Light, flowing dresses, organza and chiffon, Victorian elegance ... Meet: the niche brand Sophy G has opened in Dubai, which produces soft-couture items.
According to the brand founder Sophy G Natalya Gorbatyuk, we were lucky to come to this world by women, and therefore we need to be beautiful. Her collection Unveiled - convincing evidence of how a dress can reveal female beauty. Filigree cut, intelligent restraint, flowing silhouettes and not a single extra detail. In a conversation with the Russian Emirates, she admitted that she was prompted to work in this direction by the almost complete absence in Dubai of outfits in this niche.
Natalia, how could you characterize the style yourself soft-couture?
Soft couture or semi-couture, in the segment of which we work, are dresses created using couture techniques, but at an affordable price. Since we do not spend a huge amount of money on marketing budgets, they are not laid down in the price of the product. At the same time, there are a number of very high standards that must be followed to create a couture dress. This technology and seam processing, and the ability to work with delicate fabrics. Only an experienced seamstress, after 10-15 years of practice, fills her hand to such an extent that she can do the job from beginning to end. The whole science! We thoroughly studied the technologies by which the first lines of Gucci, Dior, Francesco Scognamiglio, Versace and other brands are sewn at the best factories of Bergamo, in Northern Italy, and created our own couture atelier, selecting highly professional staff. As a result, they began to make capsule collections, which can also be transformed according to the client’s request.
Do you use any special fabrics?
Of course. Couture things involve the use of thin flowing materials - organza, taffeta, jacquard, chiffon. They are very “creeping”, and it’s hard to work with them. And since the fabrics themselves are expensive, the production requirements are very high.
Our entire latest collection was created using couture techniques. For example, we used a special technique for making silk flowers. Each flower is made manually: the material is processed with the right solution to keep it in shape, then special tools are used to shape the flowers and petals, after which they are manually attached to the dress. In addition, we used the technique of decorating dresses with lace elements, sequins and rhinestones. We decorated one outfit from the collection with real pearls. But all this does not make sense if the dress is uncomfortable to wear or it is tight. Our dresses will not crush anywhere and it will definitely not be hot in them, since couture fabrics are used.
What price category are your dresses in?
Our price category is from 2 thousand dirhams. And there are dresses for a special occasion in the region of 4.5-5.5 thousand, and this is the highest price. We also have a Bridal collection. Dresses are very unusual, for brides who are not afraid to experiment.
You said that your dresses can be transformed, including under the individual order. And if the client himself does not know what he wants, how can he use this service?
We have taken this into account, therefore we conduct consultations on private appointment. We come, show what we have in the current collection, and the client can choose either something from what is available, or the same, but with some changes, or discuss their own design. In addition, we can provide a service to create an “ideal wardrobe” based on the lifestyle of the client, that is, we provide advice on personal style and image-making. The stylist will tell you what suits you, what is missing in your wardrobe, what niche you need to fill.
Who are your customers?
Different people come to us, including very successful business women, since at some point they are faced with the problem of personal style. And if a person becomes public, or even just acquires a certain status, he has influential business partners, but at the same time has difficulties with self-presentation, then here we can help. After all, no one has yet canceled the expression "Meet by clothes ...".
And is this service free?
Yes, the service of a stylist is provided free of charge if a person wants to order or customize a dress.
This practice is now very widespread in Europe.
Yes, in Europe for a very long time there has been a culture of acquiring niche things by people who can afford any Dior dress, for example. After all, anyone who has the means to go to the store and buy a dress from the new collection of a famous brand can. The issue is not the price, but the design decision, to find a dress that suits you. Suppose we are talking about some important technique, and every woman is afraid to come there in a dress that will be worn on another. That is why the culture of acquiring niche things that are created in one copy is very in demand. And in the showroom we even made things for those whose names are on everyone’s lips, but which we have no right to divulge. I can only say that one of our clients is the famous Chinese singer Tracy Tan.
Let's talk about your new collection.
The collection is called Unveiled, and we can say that this is a re-reading of the elements of the costume of the Victorian era. This time is fanned by romanticism, and at the same time, women of the Victorian era have already matured inside, became personalities, went through their periods of life growth and formed an idea of how they want to look. They have their own individual style.
Our dresses are very light and feminine. For example, a Sophiya dress, with a pronounced Victorian organza collar. We took Irish lace of the finest work, cut out with the hot press technique and laid it on the organza. Thus, organza turned out with a design pattern.
And for graduates, for example, we have a special Rosetta dress. It is decorated with handmade silk flowers and river pearls. We offer Carla dress for bridesmaids: we have four variants of this dress, connected by one theme, but they are all a bit different. We also offer these dresses as prom dresses for best friends.
What about accessories?
We made the collection in collaboration with the Chapelle design studio, and specially created a series of accessories - hats, belts and belts. All of them are conceptually connected with our dresses and harmoniously complement the images. The hats are made from Senome and are ideal for the Dubai climate - they will never be hot. At the same time, our hats can be worn every day, and not wait for the next Cup in horse racing. In addition, we offer two options for handmade leather belts, with crystals as a decor. I want to say that our seasonal offer is currently in effect - a 50% discount on certain models. In addition to this, when buying a dress, we give one accessory - any one to choose from.
By the way, what does the brand name mean - Sophy G?
Sophie is the name of my first doll who lived her life. Many children's photos have been preserved, where I am only with her, and even there are tape recordings in which I have long conversations with Sonya. For me, she was a full member of the family, and, of course, she had a large wardrobe. I couldn’t sew, but I could come up with. Therefore, things for Sonya were sewn by my best friend, and over time, my doll formed a whole wardrobe!
I also heard that you are going to open a fashion club in Dubai?
Yes, in the near future we are launching a new project - Fashion Talks with Sophy. Within the framework of the club, we plan to conduct a series of lectures on the history of fashion, historical costume, reviews of modern trends, stylistic tips. It will be an entertaining and educational club, in which everyone can join absolutely free. We invite to cooperation various conceptual designers who can present their collections. Follow our sophyg.com website, Instagram and Facebook @ sophyg.official accounts, where we will announce events and send out invitations. As lecturers, we will attract specialists in fashion history, active buyers who seriously monitor trends and know everything that is happening in the fashion industry today. And if any of the readers of Russian Emirates is interested in joining our club, we will only be happy. Come!
