From Sketch to Reality: My First Designs
- DariyaRepina
- Mar 27, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: May 30
During my school years, we did not have the same technology and programs available today. But even with limited tools, the essence of design remained the same—starting with a concept and inspiration, sketching the idea, choosing the right materials, creating the pattern, understanding the construction, and bringing the piece to life.
My very first bag was not a complicated design, so my focus was on choosing a bold, vibrant color and material. I was inspired by the sky during lightning, its dramatic contrast, electric energy, and intense color. Purple has always been one of my favorite colors. To me, it represents creativity, individuality, and strength. It is a color that feels both bold and elegant.
The image below reflects the purple color inspiration behind the design, capturing that same feeling of vibrancy.
Finding the Right Material
For the material, I felt that this striking purple mock-croc leather was exactly what I was looking for. The color and texture added the boldness I wanted. I even had a pair of old shoes that I remade using the same leather, creating a matching set.
From sketch to Reality
Italy has some of the best leathers, and I remember getting inspired just by exploring different types. There’s something about discovering various textures, prints, and colors that sparks creativity.
The Inspiration Behind My First Collection
Coming from a mixed cultural background, I naturally gravitate toward fusion. Blending different worlds, cultures, and influences has always felt natural to me.
In school, we studied art, fashion history, and different styles, and I was especially drawn to the way music influences fashion trends. I loved exploring the connection between music and style.
For my thesis project, I wanted to create an aesthetic that felt both edgy and chic. The song Walk This Way by Aerosmith and Run-D.M.C. caught my attention and inspired me to fuse 1980s and 1990s punk, rock, and hip-hop street style into one collection.
One of my material selections was white leather with small perforations, reflecting a street-style influence inspired by sneaker design, especially white soles. This fusion of textures, along with details like chains, spikes, and layered slashes in the leather, allowed me to blend rock attitude with urban energy.
From Sketch to Reality
This section shows how those ideas developed from sketches into finished products. The collection moved from paper into real pieces.
Along the way, I also had to learn the technical side of design — creating patterns, understanding construction, and making sure each design was possible to produce. As a designer, it was important to communicate the idea clearly so the final piece could be made as close as possible to the original vision.
It was the beginning of understanding how inspiration, material choices, and design details could come together to create something real.
From sketch to Reality
From sketch to Reality
A Look Inside the Collection
After completing my three-year design studies in Rome, the next chapter of my creative journey was being selected as one of 30 finalists nationwide for a fashion competition in Italy: XVII Concorso Nazionale Professione Moda Giovani Stilisti, Riccione Moda Italia, CNA Federmoda.
Next Chapter: Italy’s National Fashion Competition
Fun Fact
Long before we met, my future husband danced on stage with Aerosmith during the MTV Music Awards performance of Walk This Way. He wore a fusion-style outfit that combined a sarong, sneakers, and his high school football jersey. Years later, I would create my first collection around the idea of blending different influences and styles. In a way, it feels like an unexpected connection between our stories.
You can spot him at the 4-minute mark in the video.
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