Olga Vilshenko was raised in the mountain region of the Soviet Union. From a young age she began honing her sewing skills, learning from her accountant mother. Her mother was a talented seamstress and, craving beauty, would make clothes for herself, her daughters and close friends. Despite the difficulty of buying the essentials like zips and buttons at the time, Vilshenko was quick to acquire the same skills. This mini atelier allowed the family to barter for other luxury goods including art history books, international fashion magazines and opened their eyes to a world beyond the USSR. By the time she was a teenager, Vilshenko could design a skirt in the morning, and wear it out that same evening.
After finishing her degree in accounting, courses in fashion design became available in Russia. As a newlywed, she embarked on a stint at Chelyabinsk Humanities Institute, which in turn led to a course at the prestigious fashion school, the Istituto Marangoni in London, which she completed while simultaneously raising her young family. By now, Vilshenko was 26 and fell in love with London.Within a couple of years, she realised her dream of launching her namesake label, splitting her time between London and her Moscow studio. Her debut collection was an homage to her heritage, its muted colours brought to life with cross-stitch embroidery, the collection was strong and it landed her a place at The New Designers showcase at Paris Fashion Week for the Spring/Summer 2011.
Official website：https://www.vilshenko.com/