TTSWTRS’s Skin Couture
What’s the difference between getting a tattoo and wearing a tattoo-inspired garment?
The difference is huge! A tattoo is a lifelong commitment – it becomes part of your skin, your story. A tattoo-inspired garment is, of course, a different kind of intimacy. It doesn’t replace the experience of marking your own body, but it allows you to step into that energy, that boldness, without the permanence. It’s perfect for people who, like me, constantly change their minds about their own appearance.
The designs for Skin Couture are based on photographs of real people. How did these personal stories add a layer of relatability or individuality to the collection?
We were inspired by all this trust – so many people came to be naked for us, and that experience was incredibly touching. They were eager to accept themselves in that exact moment, surrendering in front of the camera. As we constantly explore the human body, we wanted to give it a couture finish from our perspective.
You collaborated with tattoo artist, Mills, when designing this collection. What visual motifs has Mills laced throughout and why were you drawn to his art?
It felt like such a natural fit. His work is fearless, bold, and rooted in street-style aesthetics. There’s an honesty and edge to it that really resonated with the vision for Skin Couture. For instance, the Skin Couture Bodysuit is covered in retro tattoo motifs from the 1920s – that era when tattoos meant rebellion and freedom. The print features Native American figures, dragonflies, and ancient symbols inspired by Mills’ archive. For us, this piece explores the journey of the body itself, from being fully marked and storied to returning to its most natural form.
Rather than focusing on adornment, as most fashion does, these pieces emphasize embodiment. What do you embody when you put on TTSWTRS?
When I put on TTSWTRS, I feel like I’m stepping fully into myself. It’s not about showing off or decorating the body – it’s about inhabiting it and moving through the world with confidence. The pieces give a sense of exposure and protection at the same time. Wearing them, I feel deeply connected to myself in a raw, personal way. It’s like returning to my real, unfiltered self. For me, TTSWTRS embodies honesty and authenticity.
TTSWTRS is a play on “tattoo sweaters,” which is a brand name that evokes feelings of comfort. Do you feel in some ways that these pieces can act as armor?
I really love that duality. A tattoo is one of the most honest forms of self-expression, while a sweater is the most comforting piece you can wear. Together, they create a kind of armor – a way to feel seen, powerful, and completely comfortable at once. Our pieces often explore vulnerability, but they do so with confidence.
The Aura Dress brings attention to one’s inner light, how did this piece thematically fit into a collection that focuses on such external beauties as tattoos and silhouettes?
The Aura Dress really embodies the idea of inner light, a kind of radiance that doesn’t need any decoration. While a lot of pieces in the collection explore external forms of beauty, this dress shifts the focus inward. It’s a metaphor for a state where the outer self simply reflects inner harmony. That’s why it feels almost ethereal, like a soft filter between the body and the world, yet it’s still incredibly comfortable and wearable. Within the collection, it’s a reminder that true expression starts from within.
Your Ukrainian roots are important to you and how you move through the world both personally and artistically. How has this been able to play a role in the work you’ve put out?
TTSWTRS was born in Kyiv during an incredibly fun and creative process. It was something we created for ourselves, with an amazing team. Everything, from the people to our processes, is connected to Ukraine. It’s my home, and my heart truly beats there.
You started off as a costume designer and stylist before creating your own label and becoming a fashion designer. How do you think your work today is influenced by those experiences?
Working as a stylist was the best experience I’ve ever had. No education or training has taught me what that profession did. You learn what a truly striking look is, how comfortable a piece needs to be, how proportions change the way a person appears on camera, and how you can play with those proportions to create a mood or a statement. I genuinely love what I do, and now, as a designer, I’m still very much a stylist for my own brand.
The brand seeks to visualize the "body as a vessel of inner expression." How does this ideology bleed into the designs the way ink bleeds into skin?
I feel like it really comes down to that. Accepting our bodies can take a lifetime, and without them, we’d just be ghosts, disconnected from all the possibilities life has to offer. That’s really where the Skin Couture collection comes from, the idea that the body isn’t just a vessel. It’s a responsive companion, holding our life stories and experiences. With this collection, we wanted to explore that intimate connection between the body and the inner self, and to celebrate the beautiful journey of learning to fully embrace who we are.
