Natalia Fedner

American fashion designer and actress

Natalia Fedner
Fedner at the 2015 LA Film Festival
Born (1983-02-12) February 12, 1983 (age 41)
Chernivtsi, Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
NationalityAmerican
EducationParsons School of Design and Parsons Paris
Occupation(s)Fashion designer, inventor, actress
LabelNatalia Fedner
AwardsSilver Thimble Winner Parsons Paris, Emerging Leader Alumni Award[1]
Websitewww.nataliafedner.com

Natalia Fedner is an American fashion designer, inventor and actress, best known for inventing a six-way stretch metal textile.

Early life and education

Fedner was born in Chernivtsi, in the Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine), and immigrated to Columbus, Ohio as a refugee at the age of six with her parents. Her mother, Alla Fedner, is a computer programmer, and her father, Gregory Fedner, is a civil engineer. She has twin sisters who were born in the United States.[2]

Fedner attended art classes at Columbus College of Art and Design on a merit-based scholarship from the third through twelfth grade.

After graduating from Bexley High School in Bexley, Ohio, Fedner completed the Fashion Design BFA program at Parsons School of Design (New York City and Parsons Paris).[3] During her freshman year she was selected to compete in "Fusion Fashion: FIT vs. Parsons" and received the Fusion Award. Fedner studied under Tim Gunn at Parsons and won the Silver Thimble Award for best collection her junior year. During her senior year her designs were featured in the Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Window Display.[4]

Career

Following internships for Donna Karan and Marc Jacobs, Fedner worked as a design assistant at Calvin Klein Women's Collection under Francisco Costa.

In 2014 Fedner was cast as a contestant on the first season of Lifetime's Project Runway: Under the Gunn, where she finished sixth.[3]

Fedner was a costume designer on the second season of Epic Rap Battles of History.[5] The popular YouTube series won a Streamy Award for the best use of fashion and design for that season.[6]

In 2014 Fedner launched her eponymous couture label in Los Angeles. Jennifer Lopez wore a Natalia Fedner couture knit gown in her First Love music video, becoming the first celebrity to publicly mention the new label during an interview with Entertainment Tonight in May 2014.[7]

"Natalia Fedner" designs have been worn by a number of notable celebrities including actress Charlize Theron,[8] actor/singer Lenny Kravitz,[9][10][11] actress/singer Jennifer Lopez,[7] television and social media personality Kim Kardashian,[12] media personality Kylie Jenner,[13] singer Shakira,[14] singer/songwriter Alicia Keys,[15] actress Sharon Stone,[16] singer and actress Cher,[17] rapper Cardi B,[18] singer Doja Cat,[19] singer Rosalía,[20] actress Pamela Anderson,[21] rapper Megan Thee Stallion,[22] actress Hailee Steinfeld,[23] actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens,[24][25] singer Anitta,[26] actress and singer Keke Palmer,[27] and singer Bebe Rexha.[27]

In 2016, Entertainment Tonight reported that Beyoncé wore a Natalia Fedner metal dress in Lemonade and predicted Fedner would soon be a household name.[28] Fedner custom made the piece for Beyoncé under the direction of stylist B Akerlund for the underwater scene[29] and was listed as one of the top looks in the HBO film by Harper's Bazaar,[30] Elle,[31] and New York Magazine's The Cut.[32]

In 2018 Natalia Fedner's eponymous collection was accepted into Bergdorf Goodman under the direction of senior vice president, Linda Fargo. Her designs were featured in the store's display windows in September 2018 and March 2019.[33]

In August 2020, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Fedner had collaborated once more with Beyoncé. Partnering with her stylist, Zerina Akers, she designed a gold chain headpiece worn by Beyoncé in the "Already" section of the visual album Black is King.[34] The look was featured in Vogue,[35] Harper's Bazaar,[36] Dezeen,[37] and Billboard.[38]

In July 2021, Fedner held her first solo fashion show presenting her Spring/Summer 2022 Ready-To-Wear collection at Miami Swim Week. And in August 2021, Fedner received the patent for her six-way stretch metal textile capturing Vogue's attention and leading to a feature article calling Fedner "The Designer Creating the Hottest Celebrity Looks Made of Metal".[15]

In October 2021, Fedner received the Emerging Leader Alumni Award from Bexley High School.[1]

In August 2022, it was confirmed that Fedner was working on designs for Beyoncé's Renaissance album.[39][40]

Causes and advocacy

In February 2020, Fedner was invited to visit Ukraine by the Ukrainian Fashion Club.[16]

This was her first visit since leaving as a refugee. After Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022,[41] Fedner began fundraising and coordinating with NGOs and established charities to help Ukrainian refugees, including people she met during her 2020 visit.[42]

In October 2022, Fedner held a fashion show to raise money for medical supplies for Ukrainians.[43]

References

  1. ^ a b BHS Distinguished Alumni Named BexleyEducationFoundation.org, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  2. ^ Fashion designer Natalia Fedner boosting her profile on TV show. The Columbus Dispatch, Retrieved August 20, 2015
  3. ^ a b Natalia Fedner MyLifetime.com, Retrieved August 20, 2015
  4. ^ Window Hopping City's Best Holiday Displays DailyNews.com, Retrieved August 20, 2015
  5. ^ Natalia Fedner IMDb.com
  6. ^ The Third Annual Streamy Awards Wikipedia
  7. ^ a b Inside J.Lo's Steamy Music Video with D&G Model David Gandy ET.com, Retrieved August 20, 2015
  8. ^ Meet Charlize Theron: Esquire's May 2015 Cover Star Esquire.com, Retrieved August 20, 2015
  9. ^ Lenny Kravitz's Super Bowl Tank Top Was Made of 14-Karet Gold Elle.com, Retrieved August 20, 2015
  10. ^ Why Lenny Kravitz Is Still a Menswear Icon Vogue.com, Retrieved September 14, 2020
  11. ^ Lenny Kravitz's Grammys Look Achieves Great New Heights Thanks To His Heels Vogue.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  12. ^ Natalia Fedner Design CincyChic.com, Retrieved August 20, 2015
  13. ^ How crochet became summer 2021's sexiest trend ID.Vice.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  14. ^ How Natalia Fedner Makes it Work projectmakeitwork.com, Retrieved August 20, 2015
  15. ^ a b The Designer Creating the Hottest Celebrity Looks Made of Metal Vogue.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  16. ^ a b ВПЕРШЕ В УКРАЇНІ: ДИЗАЙНЕРКА КАРДАШ’ЯН ТА ДЖЕННІФЕР ЛОПЕС ВЛАШТУВАЛА МОДНИЙ ПОКАЗ В INTERGAL CITY Elle.com, Retrieved September 21, 2020
  17. ^ Bexley native to be headline designer for Fashion Week Columbus 10tv.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  18. ^ Cardi B Joins ‘The Addams Family’ as Morticia Addams on Halloween: See Her Spooky Costume Billboard.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  19. ^ Doja Cat on happiness, humour and the dichotomies of stardom Vogue.sg, Retrieved January 8, 2022
  20. ^ El vestido de Rosalía en 'La Fama': inspirado en Marilyn Monroe y de Natalia Fedner, la firma favorita de Jennifer López HarpersBazaar.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  21. ^ Pamela Anderson Stars in a Decade of Sexy Photos in Her New Book, Raw People.com, Retrieved June 24, 2016
  22. ^ Megan Thee Stallion Stuns In A Crystal-Covered, High-Slit Gown HarpersBazaar.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  23. ^ Everybody Wants Hailee Steinfeld Cosmopolitan.com, retrieved January 8, 2023
  24. ^ Vanessa Hudgens Showcases Daring Style at Coachella 2022 eOnline.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  25. ^ Fans hail the return of ‘Queen of Coachella’ Vanessa Hudgens Independent.co.uk, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  26. ^ Anitta 2021: Hollywood Swimsuit.SI.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  27. ^ a b Was the Year of Red-Carpet Designers You've Never Heard Of Hollywoodreporter.com, Retrieved September 15, 2021
  28. ^ The 8 Most Stunning Outfits From Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' (Including Yeezy Leggings!) ETOnline.com, Retrieved June 24, 2016
  29. ^ Six 'Lemonade' Designers Talk About the Impact of Beyoncé's Project Complex.com, Retrieved June 24, 2016
  30. ^ Every Amazing Look Beyoncé Wore in 'Lemonade' HarpersBazaar.com, Retrieved June 24, 2016
  31. ^ "Every Amazing Look Beyoncé Wore in 'Lemonade'" Elle, Retrieved June 24, 2016
  32. ^ Best Fashion Looks from Beyoncé's Lemonade NYMag.com/thecut, Retrieved June 24, 2016
  33. ^ Bergdorf Goodman retrieved September 15, 2020
  34. ^ Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Costume Designer Unpacks Cultural References, Favorite Style Moments The Hollywood Reporter, retrieved, September 15, 2020
  35. ^ Tracking the treasure trove of fashion moments presented in Beyoncé’s Black Is King Vogue.com.au, retrieved September 16, 2020
  36. ^ The Best Designer Looks from Beyoncé's Black Is King Visual Album Harpersbazaar.com, retrieved September 16, 2020
  37. ^ Beyoncé's Black Is King film aims to start "a global conversation" says stylist Zerina Akers Deezeen.com, retrieved September 16, 2020
  38. ^ All of Beyoncé's Stunning Looks in the 'Already' Video: Pics Billboard.com, retrieved September 16, 2020
  39. ^ The Fashion World According to Beyoncé Vogue.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  40. ^ Renaissance Has Dropped And Beyoncé Looks Better Than Ever Vogue.co.uk, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  41. ^ Russia invades Ukraine Economist.com, Retrieved January 10, 2023
  42. ^ Ukrainian-Born Designer Natalia Fedner On Why We Must Continue Rallying Behind Her Birth Country Vogue.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023
  43. ^ Headliner of Columbus Fashion Week runway show gives back to her native Ukraine ABC6onyourside.com, Retrieved January 8, 2023

External links

  • http://nataliafedner.com
  • Natalia Fedner at IMDb