Moscow-born Lya Solis has lived in Dublin for over a decade and brings with her a lifelong passion for fashion. To become a designer, she says, is the fulfilment of a childhood dream.
“As a teenager, I diverted my interest to fine art and sculpture, and got a degree in that,” explains Solis, who studied dress making and design at Grafton Academy, Dublin. “I then experimented with PR and marketing – and got a job in Dublin in that field. Four years ago I started my own brand.”
Solis’s designs are distinguished by her flair for classic tailoring, intricate detailing and exquisite embellishment – touches she attributes to her background in art. “I love working with lace and embellishments. Hand work is my favourite – it’s the closest thing to sculpting, always my favourite subject.”
Her autumn/winter 2015 collection embodies both confidence and femininity, and showcases her strengths as a designer. She has
only used the finest fabrics such as cashmere, beaded lace, python and leather, all of which she has sourced from Italy, France, Japan and USA – but her inspiration is homegrown, as it’s based on the Irish landscape.
“The colours of my current collection are those you see at dawn, along with Irish cliffs and ivies.”
The palette of Solis’ daytime collection is inspired by the changing colours of the Irish sky, from eerie pinks to clouded blues and deeper midnight hues. The collection also evokes the mythical nature of the Irish landscape, with a striking contrast of textures. Leathers, wools, furs, hand-beaded embellishments and sheer mesh all blend together to showcase the Lya Solis woman as strong, independent, fashion-focused and indestructible.
Meanwhile, the evening collection from Solis offers a vast array of styles, from heavily handmade ace to subtly beaded bridal and intricate pretty pearl, all in a soft palette of nudes and creamy whites. Embellishment is a key part of what makes Solis’ meticulously handmade pieces stand out at any event, and has attracted many celebrity fans, including Kathryn Thomas, Una Foden, Caroline Harrington and Sharon Corr.
While her collections are winning international attention, Solis is still challenging herself, and broadening her skill set, revealing that she is currently “working on expanding my accessories line, and developing my shoe line”.

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To see Solis’ stunning designs, visit the Lya Solis Boutique in Powerscourt Townhouse, South William St, Dublin 4 or visit lyasolis. com