Daria Shapovalova
Founder, DressX
The determined young Ukrainian founded the country’s fashion week equivalent and has built a fashion tech company that became one of the leaders in the metaverse space.
Daria Shapovalova is the former creative director of Kiev Fashion Days and the founder of fashion tech company DressX and showroom More Dash.
As organiser and creative director of the Mercedez Benz Kiev Fashion Days, Shapovalova’s main goal was to elevate Ukrainian fashion and mark Kiev as a major fashion capital in Eastern Europe. In 2016, Shapovalova crossed her fashion career into the technology industry, holding the very first fashion-technology forum. There, Shapovalova spearheaded discussions focused on the bridging fashion with technology. She also veered into the fashion education sphere in founding the Kyiv Fashion Institute, a private school with a reputation as one of Ukraine’s top fashion centres. Shapovalova herself is also recognised for her sartorial prowess and is frequently photographed outside of fashion shows and tents.
In 2017, Daria Shapovalova moved to San Francisco, California, to receive an MBA at an international business school. After gaining experience in traditional fashion, Shapovalova wanted to start a company in fashion tech. After completing her MBA, Daria invited her business partner Natalia Modenova to join her in the US to start a new company. Along with a third founding team member, Julie Krasnienko, the three founders established DRESSX in Los Angeles in 2020. DRESSX is a "Metacloset" of digital-only clothes, NFT fashion items and AR looks. Current DRESSX partners include META, Roblox, SNAP, OTB Group, LVMH and more.
Career History
VITAL STATISTICS
Find out more
Ukraine’s Quiet Fashion Entrepreneurship Boom
A few standout businesses are doing a roaring trade in post-revolution Kiev, elevating their labels from small ateliers to rising brands.
Ukraine’s Quiet Fashion Entrepreneurship Boom
A few standout businesses are doing a roaring trade in post-revolution Kiev, elevating their labels from small ateliers to rising brands.
Is Milan Fashion Week Back?
Once seen as creatively stagnant, Italy’s main fashion week is showing signs of newfound momentum. BoF spoke to a series of global fashion insiders to get their verdict on Milan Fashion Week.
Is Milan Fashion Week Back?
Once seen as creatively stagnant, Italy’s main fashion week is showing signs of newfound momentum. BoF spoke to a series of global fashion insiders to get their verdict on Milan Fashion Week.
Op-Ed | Under Cloud of War, Kyiv’s Fashion Scene Expands
Although the conflict is still simmering in Ukraine and tensions with Moscow are on the rise, the fashion market is showing surprising signs of dynamism in Ukraine’s capital.
Op-Ed | Under Cloud of War, Kyiv’s Fashion Scene Expands
Although the conflict is still simmering in Ukraine and tensions with Moscow are on the rise, the fashion market is showing surprising signs of dynamism in Ukraine’s capital.
Ukraine, a Complex Crossroads of New and Old
In the latest instalment of Market GPS, Robb Young examines Ukraine, a market going through a period of major transition.
Ukraine, a Complex Crossroads of New and Old
In the latest instalment of Market GPS, Robb Young examines Ukraine, a market going through a period of major transition.
What is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
