Albena Alexandrova is a famous fashion expert and designer.

She has graduated from Sofia University with a degree in Slavic Languages and Literature, as well as from the School of Fashion Design at the Institute of Marketing in Sofia, in the class of the famous designer Georgi Kolev. Later she specialized in Fashion Marketing of Luxury Goods at the BOCCONI University in Milan (Italy).

In 1991 she created the brand “Roshavata Garga” which has become a leader in women's fashion and has had over 120 art creations in its history - fashion shows and performances. Her collections enjoy success not only in her motherland Bulgaria but also in Italy, France, the Netherlands, Russia and the USA.

Her list of thankful clients, friends and celebrities who are her followers and loyal fans, is quite impressive and includes names like Lily Ivanova, Anja Pencheva, Nona Yotova, Elena Petrova, Stefania Koleva, Christina Dimitrova, Iskra Radeva, Margarita Hranova, Silvia Katsarova, Ivana and many others.

For one of her favorite collections “Her Majesty the Trousers” in 1999, the designer invited as a face Stefka Kostadinova - a world record holder in the discipline of high jump.
“The dress might be the soul of a woman, but the Trousers are her character,” says Alexandrova.

The collections “My Country, My Bulgaria”, as well as “11.11.11.” with Ed Hardy's models, were shown on FTV.

In 2003 Albena dedicated the collection ”Dressed In Business“ to her grandparents from whom she had inherited the tradition of the fashion craft.

“I grew up around the beautiful fabrics from which my grandmother made dresses for us. I don’t like the boring ready-made clothes. I learned to be different and elegant. The women around me, both my mother and my grandmother, were constantly educating me. Without even suspecting, they participated in my evolution as a designer. I had my first red-lined tweed cloak and a favorite pleated tartan skirt. Grandpa, my mother's father, worked in “Bulgarian Silk” and never went out without a silk tie and a bowler hat”, remembers Albena.

 

 

 

For two consecutive years in 2005 - 2006, LAVAZZA invited Albena Alexandrova to make collections for them on the themes “First Class” (2005) and “The Cat Woman” (2006) for the presentation of the annual calendar of the famous coffee brand. Inspired by the provocative visions, the designer built part of an airplane on the stage of Kempinski Hotel Zografski Sofia, where she showed fusion models - trends from the 1950s, skillfully combined with the sex appeal of today's superheroines.

For the first time in the history of the prestigious brand, they invited the same designer to make a collection for two consecutive years. This gesture inspired Albena even more and she created a super futuristic Cat Woman for her next LAVAZZA show.

 

In 2008 Albena made her impressive musical show “Ah, This City” with the participation of Orlin Pavlov, Stefan Shterev and the theater 4xC.

“Spring Has Come” (1993), “Come See Me” (1995), “10 Years Later...” (2001), “Mirror” (2003-04), “The Back - the Face of Our Garment” (2005), “Aphrodisiac”(2006), “One More Day of Fashion - Lean Warming” (29th February 2008), “Chained in Beauty - Global Warming” (2007-2008), “Allegro” (2015), “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears” (2016) are only a small part of the artistic names of her shows.

In 2009 Albena was invited to present her fashion show in Rome on the occasion of the Day of Rome – June 29th. “Sofia Greets Rome” was the motto of the show that took place in the magnificent gardens of the famous Sant’Angelo Castle. Among the many VIP guests there were renowned public figures like Marco Di Stefano, Deputy Governor of the Lazio Region, Silvio Di Francia, a well-known Italian journalist and former Deputy Mayor for Culture in Rome, Antonella Di Giusti, Mayor of the historical part of Rome, journalists from many Italian media, as well as from RAI Uno TV.

In 2012 Albena created fashion travel notes - a cruise collection shot on a ship during a trip and guided by the colorful thought that “the most beautiful female quality is Recklessness”!
Specially invited by the Union of Bulgarian Artists (UBA) and personally by Angelo Krasini, this marine collection was shown in an exceptionally unusual way in the UBA Gallery “Shipka 6”.

In 2015 Albena was invited to open the first edition of Sofia Fashion Week. “After Dark” is a summer collection by the designer Albena Alekandrova representing fashion allusions to some signature Bossa Nova jazz pieces - a collection of Roshavata Garga for which Albena says: “It is out of all categories! It is my romantic flirt with the sea!”

In 1996 Albena went to Paris where she practiced fashion at Yves Saint Laurent's headquarters. Two years later she became their representative for Bulgaria and since 2000 she also added to her boutique the brands Sonia Rykiel, Nina Ricci, Cacharel, Jean-Louis Scherrer, Castelbajac, Faust.

In 2001 she met Hanae Mori in Paris. The same year she became her exclusive representative for Bulgaria with her HAUTE COUTURE line.

In 2002 Albena created the HOUSE FOR HIGH FASHION - ALBENA ALEXANDROVA. She creates made-to-measure clothes, consults and works individually with her prestigious clients.
“On a quiet street in the center of Sofia you can find one of the city’s architectural monuments, built at the beginning of the 20th century in a Late Secession style. After a major renovation that kept the spirit of the building and its time, the first two floors became a boutique and a fashion house. Thus, the second floor was occupied by the first Bulgarian High Fashion House ALBENA ALEXANDROVA,” announces a quote from the press.

 

 

In 2002 Albena created the HOUSE FOR HIGH FASHION - ALBENA ALEXANDROVA. She creates made-to-measure clothes, consults and works individually with her prestigious clients.
“On a quiet street in the center of Sofia you can find one of the city’s architectural monuments, built at the beginning of the 20th century in a Late Secession style. After a major renovation that kept the spirit of the building and its time, the first two floors became a boutique and a fashion house. Thus, the second floor was occupied by the first Bulgarian High Fashion House ALBENA ALEXANDROVA,” announces a quote from the press.

In 2017 Albena Alexandrova sold the brand ROSHAVATA GARGA to her longtime client Gabriela Koleva, who continues to develop the house and create in the field of fashion design.

Albena Alexandrova was invited three times to dress the Barbie doll as her model. One of her themes was “Let's save Sofia from the trash!”, so she dressed her Barbie out of waste materials collected from the street. The doll was sold at an auction and the money was donated to the cause “Let's clean Sofia!”

MTEL Bulgaria invited Albena Alexandrova to create an original panel for Samsung mobile phone. In its vision she incorporated the history of “Roshavata Garga” (“the shaggy crow”):

 

“The crow does not sit in a cage,

in a fashion dress

she flies away...”

                                                               /A quote from a poetry collection dedicated to Albena by her father, Lozan Takev/

Albena works with students in Fashion and Design from the Bulgarian National Academy of Arts, New Bulgarian University, Varna University and others. Each year she holds competitions for young designers, aiming to help young and talented colleagues in their recognition as names in the fashion industry. The condition for participation is to make the project from start to finish - from the drawing to the sewing of the garment, under the control of the fashion house stylist. Successful creations take part in “Roshavata Garga” show along with Albena Alexandrova’s models.
For several consecutive years, Mrs. Alexandrova was chairman of the jury for young designers of the Panorama of Vocational Education, organized by the Ministry of Education and Science.

Her artistic talents inspired Albena to create THEATER IN A HOUSE where she staged a play based on Agnieszka Osiecka’s playscripts “When There Is No Appetite For Cherries”, “The Stars No Longer Shine” and “A Suitcase Of Life”. Albena graduated in Synthetic Stage Art at Plovdiv University in the class of Nikolay Georgiev, so this was her diploma work as a director and costume designer. The main roles were played by Nona Yotova and Stefan Popov.

“The theater that we know and have communicated with so far (for centuries) got older and withered. And so it stripped off its skin, but didn’t put on another. Instead, it changed its nature, its whole body. It no longer relies only on being listened to or watched. It wants to take place here and now, with us...“

In 2005 Albena was invited to host the lifestyle show “Dolce Vita” on Europa TV.
In 2006 Albena was the chief stylist of the show “Mirrors” on BTV.
In 2008 the owner of TV7 invited Albena to make her own fashion show. Thus “Fashion with Albena Alexandrova” appeared in the morning block of TV7 and one year later she became the author and producer of “Fashion Virus”. Celebrities were invited as guests of the show to share their secret for the "fashion virus". Every Saturday in the five sub-programs – “In the Fitting Room”, “Fashion Diagnosis”, “In First Person”, “1/3”, “Don’t Watch This Program” the hostess was looking for fashion in the surrounding world, showing its different aspects.

 

 

In 2010 she became Chief stylist of TV7 and News 7, a CNN affiliate for Bulgaria. Albena introduced a new TV culture in the style and manner of dressing up and presenting the different hosts.
The TV talent show “Music Academy” invited Albena to be their stylist, where she dressed Bulgarian pop stars like Etienne Levy, Stanley, Kichka Bodurova, Petya Boyuklieva and Kotseto Kalki.

 

In 2007 Albena realized her 15-year-old dream.
After a training in Schwarzwald in 1991 on managing beauty salons, she became the representative of a cosmetic brand for Bulgaria.
She had a strong desire to create her own BEAUTY FARM where fashion, body care and good looks would meet together.
So, in 2007 appeared RUDRAAKSHA Massage Gallery - a different place for deep relaxation and recharge. Influenced by unique Asia, Albena got initiated in Reiki and engaged in Shiatsu and Thai massages. She carefully selected classic and Eastern techniques and therapies and created an elegant interior where the clients could enjoy their personal space. She travelled to Thailand to train her team in the art of massage, to India to immerse herself in the ancient philosophy of Ayurveda, then to Bali to enjoy CRYSTAL HEALING.
“We don’t just do massage. This is what we call art!”, shares the founder of RUDRAAKSHA.

 Albena is actively involved with Sacral Architecture of the Female Body, an exceptional practice for the proper building of our body - the temple of our soul. She leads individual practices with her clients.

 

Albena has her own publishing house – “Alexandrova Design”.
She writes poems, essays and publishes the books of her father Lozan Takev who was a famous poet, satirist, publicist, author of the song Severina.

 

 

In 2015 she graduated with honorous diploma of her Master's degree in Lifestyle Journalism at Sofia University in the course of Prof. Lubomir Stoykov.
In 2016 the designer published her book “Elegance and Style in 7 Steps with Albena Alexandrova” - a guide to a sophisticated personal style in business and life.

 

 

Albena organizes seminars on “Building a Personal and Professional Fashion Image” through individual or group consultations.
She makes personal styling consultations for her clients and provides guidance when renewing the seasonal wardrobe.
“Having your own style is a matter of self-confidence.” AA

 

 

 

The idea of ​​uniting artistic people in Bulgaria leads to the creation of CAFÉ SOCIETY by Albena ALEXANDER.
“I’d like to bring together Bulgarian design artists in the field of clothing, jewelry, accessories and interior decoration, as well as some of our talented painters. I use the symbolism and the avant-garde significance of the Café Society, and transfer it to our native authors worthy of presentation abroad. I will mention the names of Daniela Andreevska - jeweler with a unique style; Teodor Lulchev – distinctive in his design; Violeta Naydenova - in her hands the leather dances; and myself – with a line of clothes in “easy to wear” style. I will present an interesting collection of paintings and artists - Vihroni Popnedelev, Ivan Georgiev-Rembrandt, Dechko Uzunov, Kazakov, Encho Pironkov, Genko Genkov, Shtarkelov, Zlatio Boyadjiev, Jules Pascin, Iliya Beshkov, Petko Arnaudov, Niki Yanakiev and many others,” says Albena Alexandrova.

Albena Alexandrova was presented 3 times with the most prestigious fashion award in Bulgaria “Golden Needle”, as well as with many other awards in the fashion industry.

 

AWARDS:

1997 - Award for HIGH AND AVANT-GARDE  FASHION in the section “Fashion Houses and Galleries”

2001 - GOLDEN NEEDLE for Designer of the Year by ACADEMY OF FASHION

2002 - Nomination for INTERNATIONAL QUALITY CROWN AWARD - LONDON

2004 - GOLDEN NEEDLE for Designer of the Year by ACADEMY OF FASHION

2004 - Nomination for GREAT WOMEN of the 21st Century - American  Biographical Institute

2005 - ULPIA SERDICA Award for the Best Interior of Roshavata Garga boutique

2005 - ULPIA SERDICA Award for the Most Elegant Designer

2006 - GOLDEN NEEDLE for Designer of the Year by ACADEMY OF FASHION

2008 - MRS. LADY  of the Year

2008 -  DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
2009 - BUSINESS  LADY of the Year

2014 - for contribution to vocational education by the “Panorama of Vocational Education” of the Ministry of Education and Culture

2015 - for contribution to vocational education by the “Panorama of Vocational Education” of the Ministry of Education and Culture