Using examples from movies and architectural masterpieces, Edward immersed me in the glorious times of the formation of the City of Angels and shared much about the spirit of the era of the "Golden Age of Hollywood". He very kindly offered to help with the choice of fabric for the gown I wanted to design for you and directed me to a top fabric store in New York City, where he resides. Edward is a wonderful person, easy and pleasant to collaborate with. Many thanks to Him!

The result of our tripartite discussion should have been a silver dress, but when I received the fabric, I immediately saw an issue–the right side of the fabric was not silver, but a dark sea blue that appeared as shimmering granite. God's plan for this project differed from what I had planned! I told Edward this, and we decided I would keep the fabric and sew a gown—a glorious navy blue sculpture!

Feeling an irrepressible desire to create a silver dress anyway, and remembering the phrases "liquid silver" and "futuristic style" from our discussion, I went to a wonderful fabric store in my city, Portland, Oregon, and created a second gown. It was fun and challenging, but I'm an engineer and know the qualities of melting silver!

I wanted to surprise you, Charis, because you didn’t expect two dresses, so I packed them in separate boxes so that neither the dresses nor the airy elements of the decoration would lose their shape during the journey from Portland to Los Angeles.

I wrote instructions for unpacking and asked you to shoot a video, from which I enjoyed watching the expression of surprise on your beautiful face.

Charis: Has this process changed the way you work as a designer or inspired any new direction with your work, and if so, how?

Natalie: For sure! I started to look at fashion design not only as a tailor but also as an inventor. After this experience, I gained confidence that my education and knowledge in different areas would allow me to set ambitious goals in fashion design for myself, and my multifaced skill set would allow me to realize them.

Charis: Strong architectural components characterize your exceptionally well-built designs. Can you share more about your skill set and background that brought you to where you are today with creating products of such high quality?

Natalie: It so happened in my life that in addition to the School of Design, Construction and Modeling of Clothes and School of Artistic Hand and Machine Knitting, I graduated from the Polytechnic University with a degree in Mining Engineering.

I also studied at the American Color Alliance Beauty for All Seasons, Inc., the discipline of Coloristics, and received the Color Analyst certificate. I also have an Image Consultant Certificate from the Ukrainian TV and Radio Broadcasting Institute.

I’m also an academic painter, and I very much enjoy painting on the clothes I create. I just love making sculptures, and my favorite material is iron.