Fashion designer Camelia Skikos starts her creative process with a sketch of the human body. “It’s a habit I learned while studying artistic anatomy in Romania. It helps me design clothes that fit well,” says the 38-year-old, who honed her skills as a designer at Levi’s and Gap before launching her eponymous label in 2010. Precise tailoring is the common thread in all of Skikos’ collections, which exhibit duality in a structured silhouette and softer, more natural shapes. Drawing from her heritage, the Fall 2013 collection was inspired by Romanian rug patterns, Northern Transylvanian peasant dresses, and gothic churches. “Growing up in a country that was caged by communism and dictatorship, I learned to discover the hidden beauty around me and transform it into fashion,” she says. Shop Skikos’ bold constructions at Wonderland and 440 Brannan.

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This article was published in 7x7's September issue. Click here to subscribe.