Nataliia Molto shared, “I cater to both young women and adult women. Look, we don’t have collections. Many people like that. The problem is that collections usually follow certain trends, and these trends have an expiration date—they go out of fashion.” Photos by Geovanni Hernández.
Nataliia Molto was born in Ukraine and has lived in Panama since 2019. Here, she created MONA, her label and brand of fine clothing designed especially for women, though they also make wonderful guayabera-style pieces for men.
Talking with Nataliia Molto brings a combined sense of peace and energy, which are a clear demonstration of her artistic expression. She is passionate about what she does. She is creative and innovative. And about her designs, she was emphatic... they are the result of her own vision.
We visited her fashion studio to learn and discover what inspires her when designing. Our goal was to delve into her world to understand what she wants to convey.
Nataliia was born in Ukraine and has lived in Panama since 2019. It was precisely in our country where the idea of creating something representative of her homeland, its people, its culture, and as she says, its colors, was born.
And as with everything in life, thus MONA was born, her label and brand of fine clothing designed especially for women, although they also make wonderful guayabera-style pieces for men.
She told us that originally her creations were sold in some boutiques in the capital city. “Later we realized that to grow, we needed to have our own place where we could offer our pieces in a relaxed environment specifically designed for clients to have an intimate and special shopping experience. And here we are, in our own location on Vía Porras.”
Tell us a bit about your brand, your fabrics, textures, and the colors that distinguish MONA’s pieces.
“All our fabrics are made of very high-quality linen and are distinguished by the engravings and handmade laces where we want to highlight the Vyshyvanka concept, which is nothing less than a symbol of faith, hope, love, and the indomitability of Ukrainians.”
“Our pieces are made on special machines to highlight the engravings, which is what really distinguishes our brand. An embroidered shirt is a mandatory element of our traditional attire. Vyshyvanka is not just a work of art, but also an integral part of modern Ukrainian identity,” Nataliia noted.
So, could we say that this is the primary source of your inspiration?
“To some extent, yes, but we deviate a bit from traditional clothing to design suits, blouses, and fine shirts with a particular style. I have also applied my designs to trousers. I believe I am the first to do so. For instance, I lived in Asia for a while and was able to incorporate my Ukrainian engravings and laces into garments in the style of an Oriental kimono. Here in Panama, there are many beaches. That's why we also make tunic-type pieces for women to cover their swimsuits.”
Is there any famous designer you could say is your source of inspiration?
“No, not at all. I really don’t like to copy. I can generate ideas by looking at a piece and I might be inspired by the concept, but they are my own creations.”
And, who do you design for?
“That’s very difficult to answer since I cater to both young women and adult women. Look, we don’t have collections. Many people like that. The problem is that collections usually follow certain trends, and these trends have an expiration date—they go out of fashion. Our trends, so to speak, are what I like, my own style. Just as I would like to dress, I think my clients would also like to look good. Moreover, my designs can be worn at any time of the year.”
“Our pieces are perfect for Panama, given the warm and rainy climate that characterizes us. Although I must tell you that our pieces are also sold in Germany, Canada, the USA, France, and recently a client from Kuwait contacted us. Surely they saw our creations on Instagram.”
Finally, a personal note. How are you managing the difficult situation that Ukraine is currently going through due to the Russian invasion?
“Look, it’s not easy. I have part of my family living there, but we must move forward. I can't stop. My entire team lives and works in Ukraine. There is the workshop and everything is made in my country. And, of course, I am very worried about all of them. In Ukraine, we are accustomed to crises. In just the last few years, we had the Orange Revolution in 2004-2005, later in 2010 Yanukovich returned to power, then he was overthrown, in 2014 came the Crimea issue, and now the Russian invasion.”
“In all this tragedy, my mom lost her businesses several times. In 2022 due to the Russian invasion we had to close the workshop for a month. Fortunately, we had a good level of linen inventory and so we were able to start working again.”
Anything else you’d like to add?
“Of course. Last year, 2022, one of the main Ukrainian fashion magazines highlighted us as one of the 10 ‘unique’ brands in the world of tailoring.”
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Original post: https://ensegundos.com.pa/2023/06/27/un-rincon-de-ucrania-en-panama/
