LAST YEAR, when we were participating in Hudson Valley Sustainable Fashion Week (you can see our collection here), we were all especially wowed by one of the other designers’ collections: a reworked denim line called Olga Ella. Flash forward a few months and we were thrilled to welcome Olga Ella into the Made X Hudson mix. Made by Hudson Valley designer Kayla Donovan, the pieces are a mix of Kayla’s own designs (mostly sewn from deconstructed denim garments) and her inventive reimagining of vintage pieces, such as the shirtjackets that fly out our door. Kayla spoke with us about the origins and future of her brand—
How and when did you decide to start Olga Ella?
Starting a clothing brand was something I dreamed about from a young age — clothing has always been a constant for me. I studied Fashion Design in college to sharpen my skills, and in 2020, I officially launched Olga Ella.
How do you define the focus of it?
The focus of Olga Ella is creating clothing that feels lived-in from the start — pieces that bring comfort, confidence and a sense of ease. Everything begins with the material. I’m drawn to fabrics with texture, age or history, and I let them guide the shape and tone of each design. There’s a balance I’m always chasing: timeless silhouettes made personal, quiet details that hold weight, and a feeling that the garment was always meant to be yours. It’s about making things that last — not just in quality, but in connection.
Where did the name come from?
It’s a mix of my grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s names. Olga was a seamstress so there's some legacy in the name — and a connection to traditional craft.
Do you make everything yourself?
Yes. Everything is either made from original patterns I draft myself or reworked from vintage pieces I’ve sourced.
What’s your approach to sourcing fabrics?
I look for materials that already have a story—often vintage or second-hand. I choose pieces based on age, condition and where they come from. It’s about finding things with character and potential.
Have you always been in Upstate New York?
I grew up between Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania, then moved to Newburgh when I was younger. I studied Fashion Design in Philly, but eventually came back to the Hudson Valley. Being near family and nature just feels grounding.
What’s the hardest thing you’re trying to do?
Staying focused. I get easily pulled into the excitement of a new fabric or a design idea, which can make it hard to stick to the to-do list.
“Confidence builds over time, but intuition is usually a solid guide.”
What brings you the most excitement or sense of achievement?
Seeing an idea actually come to life — that feeling never gets old. Making one-of-a-kind garments, especially through textile work, is what lights me up. I’ve always been into manipulating texture and surfaces, and with Olga Ella I get to keep figuring out how to make those ideas repeatable.
What do you wish more people knew about your brand?
That it’s not just about denim — even if it looks that way right now. Denim fits the brand's values: durability, sustainability, handmade craft. But Olga Ella has always been about thoughtful sourcing and working with all kinds of materials that have depth and story.
What’s something you’ve learned about yourself or the business?
To trust my gut more. Running a small business means you're constantly learning new things, and you don’t always have a roadmap. Confidence builds over time, but intuition is usually a solid guide.
Where do you see Olga Ella going?
Right now, the next step is growing out of my small studio and into a space that better supports the work. Longer term, I want to share the brand with a wider audience and keep pushing into new textures and materials — while staying grounded in the values that started it all: slow process, heirloom quality and intentional design.
Thank you so much, Kayla!
Scroll down or click here to shop our Olga Ella inventory.
[ Last two photos courtesy of Kayla Donovan / Olga Ella, all others © Made X Hudson ]
