FASHION
BESSARABIA by Olena Adam: Bringing Heritage to Paris Fashion Week
BY VANESA KRIZONYTE
Around the corner of La Maison des Métallos, where wicker chairs line the pavement, a coffee cup declared Il caffè è un’arte across its surface. The lunch break away from Paris Fashion Week runways offered a glimpse into life’s kaleidoscope, where art finds expression in the rituals of everyday life. In the 11th arrondissement for Global Fashion Collective Spring/Summer 2027, the schedule travelled through fourteen international designers in a cross-cultural exchange. Shaped by cultural heritage, personal memory, and craftsmanship, Ukrainian designer Olena Adam seamlessly fused art narratives into fashion.
Before the stillness of sipping artisan Parisian coffee, Olena Adam guided us backstage and unveiled some behind-the-scenes insights into her creative house.
How does art history influence the Olena Adam collection?
I really like to spot things and different barriers. For example, nature and architecture. I like to travel a lot and feel very attentive to details. I’m very interested in the history of nations and the arts they bring in with their culture. During a visit to Ubud, Bali, the island’s terraced rice fields sparked the idea for a print in the Festan collection.
Yesterday we visited the Musée d’Orsay Van Gogh exhibition and saw a dress in a painting which I thought would be a good reference for the next collection prints.
The BESSARABIA collection is different because the inspiration is my roots. My grandma and many women who lived in my village made handmade rugs, wool sweaters and my childhood was surrounded by this.
I understand my roots are my power. The collection name is BESSARABIA. It’s a multinationality region. For many years this nationality has lived together in a friendly atmosphere. It’s a very good experience when different people with different things, cultures, languages and religion live together in one region without war, and my collection is about this.
What is the inspiration behind the Festan range?
Saudi Arabia is the place I got my first Abaya but it’s very traditional Arabian dress and I wanted to wear it in my regular life, my country and for travelling. I tried to find it in Europe but couldn’t and so I made it.
I tell people it’s between kimono, abaya and we create a new world – the Festan.
Who is the Festan woman?
Women who do not choose between comfort and beauty. She is a confident woman who wants everything the best for her. It’s natural Italian silk. It’s not very cheap, but it’s for a lifetime.
How do you feel about participating in Paris Fashion week?
This experience is really important because it is an atmosphere of people from the industry, and it’s a big step to grow with the best designers around me. It’s a big inspiration and powerful. Our clothes are not only for the runway and photos. It’s very comfortable to wear every day, at work, night, beach, office, party and wherever you want. There are pieces you can wear in the evening like a dress and in the morning like a beach cover.
The BESSARABIA collection transformed Adam’s lived heritage and stories through natural silk, linen, original prints, embroidery, lace, and fluid silhouettes. On the Paris runway, sculptural silhouettes emerged in a sun-washed palette of milky white, sky blue, earthy tones, harvest gold, and delicate pink. One Festan featured more than a hundred handcrafted silk flowers. Another highlight was a shimmering gold silk Festan crafted in ancient cattail technique, with crowds whispering about the Intrecciato weave. Through bold geometric silhouettes, Adam brings Middle East heritage into a multicultural collection.
Around the corner of La Maison des Métallos, amid the thrills of the post-Global Fashion Collective catwalk, a sip of champagne offered a reflective taste of tradition meeting heritage in Olena Adam’s contemporary form. The Boulevard moment transmitted Olena Adam’s power in female inner discovery. Olena Adam’s creations become une œuvre d’art for women who choose themselves, finding beauty in every moment and every touch of fabric.
“The modern world constantly demands displays of strength, beauty and status. We remind you – you can choose yourself, every single day through the feel of fabric,” says Adam.
From the personal challenges in her creative journey to the fabric and silhouettes shaped by travels to Saudi Arabia, Adam’s Paris Fashion Week spotlight connected women to her roots and their own identities. The crystal champagne glass landed on the marble table as a mark for the new womenswear designer, delivering truth about female existence and celebrating their beauty in luxury materials.
Gratitude to Global Fashion Collective for Press Accreditation. Thank you to Natalia Cassel for the warm invitation and global media. Deepest gratitude to Olena Adam for hosting us and bringing BESSARABIA to Paris Fashion Week.
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