Stitching a dream: How a young woman entrepreneur, supported by Helvetas Moldova, is expanding her fashion business

"I started nothing," Ludmila said. “That first grant gave me momentum. I began sewing dresses and skirts with an unusual style.” While studying design at the Technical University of Moldova, she dreamed of creating clothing that celebrated women's individuality. Without savings or investors, she relied on determination and creativity to transform that vision into a business. Then the world changed. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted sales just as her business was beginning to grow. To support herself, Ludmila took a job as a sales consultant while continuing to develop her brand in her spare time. 

A mentor encouraged her to focus on finding a clear market niche. She developed her first collection of signature shirts, only to face another setback when Russia invaded Ukraine. “We made the first models of shirts. And the war began," she recalled. Sales stopped almost overnight. Months later, an unexpected opportunity helped revive her business. A Moldovan influencer agreed to promote her products free of charge, introducing her designs to a much wider audience. "That was the moment I understood the importance of promotion," Ludmila said.

Today, Ludmila produces shirts, trousers, dresses, and skirts distinguished by a unique business style. All products are made primarily from cotton. The internal seams are closed-type, which provides quality, durability, and a premium appearance to the product. All buttons are made of natural shell and are hand-sewn. The product packaging is original, featuring a custom design made of craft cardboard. Yet quality alone was not enough to compete in a small and challenging market. Like many young entrepreneurs in Moldova, Ludmila required new equipment, stronger marketing and professional business guidance to be able to survive in a small market and dream about expansion. One day, she hopes to open a boutique in France showcasing clothing designed and produced in Moldova.

In 2026, Helvetas Moldova, through the OPTIM project, launched an initiative with XY Partners to help young women entrepreneurs grow their businesses through mentoring and non-refundable grants. Ludmila was among 32 women selected for the programme. "We learned from people who really manage businesses and make money," she said. “Their energy and vision gave me the opportunity to move forward.”

She purchased a new sewing machine, signed contracts with influencers, and plans to develop a website to increase her brand’s visibility nationally and internationally. "The new sewing machine will allow me to hire another person," Ludmila said. “We also plan to move into a larger space. Promotion means more sales and the opportunity to expand my business.”

Beyond financial support, the programme connected her with other entrepreneurs and started new collaborations. "Today, I partner with another entrepreneur from the project who also received a grant and manages a clothing manufacturing factory," she said.

The mentoring also changed how she approaches business management. "My mentors opened my eyes," Ludmila said. “They encouraged me to manage inventory more strategically, employ more people and think bigger.”

She also believes that expanding access to grants and business support could help more women entrepreneurs overcome common barriers, including rising rental and energy costs, limited human resources, and high marketing costs. "Currently, we have to invest many resources in promotion to attract new clients," Ludmila said. “Before this programme, we didn't have access to grants that covered services such as promotion. This support has made a real difference.”

The project was implemented by XY with support from the Swiss Government and Helvetas Moldova through the OPTIM project.