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SALT LAKE CITY— Aleksandra Salo had a dilemma: She couldn’t find anything to wear.
Salo, originally from a small town in Russia, had a very specific style in her mind, and none of the clothing stores in Utah, or anywhere else, fit that style. She decided to ask a seamstress friend of hers to make a dress for her.
When Salo described the type of dress she wanted, her friend suggested she take a pattern-making class at Brigham Young University, where Salo was a student, so she could bring her ideas to life.
After taking that one class at BYU, Salo would never need to ask a friend to make her clothing again.
Salo was recently invited to participate in New York Fashion Week this September, which takes place in February and September of each year and features international fashion collections.
Salo has previously participated in Christian Fashion Week in Florida, as well as Utah Fashion Week.
“It comes naturally, and I think that’s the beauty of it,” said Salo of her love for fashion design. “I love it.”
Besides the pattern-making class at BYU, Salo said she has no educational background in fashion design and received her bachelor’s degree in finance, seeking a career in banking.
“I didn’t realize what had always attracted me to banking was actually the fact that you can dress up and look nice,” she said.
Salo said that since she was unfamiliar with the fashion industry when she started designing, she has made her own success by taking risks.
She said she decided in 2015 to try to participate in Christian Fashion Week, although she had no prior show experience, and created a look book with about 15 sketches. She became one of 11 designers at the show.
In May 2016, she received an email from New York Fashion Week inviting her to participate in the event.
Salo will present her collection of about 20 pieces in a show featuring multiple designers on Sept. 10. She said she wants to use this opportunity not only for exposure, but to network with other designers and to find a mentor.
Another opportunity available for designers at New York Fashion Week is to meet with buyers to potentially sell their clothing to.
Salo makes clothing for herself and for clients by request on an individual basis, but she hopes to soon sell her clothing to boutiques and online stores. Salo described her style as classic, elegant and modest.
“The biggest compliment I get is, whenever ladies model or wear the dresses, ‘I feel like a president’s wife,’ or ‘I feel so confident,’ or ‘I feel so beautiful,’” she said. “Those kinds of compliments are what make me keep going.”
Salo said she gets inspiration from many outlets, ranging from classic Dior and Chanel designs to the many facets of nature.
Her piece of advice to people who want to get involved in fashion design is to take advantage of every opportunity.
“Don’t wait for opportunities to knock on your door,” she said. “Look for them.”
She said that it is also important to find a mentor, to strive for perfection, to support other designers and to give back to a cause.
Ten percent of all the sales on Salo’s website goes to a nonprofit organization called Choice Humanitarian, an organization that works with developing nations to provide plumbing, education and other basic necessities.
“Hard work is the key,” she said. “Some days you may sleep only a few hours, or none at all if you are working tight deadlines. It all comes down to your passion and knowing why you are in the business.”
