A workshop in Cahul sews wedding dresses that are sold and admired across Europe, the USA, and Australia. It is the Zoe Rowyn brand, created by Corina Culeva in 2019. More than ten employees work in this workshop in the south of the country, making dresses that are worn by brides worldwide and showcased on major fashion runways, including at New York Bridal Fashion Week. Corina Culeva's business was supported through the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.

Minimalism and simplicity are just a click away

This business was set up six years ago out of necessity, when Corina Culeva, then a bride-to-be, was searching for a wedding dress. As luck (or not) would have it, she couldn’t find the right one, so she decided to design it herself. At the time, Corina also aimed to offer an alternative to overly ornate dresses with heavy embroidery and busy detailing, opting instead for a design that was simple yet sophisticated. So, Zoe Rowyn brand was born.

Together with her team of seamstresses, pattern makers, and operational managers, Corina Culeva reimagines wedding dresses to reflect each bride’s values and personality.

The workshop uses Italian silk and natural fabrics, demonstrating her respect for the environment. Today, dresses created in Cahul are featured in the collections of more than 12 partner shops in Ireland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Australia and more recently - South Korea. 

“Women no longer want to spend hours trying on clothes in physical stores. There’s demand in the market, and I’ve carved out a niche for my business, with the pandemic undoubtedly working in our favour. Circumstances have pushed people to shop online, without visiting stores or trying on clothes, and that’s exactly what we offer,” said Corina.

Wedding dresses from Cahul at New York Bridal Fashion Week

In 2021, Corina Culeva’s business received support through the “EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF. The €24,000 in support was allocated for the purchase of industrial tailoring equipment such as embroidery machine, a computerized industrial buttonhole machine, a plotter, a digitizer, and pattern design and grading software.

At the same time, the wedding dress workshop received consultancy and support for online promotion.

In 2023, the dresses designed and made by Corina made it to the New York Bridal Fashion Week, also thanks to the support of the EU and UNDP.

Ireland, Germany, Australia, Great Britain, Norway are just some of the countries where the dresses created in Cahul are now arriving. Every year, Zoe Rowyn sells hundreds of dresses around the world.

“It can take up to two months for a dress to reach the bride-to-be. That’s how long the entire process takes from the initial concept to packaging and delivering the final product,” says the entrepreneur.

In April 2024, Corina opened her first showroom in Copenhagen, where brides-to-be can see, try on and choose the design of their choice. The showroom displays dresses from all Zoe Rowyn collections. “I am glad that in Copenhagen, we have customers not only from Denmark, but also from neighboring countries, tourists who come here,” notes Corina.  

In the future, Corina Culeva plans to expand her business. She wants to open her first wedding dress factory in Cahul.

“I am determined to become the largest employer in southern of Moldova and in Copenhagen I plan to expand to have a more spacious showroom,” says Corina.