One of the topics that frequently comes up when speaking with a digital fashion designer is how more than one piece of software is generally required to make a single piece of virtual clothing. Many view this as an obstacle, not only from an economic perspective but also from a learning-curve perspective.

For Daria, however, she views it as an opportunity to continue to hone her skills and better herself as a digital fashion designer. Something I particularly admire as someone grappling with the very same problem.

“The most difficult thing for me is trying to solve countless problems appearing in the process of creating digital garments,” Daria says. “As there is currently no guide for designers sharing information you may need, you have to solve everything yourself by digging through YouTube tutorials and different forums, and ask help from fellow designers.”

Physical to virtual

Daria is originally from Belarus, but now resides in Turkey, and studied interior design. However, she soon realised this was not the career path for her. “I always loved fashion, upcycling clothes was my hobby and that is what led me into fashion design,” Daria explains.

She started to customise clothes for friends and family which led her to open up an Etsy shop. Here, she began creating and selling custom-painted clothes for over 6 years. “I have spent a lot of time experimenting with clothes customisation and exploring new techniques and styles,” Daria says.

“But, with time, I understood that I was no longer growing as an artist and designer. I wanted to create more complicated, meaningful pieces but my client base was mostly interested in comical designs.”

This led Daria to explore the world of digital fashion, where she could express herself more limitlessly. “It was the perfect way for me to be as creative as I wanted and grow as a designer with a very small budget.”

Smoothing the curve

In just one year, Daria has learned a range of different software to create more complex pieces that have left her feeling incredibly fulfilled both as a designer and artist. “I was also featured in Digital Fashion Magazine, participated in Digital Fashion Week and contributed to different NFT projects, collabed with other designers and brought a couple of my designs into AR try-on platforms,” Daria says. “

“The digital fashion space is moving forward and if you are moving with it, you will be pioneering an industry.”

Daria recalls one particularly digital fashion piece that made her realise her potential in this space. She created it in the 3D software Marvelous Designer and Blender, realising in the process that what she was doing was a step in the right direction for her as a creative as well as for the entire fashion industry.

“I realised that being a digital fashion designer meant you don’t have to always create pieces that are wearable and can be produced in real life,” Daria says. “You can be creative, break the laws of physics and make something which any other fashion designer in the real world would not be able to create.”

Connect with Daria here.