LocationsA young woman from Orhei sews wedding dresses that glow in the dark
November 22, 2017
Marcela Moscovciuc sews wedding dresses that glow in the dark, but also every day outfits
A young fashion designer from Orhei is making wedding dresses, embroidered in national style, which are lighting in the darkness. Besides these outstanding outfits, Marcela Moscovciuc’s sewing workshop produces evening gowns and cocktail dresses, that any woman would wish to have, but also outfits for men. The business was launched one year ago with the support of European Union under the Support to Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP.
Located in the central part of Orhei, Marcela Moscovciuc’s sewing workshop is easy to find for those who are looking for outstanding outfits. Within the premises, the visitors are welcomed by fabrics, designs and colors. A wedding dress towers on the podium – the business card of the workshop. Made from extremely fine texture and embellished with embroidery in traditional style, the dress is garnished with phosphorescent strands and is lighting in the darkness.
“It gets charged from the daylight. The bride wearing such a dress can literally shine and sparkle at her wedding. It was my mother’s idea to make such dresses,” says the young woman.
She obtained a grant and launched a business
Two years ago, she could only dream about the company that she manages today and is an employee of. Marcela recognizes that she would never dare to try her forces in business, if she has not obtained the grant after participating in a contest announced by the European Union and UNDP. She was a student at fashion design faculty of the Technical University of Moldova when she found about this opportunity. To get to the end of the contest, she got through several training sessions and a rigorous selection of the best business plans. At the final stage she won and obtained a grant of over 13 000 Euro. She used the money to buy the furniture for the workshop, a sewing machine, iron, and ironing desk, but also an over-lock machine. The most expensive piece of equipment is the embroidering machine, which has a special software helping her out with creating the broidery on any garment.
The workshop was equipped within a space that her parents were renting out for several years, in the central part of Orhei, as if specifically meant for such an occasion.
During all the stages of business design and development – from sketching the idea until the completion of the business plan, but also getting all the necessary permits from the state, Marcela was helped by a consultant employed within the project.
The first dresses she made for her master’s degree thesis
While setting up her business, she was working in parallel for her master’s degree thesis. The young woman is proud that the practical part of her thesis – the three wedding dresses made with phosphorescent strands, were conceived, and sewn here, in her own workshop.
“When defending my master’s degree thesis, the members of the commission had more questions on how I have started up my business, than regarding the collection itself,” smiles Marcela.
She also has clients from abroad
Over one year since its launch, Marcela Moscovciuc’s workshop has dozens of clients not only from Orhei, but also from the capital city and even from abroad, from Moldovans residing there. Recently she sent a set of garments to a woman residing in USA, and some time before she sewed stage costumes for a group of Moldovan dancers from Greece. “The Moldovans who have left abroad are looking for ornaments in national style, handbags, that would remind them of their homeland,” says the designer.
She uses social media to promote her outfits and she has a page dedicated to this. While another part of clients come to the workshop based on the recommendations of those who have already benefited from the services of the young business lady. Spring and summer are the hot seasons with most of orders: from the young women ordering wedding dresses to women willing to have a nice look at an event, so the chain of orders is endless.
Working day to day in her workshop, Marcela Moscovciuc succeeded to take some small, but sure steps in the local fashion world. She became well-known thanks to participation in several editions of the popular traditions’ festival - Ia Mania. The young woman states that she uses in her creations the traditional and the authentic nature, so as not to forget who we are and where we come from.
Embroidering art transmitted from generation to generation
The embroidering art is transmitted in Marcela’s family from generation to generation. “My grandmother was broidering a lot, my mother worked at an enterprise specialized in clothing,” says Marcela. Nevertheless, the young woman did not always dream of becoming a fashion designer. Although she has graduated the art school, she was not thinking to develop her talent, but was dreaming of a career in international relations or dentistry.
Now she is saying with a laughter that she was lucky to have a mother who succeeded to convince her not to waste her talent in faculties that were far away from her skills and interests. Her mother helps her out in the workshop now as well, especially when there is a lot of work. Marcela’s sister, who graduated a graphic design faculty, is also involved in the business helping with its promotion.
Although, for the time being, the workshop does not have too many employees, Marcela Moscovciuc is dreaming to conquer also the markets from abroad, and for the phosphorescent strands to be also used in other outfits, not only in wedding dresses.
Dozens of young people from both sides of the River Nistru benefited from similar grants
Marcela Moscovciuc is one of those over 70 young people from both sides of the River Nistru, who got European grants for a value up to 13 500 Euro to start up or develop a business. Moreover, the young people benefited also from services provided by personal consultants, who over a period of 14 months have helped them to manage their businesses as efficiently as possible.
The young people got to know each other and learned together how to manage a business within joint trainings organized by experts in the area.
The Support to Confidence Building Measures Programme, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP, contributes to enhancing confidence among the population from both sides of the River Nistru by involving representatives of business environment, local communities and civil society in joint projects for business and social infrastructure development.