minsk, draws inspiration from the image of an owl. Navrotska explains:

“I saw a photograph of a flying white owl and felt an extraordinary beauty in it. Meditation and spiritual practices also inspired me. Owls have polar meanings in different cultures: in some, they symbolize wisdom and prosperity, while in others, they are seen as messengers of death. This duality reflects our lives. For example, Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity and fortune, rides on owls, signifying that she has tamed her dark sides.”

The NAVRO Brand and Future Plans

The Team Behind NAVRO

Navrotska is the primary designer for the NAVRO brand but envisions having assistants in the future. She collaborates with an artist on prints, often featuring animal motifs. The unicorn, a symbol of the brand, frequently appears in their collections.

Production and International Orders

NAVRO receives around 200 international orders per season. Although not a mass-market brand and relatively new, NAVRO aims to expand its international sales.

Future Exhibitions

NAVRO has not participated in Ukrainian Fashion Weeks for two years. Instead, the brand focuses on international markets through foreign showrooms. Regularly presenting collections in Paris, NAVRO meets with buyers and secures orders. Currently, the brand is represented in London, Istanbul, Munich, and Minsk.

Fashion as Art and Business

For Navrotska, fashion is an art that transitions into business. She describes her clientele as diverse, typically strong and self-sufficient women who can afford to be bright and unique. NAVRO often works with celebrities.

Multifaceted Creativity

Navrotska is a versatile individual, often conducting photo shoots for her collections and serving as a stylist. She also directs videos. In 2012, she studied directing and created 20 music videos, a short film, and commercials for NAVRO. One of these, “Inseparable,” was nominated in seven categories at a California fashion video festival in 2018, where she won the award for Best Costume Artist.

Balancing design and directing is challenging for Navrotska, but she strives to combine these two passions. Sometimes, she considers leaving design, but new dress ideas continually draw her back. Ultimately, her creations bring joy, which is the most important aspect for her.