how it all began

Growing up in Craiova, Romania, Zoica Matei designed her first dress when she was 13 years old. She found two pieces of plaid fabric that she saw would harmonize beautifully.They did, and the garment fit her like a second skin -- so much so that she couldn’t breathe!(There were a few things to learn about garment “ease.”) Nevertheless, a life-time love affair with fashion had begun.

Zoica began designing for herself and her friends, intuitively, developing her own vision and sense of style. At the same time she pursued her other great passion, the environment and the budding Green movement, studying horticulture at the University of Craiova. Then she moved to the United States, where she received her formal design training at the American Intercontinental University in Atlanta.

After just a short time working in the fashion industry, Zoica began to notice the scarcity of stylish apparel made with regard for environmental sustainability.“Fast” fashion cycles were actually designed to insure obsolescence, waste, and a “throw-away” culture. At the same time, “eco-friendly fashion” tended to be relegated to T-shirts with slogans printed on them and designs more suited to hiking trails than to business offices or evenings out.

A new vision for fashion was born.

mission

Our slow fashion philosophy is reflected through our every day conscious choices, while creating timeless pieces, sustainable luxury, which embrace simplicity of form and focus on detail.

We are determined to keep our production at home, therefore all our garments are made with pride in the USA.

The designs are constructed by well-paid workers, and they are built to last.

Being really concerned with the amount of travel that our products can undertake, we are making them locally.

Discovering that dyeing, washing and drying processes are using most of the energy, and producing most of the carbon, our designs are offered in natural colors and the white organic shirts are bleached using hydrogen peroxide, as an environmentally friendly alternative, since it degrades into water and oxygen.

Trans-seasonal clothing, green, recycled and fair trade, although trendy words, describe our ambition for a lifestyle brand, and a business model.

desire to inspire

The brand is built out of a desire to use responsible and earth friendly business practices. It represents Zoica's strive for making one look good ,while feeling good and inspiring others.

Welcome to slow fashion!