Spotlyts

In the Spotlight: Diana Stelin

Ivy Simms

I have a deep love for books, coffee, and flowers—simple joys that fuel my creativity and keep me grounded. Writing is not only my career but also my way of inspiring positive change in the world, one thoughtful word at a time.

Diana Stelin

“All the fabrics are based on unique paintings and are created in limited editions to maintain this element of a truly one-of-a-kind garment.”

– Diana Stelin

Diana Stelin’s Gallerista Fashion is a brand where artistry meets sustainability. In an era where fast fashion dominates, Diana’s approach stands out by merging her talents as a celebrated artist and educator with her passion for creating environmentally conscious fashion.

Diana, a TEDx speaker and Best of Boston award-winning educator, has a rich background that includes participation in the prestigious Venice Biennale and exhibitions in museums and large corporations. Her creativity hub, which serves as an art gallery, sustainable clothing boutique, and teaching studio, highlights her commitment to fostering creativity and promoting sustainability. Through Gallerista Fashion, she not only offers unique, art-inspired garments but also empowers mid-career female artists and designers.

In this interview, we explore how Diana infuses her deep knowledge of art into her fashion designs, her journey into the fashion industry, and the ways she tackles the intersections of art, education, and fashion to create a profound impact.

SM: Your fashion line, Gallerista Fashion, embraces sustainability and limited-edition designs. How do you infuse elements of artistry and creativity into your fashion pieces while maintaining a focus on environmental consciousness?

DS: All the fabrics are based on unique paintings and are created in limited editions to maintain this element of a truly one-of-a-kind garment. Fabrics are sourced from all over the world: Italian silk, Japanese Tencel, Indian bamboo. In terms of the style of the pieces, they are mid-century modern capsule classics. Because I want the fabrics to stand out and the garments to truly be versatile, prolonging their wear, they’re designed to be both daytime pieces as well as be upscaled for nighttime or office. I always hated the limited options of fabrics in the marketplace – the black that’s not a good fit for most of our complexions, the garish leopard prints, etc. This is an artist’s attempt to demonstrate that clothing can be practical and sophisticated at the same time.

Diana Stelin 2
Diana Stelin’s creativity hub, which serves as an art gallery, sustainable clothing boutique, and teaching studio, highlights her commitment to fostering creativity and promoting sustainability. (Photo credit: Diana Stelin)

SM: As an artist, how does your background in studio art influence your approach to designing fashion collections?

DS: My art is on every single piece. It creates a sophisticated and vibrant pattern. My deep knowledge of color theory produces pieces that work with any skin tone or complexion and go well with practically any other garment in someone’s closet. Moreover, I’m able to use composition skills to make sure the design enhances all the right curves and doesn’t make unexpected elements of the pattern seem protruding. I’ve taken way too many figure studies courses to not know the female figure’s advantages and flaws.

SM: Gallerista Fashion promotes empowerment and sustainability. Can you share with us a particular piece from your collection that embodies these values, and the story behind its creation?

DS: My most popular maxi dress, featured in Glamour, Goji magazine, Style Cruze, and others, is based on a landscape of Venice. It’s a statement piece that makes every woman feel empowered, stunning, and comfortable. The fabric is a weightless Italian silk and the cut is alluring across varied sizes. At the same time, the significance of Venice and its precarious position is also there. It’s a fairytale city that we treat as Disneyland and it’s on the brink of going under at any moment. I wanted this release to highlight how much of a muse Venice has been to designers and artists over the centuries, but also bring attention to its fragility.

SM: Your fashion line is relatively new, yet it has already garnered attention for its innovative designs. What inspired you to venture into the world of fashion, and what challenges have you encountered along the way?

DS: My first collection launched during Covid, created with a local tailor. When I turned 40, visions of garments kept coming to me every morning in the shower, and simply would not let me go. I went on a mastermind in January of next year in the company of 20 women from varied parts of the US, each an expert in a different industry, and shared this weird phenomenon. They all saw the passion in my eyes and urged me to pursue it. The first collection poured out in a complete state of flow. Because of the pandemic, however, and the limited channels of transport, it took me a while to get my bearings and find the right contacts for printing and manufacturing. I’m so thrilled to have been able to move my production to my home country of Moldova. It was a very serendipitous moment. I picked up an old Moncler jacket of mine and noticed that it was manufactured in Moldova! This prompted me to get in touch with my old classmates, whom I haven’t seen since I was 13, and inquire about various factories. I found a perfect boutique studio that is as passionate about sustainability as I am. They use German software to make sure that every single piece of my fabric is used in production.

Diana Stelin 3
“Many of us don’t recognize that we all have innate creativity and it’s my lifelong passion to show people that they possess it,” says Diana. (Photo credit: Diana Stelin)

SM: How do you see the fashion industry evolving in terms of embracing sustainability and promoting ethical practices, and what role do you envision Gallerista Fashion playing in this movement?

DS: I see brands making a larger commitment to educating the customer on various organic fabrics vs. synthetic and the importance of recycling materials. There are some powerful videos I’ve seen of fashion shows taking place in landfills in Chile, or footage by National Geographic of piles of second-hand clothing in Ghana. I also love the trend of re-using someone’s runway garments, prom dresses, or couture. For my part, I create samples of various fabrics just so clients can feel the difference between polyester and silk, Tencel and linen, etc. I encourage trying the garments on with free shipping, just so they can truly feel the fabric quality against their skin.

SM: Your career spans art, education, and fashion. How do you tackle the intersections between these fields, and how does each aspect inform the others in your creative process?

DS: The three elements go hand in hand on a daily basis. Whatever I paint during my travels can then be translated into fabrics. With such a large audience of children, I couldn’t help but create a line of mommy and me garments for our latest release. Lastly, I begin to look at my paintings from the perspective of wearable art. It’s always been tricky for me as a fine artist to delve into abstraction, but creating fabrics does just that!

SM: Gallerista Fashion aims to support mid-career female artists and designers. Can you elaborate on the importance of representation and diversity in the fashion industry, especially from the perspective of supporting women in the arts?

DS: I think women know women so much better than men: the insecurities about our unique bodies, the hidden desires, the need to look sophisticated, sexy, and confident at the same time. We want to look ageless but not trashy. We want to hide our flaws and highlight our most prominent features. I aim to not create pieces for the supermodels, but for the average powerful woman, whether she’s in menopause or in pre-teen development stages. At the same time, I love the female body and think it should be celebrated and not covered in oversize baggy designs, which is what I see in many trends for women over 30. I hope to bridge the gap between upscale and proud.

silk dress
“My most popular maxi dress, featured in Glamour, Goji magazine, Style Cruze, and others, is based on a landscape of Venice. It’s a statement piece that makes every woman feel empowered, stunning, and comfortable,” Diana says as she refers to her work. (Photo credit: Diana Stelin)

SM: Your background includes participating in the Venice Biennale and exhibiting in museums. How do these experiences in the art world influence your approach to curating and designing fashion collections?

DS: My favorite part about taking part in art fairs like Art Basel and the Venice Biennale is people watching. Creatives have this wonderful fresh approach that mixes and matches. They create standout looks effortlessly. I find myself constantly snapping inspiration photos of the attendees and the galleristas manning the booths, rather than the art. This is the reason I labeled my line ‘Gallerista’. I missed being part of this world when I left the gallery I managed and truly wanted to make garments that translate this very confident and creative segment of the workforce.

SM: In addition to your fashion endeavors, you also lead highly sought-after corporate events that focus on battling burnout through artmaking. How do you see creativity and self-expression intersecting with well-being, both in fashion and in other aspects of life?

DS: Our self-confidence is everything. That is the biggest battleground for mental health specialists. Many of us don’t recognize that we all have innate creativity and it’s my lifelong passion to show people that they possess it. I love doing this through fashion for some, with art for others, with quality art education for as many different segments of the audience as possible.

SM: Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for Gallerista Fashion, and how do you hope to continue bridging the worlds of art and fashion in your future endeavors?

DS: The goal is to go global and partner up with influencers who share my passion for artistry and sustainability. I’d love to see select pieces around the world and to hire additional designers with their own unique versions of fabrics and styles. I see a boutique in Paris in the future, in Barcelona, in Dubai, in Sydney. Those will be filled with art and fashion. 🔆

(Cover and video photo credits: Diana Stelin)

“I aim to not create pieces for the supermodels, but for the average powerful woman, whether she’s in menopause or in pre-teen development stages.”

– Diana Stelin

Useful Links

Connect with Diana and her work through the following links:

Note: This article also appears in the debut Spotlyts Magazine print and digital edition dedicated to fashion. Read below for further details.

Spotlyts Spotlights Fashion

The moment is finally here!

The inaugural issue of Spotlyts Magazine has been officially launched, shining a light on the transformative trends sweeping the fashion industry. Themed “Fashion Forward: Celebrating Diversity, Sustainability, and Innovation,” this edition explores the dynamic changes redefining the sector and features the stories and perspectives driving its evolution.

Gracing the cover is Alexis “Lexy” Silverstein, a champion of sustainable fashion, who embodies the magazine’s mission to highlight individuals, organizations, and initiatives promoting positive change.

This edition features exclusive interviews with notable figures, including:

  • Ann Chikahisa, Designer and Owner of Chikahisa Studio, who discusses the impact of fashion and the significance of talismanic jewelry.
  • Raegan Kerr, Founder and CEO of The Garde, who shares insights into the concept of elegant athleticism.
  • Sylvie Blum-Reid, Professor at the University of Florida, who explores the intersection of women, fashion, and film.
  • Emma Medeiros, President of Medeiros Fashion PR, who talks about inclusivity and innovation in fashion.
  • Deon Day, Owner of The Eyeshadow Pad, who addresses the revolution in cruelty-free makeup.
  • Diana Stelin, TEDx speaker and Owner of Gallerista Fashion, who discusses the artistry in fashion.
  • Elizabeth Wissinger, Professor at City University of New York, who offers insights on biodesign, glamour, and wearable technology.

Additional features highlight sustainable fashion, beauty revolutions, and the latest trends, with contributions from:

“Spotlyts Magazine Issue 1 – June 2024” celebrates the transformative power of fashion, offering inspiration and insight into a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative future.

A version of this article also appears on Google News.

Several other versions appear in hundreds of websites across the globe including FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC affiliates plus more.

Get Your Copy Today

Secure your coffee-table-worthy print and digital copies through the following links:

Spotlyts Magazine Issue 01 June 2024 Edition

By ALPJ and Sons Team in Spotlyts Magazine

130 pages, published 4/17/2025

Here now is the most-awaited Spotlyts Magazine inaugural edition dedicated to the transformative forces reshaping the world of fashion. Themed “Fashion Forward: Celebrating Diversity, Sustainability, and Innovation,” this issue explores the dynamic evolution within the industry and spotlights voices and stories that define its future.

🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆

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2 responses to “In the Spotlight: Diana Stelin”

  1. Fermosalua

    I love how the interview highlights the importance of artmaking —or any creative outlet, for that matter— in our mental health, especially to prevent burnout. The Venice dress is gorgeous!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Sam Waverley

      I’m glad you enjoyed the interview! It’s wonderful how artmaking and creative outlets can positively impact mental health and prevent burnout. The Venice dress is indeed stunning — it’s amazing how fashion and creativity can blend to inspire and uplift us.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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