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Nero Notte: ‘Success doesn’t happen overnight. It is a continuous battle’

Nero Notte: ‘Success doesn’t happen overnight. It is a continuous battle’


by IMAGE
21st May 2025

Coming from three generations of tailoring, when Izabela found the designs she was creating for an international clothing company flying off the shelves of leading Irish and UK fashion labels, she decided to create her own. Together, Izabela and her daughter Paulina created Nero Notte, the fashion label designing bespoke couture and ready-to-wear collections.

I am Izabela, the creative behind Nero Notte – a brand inspired by elegance, raw and deep emotions. I do not see myself as a fashion designer, but rather a fashion creator. The creative process starts with my muse, someone who inspires me to select a certain fabric and shape based on her silhouette and energy. Nero Notte was born in the darkness – where others fear to look, I see beauty. Nero Notte doesn’t light up the darkness but rather brings the darkness into the spotlight.

My mission as the Nero Notte creator is to empower women to embrace their darker side. The way I see it, you do not have to be afraid of the darkness. I feel that everyone has two sides: a dark and a bright side. When you embrace both, that’s when you can know yourself and love yourself.

I didn’t always want to be a designer. My education and experience are in manufacturing management and garment technology. Over my 30 years of professional work for other brands and designers, I realised that I have a very unique approach to fashion. Most of my creations became a massive success, and I finally came to the conclusion that I should start my own label, which is how I became a fashion creator for Nero Notte.

Nero Notte aims to present a different approach to creating fashion collections. The main focus of the brand is the Merit Collection; timeless pieces created from plant-based and natural fabrics, elegant and luxurious with a sprinkle of raw beauty. We aim to deliver a timeless collection that will never go out of stock. Limited ready-to-wear will be introduced twice a year, including on-trend pieces, along with my biggest passion, the couture collection, which will be available only by order and individually crafted for one’s silhouette and personality.

Every brand and business needs financial support when starting out. I am in a lucky position of currently being the owner of established businesses, so funding Nero Notte was never a concern. However, as a businesswoman, I do understand the need for funding in the future as the brand expands globally, and we already have a plan in place.

The best business advice I have received and experienced is to find your people and create a team with which you can ride or die. Let them grow, let them make mistakes, let them build your business with you, invest in your team, enjoy successes together, and respect your people. Your team becomes a part of your tribe. That’s the lesson from my grandfather and my lived experience.

The best business advice I can give is to put your clients on a pedestal. It’s not about your brand, it’s not about your designs, it’s not about you! It’s all about how you make others feel in your creation. Make sure they are the queens in the spotlight.

My most useful learning since setting up a business is not to give up! Really, don’t give up. I had moments when I cried on the floor at night. On many occasions, I thought I was going to lose my mind. If this is your passion, don’t let it go. Embrace, enjoy, and pursue your dreams!

I am proud of every little success. I celebrate positive moments in my life, both personal and professional. I am a highly emotional person, and I am proud when I see the final result of my creations. I am proud of each girl wearing Nero Notte and most of all, I am really proud of myself and my daughter, Paulina, for overcoming every obstacle and never giving up! Success doesn’t happen overnight. It is a continuous battle.

I want people to remember the feeling of wearing Nero Notte pieces. Nero Notte isn’t just fashion, it’s a movement of emotions that comes with wearing my creations. I want my brand to be remembered for this feeling.

As a pattern maker and garment technologist with over 30 years of experience, I know construction and fashion standards, but I love to break the rules. I shape fabric instinctively, sculpting each piece to move with the body, not just sit on it. There are no laws of fashion when it comes to my creations – just raw precision, unexpected textures, and silhouettes that challenge the norm.

This year, Nero Notte is creating seven couture gowns for a red carpet event in May, which will be available to order through our website. For the rest of the year, we will focus on putting together the Merit Collection and the Ready to Wear Collection, which will be available to buy from next year.

neronotte.ie

Photography by Michael D’Angelo, @shotsbymda.

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