When Craft Makes Sense: Ivanka and Her Take on Tailoring

Behind every well-fitting suit is more than just cut and fabric. There is a person who understands detail, material, and how a woman (or man) truly feels in the clothing. This is what Ivanka the tailor's work is all about.

How did you get into tailoring? Was it always your path, or was there a specific experience that led you to it?
Since childhood, my dream was to become a fashion designer; I was always creating clothes for Barbie dolls. I studied fashion design and went for a professional internship in Spain to gain experience. I got into tailoring a few years later in one of Prague's salons specializing in men's suits.

Do you remember your first piece of clothing you made? What was it like?
It was a dark fuchsia satin ball gown that I sewed in high school. It was a big success, and immediately there was demand for another piece.

What keeps you in this job to this day?
Passion. When I create, I forget everything around me.

Ivanka believes that you can recognize quality clothing instantly – not only by its look but also by its feel. Precise craftsmanship, material, and a cut that respects the figure are crucial.

Equally important are the details that are not visible at first glance. Construction, cutting precision, and working with the material determine whether a garment merely "looks good" or truly works.

What do you think women most often lack in regular stores?
For the clothes to fit them – not the other way around. Ready-to-wear is set for the average, but most women are not average.

Do you have a moment with a client that you will never forget?
Those glowing eyes when they put on the finished garment for the first time. At that moment, it's not just about the dress, but about how they see themselves.

Materials with character

Ivanka loves working with materials that have a life of their own. According to her, wool and linen react to the body, movement, and environment, giving the garment depth and naturalness. It's not always an easy collaboration, but the result, she believes, has soul – and synthetics cannot replace that.

Clothing as a feeling

She considers it most important for a woman to feel like herself in the garment. Clothing has a much greater impact on self-confidence than it might seem at first glance.

Just one well-fitting piece – and the posture, energy, and the way a woman presents herself change.

What would you say to women who are hesitant about a custom-made piece?
That they deserve it. Every woman deserves clothes that support her, not restrict her.

Through her work, Ivanka shows that tailoring is not just a craft. It's a way to help women feel more confident, natural, and themselves.

Written and edited by: Anežka Jizbová