After working as an international personal shopper, Daria developed her own special method on building the perfect wardrobe – the Wonder Wardrobe that contains an ideal number of outfits, is fully interchangeable, reduces clothing waste and supports sustainable fashion. Now she is teaching this successfully tested method to people from all around the world through her online course and YouTube channel.
From a career in Milan as an International Personal Shopper to the owner and author of the Wonder Wardrobe online video course – how do the dots connect to now?
I would say they connect pretty well! Not so long ago, I’m not so sure these connections would have led here. But today, when the Wonder Wardrobe community is strong and growing, I can safely say that education, experience, and past efforts made all the dots connect sooner.
What were some of the biggest challenges encountered in the logistics of running Wonder Wardrobe? Any unexpected ones?
There are always challenges when you start an educational business. Logistically I’ve had to switch from the Personal Shopper mentality to that of a teacher. That meant acquiring a number of skills. I would have never thought I have to write so much, shoot even more and spend a considerable amount of time editing. On top of these hard skills, there are other marketing and advertising things that proved to be a challenge. I’m sure this journey will stay challenging. It would be boring otherwise!
Why should people care about shifting towards a multifunctional seasonal capsule wardrobe?
The main reason for having a multifunctional wardrobe is that everything you have goes well together. You always know what to wear. Another strong reason for me is the sustainability aspect. If you look at this shift – at this transition – as a way to improve things, you can improve more than just your personal style. You can improve the quality of your clothes and their impact on the environment. Sustainable items are made to last longer, so they also save you money. They free up your shopping budget. You can invest it in your health, education, travel or donate to a cause you’ve always wanted to support.
What’s the biggest misconception that people may have about the work that you do?
They think I’m an influencer. I understand that social media offered a new platform to a lot of voices and opinions. Maybe that’s why people confuse me with an influencer. No matter what type of method or fashion knowledge I’m trying to teach in my Youtube videos, there is always someone that will want to know where my earrings are from. Or whatever I’m wearing in that video. It will take some time before people understand that I’m here to teach them a long-life skill, not to sell them more clothes.
What is the relationship you have with your clothes?
I see my clothes as an evolution. I grow and change with my wardrobe. The more I learn about sustainable fashion, the better decisions I take within my wardrobe. I’m totally in love with every single item of clothing I have because every purchase was a well-thought purchase. I have items that are over 10 years old but also a few that I bought recently. Making sure that they’re interchangeable creates an exciting sense of newness that my wardrobe will never lose.
#ChangeBeyondTextiles is…
An attitude change. If we understand the power our wardrobes and wallets have, we would never go back to fast fashion. We deserve better from the brands that make our clothes. The people that make our clothes deserve better. The planet deserves to be treated better by fashion brands.
What does sustainability mean to you?
I see sustainability as a good balance between the present and the future. Do my present actions leave a bad mark on the future? It’s hard to do good or to be sustainable when you don’t know what good really is. A sustainable brand is defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development as a brand that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This means that the brand you’re giving your hard earned money to should make sure that future generations don’t have to suffer because of business reasons.
What is one thing you stand for and believe in, and why?
I believe in education. Be it rooted in pure curiosity, or in the pursuit of personal growth, education is the one factor that brings meaningful change in society. I stand for a sustainable life, but if people don’t know what sustainability is or how it can improve their lives, it will be very hard for them to change the way they live.
We are inspired by Daria’s intentional perspective on her relationship with her clothing are proud to have her as Fieldtesters, a group of inspiring individuals that test MATTER products in their everyday journeys of passion, to help us improve durability and design. Daria is wearing the Classic Wideleg + Leharia Watermelon Pink in Size 1.