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After learning in high school that fashion design could be a career, Laura Bavlanka worked backstage at Paris fashion shows, got a corporate job in the industry – and then took a “leap of faith” and launched her own brand.
And in a world full of fast fashion, Bavlanka says she strives to run the Bavlanka brand as ethically and responsibly as possible.
From her North Avenue atelier, Bavelka works on a new clothing collection, makes jewelry, makes alterations — including the most important dress a man can wear — and, naturally, paints accessories. She also hosts workshops to teach others how natural dyeing is possible.
“I’m creating something that’s really unique and feels good to me and meets people’s needs,” she says. “I want people to feel good about what they wear. And if I can help them do that, that makes me very happy.”
Her high school art teachers nurtured her passion for fashion.
Bavelka has always been interested in fashion and entrepreneurship. At Wauwatosa West High School, she made her own backpacks out of woven fabric and began selling them to other students. She also makes and sells custom garters for prom.
Selena Marris, an art teacher at West for two decades, was the first person to tell Bavelka that fashion design could be a career.
Marris Bavlanka explains how she always asks a lot of questions, appreciates feedback and goes the extra mile on projects. Marris still remembers Bavlanka, a cocktail dress made of wood chips in one of the rooms.
That same day, Marris asked Bavlanka if she had ever considered pursuing fashion as a career, receiving a flyer from the Rhode Island School of Design about their pre-college summer program. Marris told the then-teenager Bavlanka about the school’s offer and encouraged her to apply.
For six weeks that summer, Bavelka — away from home for more than a night or two — lived in a RISD dorm, took art classes and “got a glimpse of what art school was like.”
When Bavlanka returned to West for her senior year, Marris said she had a “twinkle in her eye.”
“I remember her saying, ‘I can really see myself doing this,'” Marris said.
“I was lucky at 17 because I knew what I wanted to pursue,” Bavlanka said. “The rest kind of fell into place from there.”
She decided to study apparel product development at Mount Mary University, which had a program that allowed her to spend a month in Paris and work in fashion shows.
During the winter break of her youth – during the week of dress fashion – Bavlanka studied at the American Academy in Paris and learned clothing techniques, including hand sewing and making special materials. She also worked backstage at the menswear fashion shows of Alexandre Vautier, Clarisse Hiraix, Georges Hobeka and Songzio, and spent a day interning at couture house Didit Heidiprasetyo.
In the year She develops concepts and color palettes for each season, works with artists in design and advises suppliers.
But she wanted more creativity. After three years, she “went to see if I could do something on my own and make it 100% completely creative.”
In the year
For 4½ years, Bavlanka worked as a barista to make ends meet. In November, she was able to leave your side hustle to pursue her art full-time.
Bavlanka specializes in natural dyeing with plant materials and helps to learn other methods
Naturally dyed silk scarves, bands and more are displayed in front of Bavlanka’s atelier.
She first learned how to dye with synthetic dyes in college, but it wasn’t until about five years ago that she began venturing into the world of natural dyes, and it became the mainstay of her business.
One of the techniques she uses most often is the roll color. Bavlanka pre-adds natural fabrics – preferably silk or 100% cotton – to absorb the dye. She sprinkles the fabric with plant materials to give a permanent color. Some of her favorites to work with: flower petals, especially roses, ranunculus and marigolds; Onion skins: And Eucalyptus.
They can be fresh or dried, but they give different colors – for example, fresh roses produce a purple color and dried ones give more brown tones.
Bavelka folds the material into a small bundle and wraps it with thread and steams it in a pot, which pulls the dye from the plant material and binds it to the fabric.
“When you open it up, you get this really beautiful, dark look from the plant material touching the fabric,” Bavlanka said.
Bavlanka says that in her years of being a natural dyer, she’s learned how to replicate items that perform well for her business.
“The most interesting thing is that even when I use the same materials in the same way, it becomes a completely new piece,” she said.
Bavlanka teaches natural dyeing workshops at venues in the Milwaukee area, from Unusual Omen Floristry to The Orange and Blue Company.
After giving an overview of the science and thousands of years of history behind natural dyes, she teaches participants how to use dyes and each participant dyes a silk scarf.
“It’s a relatively simple process, so anyone, artistic or not, can walk away with something special,” says Bavlanka.
A new collection of high quality everyday clothes and jewelry
Bavelka is planning to launch a new clothing collection “Women’s” high casual wear soon. It features natural fiber textiles and naturally dyed fabrics, as well as handmade embellishments. She said she is using almost all dead fabrics, materials that are already made and headed for landfills.
The collection includes at least one dress, a romper and layering pieces, such as shar jackets. The pieces are offered on a made-to-order basis, meaning people can order the pieces they want in a certain size and they will be custom-made, Bavlanka said.
She plans to release jewelry to complement her new designs.
“When I’m making clothes, I’m looking at the whole look,” she said. “And it includes jewelry to go with it.”
Her specialty ranges from simple and elegant to large and elaborate earrings – all with a bohemian charm.
She makes most of her pieces from upcycled materials, scraps of jewelry she’s salvaged from thrift stores, and locally sourced beads.
“I’m trying to create a very sustainable approach to everything I do,” she said. “When people hear about how it’s done, they’re going to connect with it and care for it and want to keep it for a long time.”
An elaborate change is made in the classic dresses, wedding dresses
Bavlanka plans to transform her business into helping customers “love their clothes.” She works on vintage dresses and bridal, and some of her favorite jobs are transforming vintage wedding dresses.
Milwaukee resident Jessica Sheridan wanted to use her mother’s ’80s wedding dress for her own wedding, where it served as a mix of old and new.
“Her dress was beautiful, but it just wasn’t my style,” Sheridan said. “I wanted to modernize it and make it my own.”
The original dress had sleeves, lace trim, a pleat above the bust area, and a v-neck outlined in lace. Taking the overall shape, Bavlanka removed the sleeves and turtlenecks. She created straps from the lace on the main dress and gave Sheridan the sweetheart neckline he wanted.
She tweaked the yellow color and dye, changing a portion of the bottom of the dress where the color was too strong and using the lace from the original dress to make a Sheridan garter.
Sheridan said Bavlanka improved throughout the process and had her come in for several fittings to make sure she liked how the dress turned out.
“Trusting someone with an heirloom like your mother’s wedding dress is very nerve-wracking,” Sheridan said. “But with Laura I had no worries.”
When Sheridan’s wedding day arrived in April 2018, she said she felt incredible in her “beautiful” and “ethereal” dress.
“It was an invaluable experience for myself and my mom,” Sheridan said.
Inspiring future generations
Bavlnka brand naturally dyed accessories and jewelry can be purchased at bavlnkabrand.com. That’s also where people can contact Bavlanka about makeovers and her new clothing line.
During the holidays, Bavlanka sells her products from her atelier at 5209 West North Ave. One of her clients? Her former teacher, Marris.
Marris said she shares Bavlnka’s journey with her current students to inspire them and show them what’s possible.
“Sometimes when you’re in high school, you think, ‘Could it really be me?’ ” Marris said. “Well, there’s someone sitting right here in your chair doing this.”
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