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Born in Bucharest, Romania, Yoana Baraschi was raised in a family of artists, rich in culture and style. Her mother, Elli Baraschi, was an educator and a true fashion icon who felt that being stylish and elegant was the ultimate creative expression for a woman.
In 1983, Yoana moved to New York and in 1986 she began working as a shoe designer for Mario Valentino and was introduced to the factories of Napoli and trade shows of Milan. During her many travels through Italy, Yoana was exposed to their fine tradition of craftsmanship, working with the best in the trade, which gave her a strong reference point for her career.
The turning point of Yoana’s designer career came in 1999, when she began working as Creative Director for Betsey Johnson. She was heavily influenced by not only business success the company had achieved, but also Betsey’s own originality and vision. It was this time period that allowed Yoana the courage to live her own vision and believe that she could start her own collection. In 2002, armed with her first sample collection created in her bedroom, Yoana was able to find a showroom to represent her line, received her first order from Saks Fifth Avenue, and was invited to participate in the esteemed Intermezzo Trade Show.
Yoana Baraschi now has showrooms representing her collection in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and London and can be found in approximately 500 specialty boutiques globally. During her 6 years in business, Yoana has continued to amass an impressive roster of fans among young and stylish Hollywood: Halle Berry, Sienna Miller, Paris Hilton, Rachel Bilson, Heidi Klum and Lauren Conrad.
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