From a childhood behind an old sewing machine to global fashion weeks, Dovile Riebschlager has stitched a career defined by artistry, sustainability, and originality. Her brand, DoviArt, blends sculptural couture with zero-waste innovation, proving that true success is measured in freedom and impact.
A Vision Stitched From Courage and Creativity
From a childhood fascination with her mother’s sewing machine to global runways, Dovile Riebschlager has transformed fabric into narrative. Her work blends sculptural fashion, sustainability, and daring originality, proving that true success lies in freedom, authenticity, and joy.
Early Beginnings: A Needle, a Dream
At just 13, Dovile asked her mother to show her how a sewing machine worked. With “Burda” magazines as her guide, she stitched her first designs, unaware that this quiet joy would one day carry her across continents and runways.
Raised in a Soviet republic without fashion connections, her environment offered little direction. Still, her curiosity carved a path forward. While her studies initially led her into chemical engineering, her heart belonged to art—and she ultimately found her way back to the Academy.
From Stage Costumes to Fashion Studios
A pivotal moment came when a ballerina friend asked her to design a stage costume. That single project opened a new chapter, leading her into designing for entire ballet troupes. Soon after, she worked with Lithuanian factories, honing her craft before moving to Chicago, where she rebuilt her career while raising her daughter.
Her first U.S. collection debuted in 2016, marking the start of her journey under the label DoviArt Fashion LLC, officially founded in 2020.
Inspirations That Shaped the Designer
From her grandmother’s seamstress trips to the rare Paris runway shows broadcast on TV, Dovile absorbed every influence she could find. Even childhood paper dolls—complete with hand-drawn wardrobes sold for cinnamon buns—hinted at her future in fashion.
What began as self-expression grew into a mission: making clothes that truly fit, spark joy, and stand apart from mass production.
Bridging Gaps: From Fit to Sustainability
Dovile’s work challenges two gaps in fashion: poor fit and uninspired design. Her made-to-measure pieces astonish clients—even those across continents who never step into her studio—by fitting perfectly without a single trial.
Her second mission is sustainability. After collaborations with Trashion Revolution, she has been developing near zero-waste studio practices, an effort she describes as her greatest ongoing project.
The Signature of Uniqueness
What sets Dovile apart is her artistry in creating her own fabrics and her unforgettable “bubble” designs. Her sculptural silhouettes stand out even in shows packed with designers, leaving audiences with one lasting impression: DoviArt’s originality.
Motivation and Meaning
Deadlines push her forward, but her deepest motivation comes from the desire to build a better life for her daughter and mother, and from the sheer curiosity of seeing a finished piece come alive.
For Dovile, success isn’t defined by money or fame—it’s freedom: the freedom to choose projects, help others, and live authentically.
Milestones and Global Recognition
From trusting herself to create independently to seeing clients love and wear her clothes, milestones shape her pride. She has shown collections at New York Fashion Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week, Miami Swim, Hawaii Fashion Week, Erlendur in Iceland, Moscow, and New Delhi, each a step in her uncompromising vision.
Looking Ahead: A Future of Innovation
Dovile is preparing to experiment with new fabric manipulation techniques and fresh cuts for her upcoming collections. She hopes to expand to Paris, Milan, and Berlin Fashion Weeks, while continuing her work in costume design for film productions.
Her journey, which began with a teenage girl behind an old sewing machine, has come full circle—sewing together passion, resilience, and global artistry.
