Purpose & Passion: Irena Soprano

Irena has been kind enough to give us an exclusive interview, where she talks about her brand and plans for the future

L'Officiel Arabia: Your show at MEFW was a great success. Could you tell us more about it?

Irena Soprano: I have been taking part in fashion week since 2015. Specially for this show, my team created and presented a collection called Desert Rose, which celebrates the beauty of Arab women. In the new collection, along with the already traditional black and white crystals, we have added many shades of pink & gold. This is a fantastical representation of all the beautiful things that can be found among the sands, as well as my assotiations with the desert.

L'O A: What do you mainly do at work? Where did it all start?

IS: My journey has been challenging. SOL Atelier was first project, which evolved from a small atelier to an internationally known brand that is worn and loved by stars around the world. Another project is SOL by Irena Soprano, a clothing and accessories brand that includes cocktail outfits, casual and sportswear, swimwear, as well as shoes and accessories. We recently opened a flagship boutique of SOL by Irena Soprano in Russia. SOL CityTex project is a mass textile production facility, one of the largest in Moscow. SOL Crystal is a production site and laboratory in Uzbekistan, where we make our crystal-adorned fabrics. We also have a fashion business school, SOL Fashion School. Every year our companies try to scale up and improve, but the driving motivation remains the same: all we want is to make high-quality, beautiful products. My administrative and legal activities take place in UAE.

L'O A: Tell us about your biggest achievement as a designer

IS: I built up the largest collection in the world of crystal products. Yes, you can occasionally find similar models in the collections of other designers. It's a trend, after all. But I was the first and so far the only designer to base their whole brand on crystals, in every shape and form.  I have my own patented technology for applying crystals to fabrics.

L'O A: Yourbrand is worn by Hollywood stars. Could you share who they are? Did they comment on choosing your brand? Why do you think they favor SOL Angelann by Irena Sopano out of everything global fashion has to offer?

IS: Yes. My team and I are proud of our achievements, because it is quite difficult for a Russian brand to enter the American market. Our illustrious clientele includes such stars as Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Mariah Kerry, Eva Longoria, Paris Hilton, Cardi B, and many others. We are loved and chosen for our quality and uniqueness. The designers of foreign stars seek us out themselves.