Dovile Riebschlager didn’t have a roadmap. She had a sewing machine, a stack of magazines, and an unshakeable curiosity.
At 13, she approached her mother with a simple question: How does this thing work? That “thing” was an old sewing machine, and those first uncertain stitches would eventually carry her from a Soviet republic with zero fashion industry to runways in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Iceland and beyond.
Today, Riebschlager’s brand DoviArt Fashion is known for something you don’t see much anymore—true originality. Her sculptural “bubble” designs stop people mid-scroll. Her zerowaste practices challenge an industry drowning in excess. And her made-to-measure pieces fit clients she’s never even met in person.
But getting here? That took some serious rewrites.
The Chemical Engineer Who Chose Art
Growing up without connections, mentors, or even a clear fashion scene to aspire to, Riebschlager initially studied textile chemical engineering. Safe choice, right? Except her heart wasn’t in it. She eventually pivoted to art school, following an instinct she couldn’t quite explain but couldn’t ignore either.
Her real break came through friendship. A ballerina asked her to design a stage costume. One costume became a full troupe. Soon she was working with Lithuanian factories, learning the technical side of production while her creative voice grew louder.
Then came the big leap: Chicago, 1995. New country, new language, single mother, starting over. Her first U.S. collection launched only 2016, and by 2020, DoviArt Fashion LLC was official.
The Fabric Whisperer
Here’s what makes Riebschlager different: she creates her own fabrics. Not just selects them—creates them. Her sculptural approach to textiles means each piece has a dimensional quality that photographs can barely capture. You have to see them move. “I want to make clothes that truly fit, spark joy, and stand apart from mass production,” she explains. And she means truly fit. Clients from across continents order made-to-measure pieces and report back in amazement—no fittings, no alterations needed. Just perfect.
Zero-Waste Isn’t a Marketing Buzzword
Here After working with Trashion Revolution, Riebschlager became obsessed with waste reduction. She calls developing near zero-waste studio practices her “greatest ongoing project,” and she’s not exaggerating. In an industry that treats fabric scraps like confetti, her commitment stands out. She’s tackling what she sees as fashion’s two biggest failures: poor fit and uninspired design. Mass production solved neither. Her work suggests there’s another way.
What Success Actually Looks Like
Ask Riebschlager about success and she won’t mention magazine covers or celebrity clients. “Success is freedom,” she says. “The freedom to choose projects, help others, and live authentically.”
Her real motivation? Building a better life for her daughter and mother. Seeing curiosity transform into a finished garment. Meeting deadlines, yes, but also meeting her own standards.
The milestones she’s proudest of aren’t just the fashion weeks—though there have been many: New York, LA, Miami Swim, Hawaii, Iceland’s Erlendur, Moscow, New Delhi. It’s the moment she trusted herself to create independently. The first time a client fell in love with one of her pieces.
What’s Next for the Girl Who Started at 13
Riebschlager is already experimenting with new fabric manipulation techniques for upcoming collections. She has her sights set on Paris, Milan, and Berlin Fashion Weeks. Film costume design projects are in the works.
From those early days cutting patterns from Burda magazines—when she’d draw paper doll wardrobes and sell them for cinnamon buns—to now, the thread has been consistent: make something that matters, something that lasts, something genuinely new.
In a fashion world often criticized for sameness, Dovile Riebschlager is still that 13-year-old asking questions. She’s just asking them on a much bigger stage now.
Credits:
Photographer Marco Wolff IG @marcowolffphotography
Model and makeup Sara Lazarevic IG @sara.lazzaarr
Clothes and styling Dovilė Riebschlager IG @doviart.fasion
