Co-founders Mina Yazdi and Olya Dzilikhova first met as colleagues in 2008 at a leading financial and communications consulting firm in San Francisco. After swiftly becoming close friends, they joined together with a shared vision and passion for fashion and sustainability that would ultimately lead to the debut of their ready-to-wear label mina+olya, in 2011. The early stages of mina+olya came out of their vision to develop a lifestyle brand that would fuse the gap between the aforementioned worlds, doing so by utilizing the highest quality sustainable and organic fabrics available. Mina and Olya’s individual, cultural backgrounds and combined aesthetic for classic silhouettes with a modern edge, shine through in their uniquely curated pieces. The ladies continue to be inspired by their Iranian and Russian heritages, applying subtle design touches with a common goal in mind: to create quality, sustainable garments that can be enjoyed over the years rather than merely with the passing of seasons. Our Clothing Mina + Olya is a luxury, sustainable clothing line focusing on Ready-to-Wear collections for women. We offer high-end apparel while being dedicated to minimizing our footprint on the environment and improving corporate social responsibility. Our mission is to highlight the usage of the highest quality sustainable materials available and the production of all garments in the United States in order to provide quality pieces for women. Our sustainable line strives to offer structured silhouettes with classic yet edgy elegance to the working woman with a downtown edge. Our apparel is made from sustainable material and all of our products are currently produced in United States. We use organic wool, silk, hemp, hemp/silk blends, Eco-leather, organic cotton and denim, and milk fibers. We believe there is no need to sacrifice great style to remain environmentally conscious, and consider ourselves to be at the forefront of the Green movement in the luxury market. Mina + Olya, does not just offer clothing, but rather a unique approach to a more earth-conscious lifestyle. Our Fabrics We use the highest quality fabrics available in the sustainable textiles industry. All of our garments are hand-finished, allowing the true beauty and quality of the materials to be seen. Below, you will find a brief description of the primary fabrics we use, including their unique qualities and benefits to the world around us. Hemp Hemp is a fast-growing renewable resource. Made from a plant, its texture helps create exceptional pieces without adding extra weight. It is breathable and light while still holding structure. Hemp fabric provides all the warmth and softness of natural textiles, but with a superior durability seldom found in other materials. Silk Silk is a natural fiber that, when produced organically, avoids usage of any chemical treatments, including insecticides and pesticides, or synthetic additives (used by some silk suppliers to provide additional softness). Hemp-Silk The hemp-silk blend we use for many of our dresses and suits is comprised of 60% hemp and 40% organic silk. Combining these two fibers creates a unique fabric with a luxuriously soft feel and beautiful draping capabilities. Wool Wool is a naturally anti-microbial fabric, meaning that it inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Additionally, wool is breathable, stain-resistant, and possesses thermal qualities that help maintain body temperature. In our collections, we use sustainable wool that is produced in the United States and dyed in an environmentally conscious manner. Cotton Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have minimal Impact on the environment. The production systems used for organic cotton help replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. In comparison, conventionally grown cotton consumes approximately 25% of insecticides and more than 10% of pesticides used in the world. Cotton-Denim Our sustainable denim is grown and produced in the United States and dyed at environmentally friendly mills. Milk Fiber An organic derivative of casein, the main protein in milk, this fiber possesses healing properties that range from acting as a natural antibacterial agent, to stimulating blood circulation and bettering air quality. As a byproduct of milk, this fabric contains hydrating and nourishing elements that make it exceptionally comfortable against the skin.