Lena Slukhanova was born in the USSR—now Russia—where creativity and individualism were not only discouraged but seen as acts of defiance. Yet, from a young age, fashion became Lena’s quiet rebellion. At just eight years old, she started designing her own clothes, instinctively drawn to the idea of transforming the ordinary into something beautiful. Soon, friends turned to her, trusting her to bring their wardrobes to life.
In a country where fashion magazines were rare and coveted, the moment Lena found one was unforgettable. She remembers holding it like a sacred artifact, tracing her fingers over the glossy pages, mesmerized by the colors, the fabrics, the artistry. That moment ignited something in her—she whispered to herself, “One day, I will design clothes that grace the pages of a magazine.”
By day, she was a schoolgirl trained to defend her Communist homeland. By night, she was a quiet revolutionary, tailoring clothes in secret, finding solace in each stitch, each alteration. Fashion gave her hope—a sense of identity beyond the expectations imposed on her. Her passion, coupled with an unshakable ambition, led her from the rural, impoverished countryside to Moscow, where she put herself through college, determined to carve out her place in the world of design. In the evenings, Lena worked tirelessly to build her first boutique for children’s fashion, finally stepping into the light of her own creative freedom.
Leaving behind the Soviet Union, she felt an exhilarating sense of possibility. Designing clothing—especially for children—became more than a career; it became her motivation, her lifeline, her way of sharing beauty with the world. In 2017, she took a leap of faith and moved to the United States, working endlessly to refine her craft and launch her new collection. Every struggle, every sleepless night was worth it. Her designs started appearing in magazines, and the doors she once dreamed of opening were no longer just dreams.
One of Lena’s most surreal moments came when her collection was featured in a Parisian photo shoot in collaboration with Maria Schon Model Agency. Seeing her designs come to life in the very city that has long been the heart of couture was overwhelming—a reminder that the dream she once whispered as a child had fully materialized.
Now, as she prepares to present her LENKASNOVA 2025 collection at Tampa Bay Fashion Week, she reflects on the journey— “the years I spent hiding my passion, fearing it would never be more than a secret indulgence. But dreams, when nurtured with perseverance, have a way of finding their way into the light. Mine has, and it’s only the beginning.” Learn more about LENKASNOVA here.
