Hey Everyone,
It's Teya!
...a sketchook in my hands and a million dresses in my head...
My story and the story of I Draw Fashion are like two pages in an open sketchbook—different yet connected and inseparable. As I share this brand's journey, I'll also reveal my own path as a creative soul seeking fulfillment, peace, and freedom.
Fashion UniversityI was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1987, and like many of you, I grew up with a sketchbook in my hands and a million dresses in my head. Thanks to my amazing family, I kept drawing and drawing until I turned 18 and got into my dream university for Fashion Design.
Fashion World's BiasStudying Fashion Design taught me two things: I love drawing more than designing, and the fashion industry highly values drawing skills. I consistently received more opportunities than my talented classmates simply because I could draw better. While I couldn't change this unfairness in the industry, I realized I could help other designers improve their skills. So, that's what I set out to do.
The Birth of I Draw FashionOn August 8th, 2011, I used all my savings to hire a web developer and create I Draw Fashion. Firmly believing that anyone could draw well by following a simple, step-by-step tutorial, I was eager to share my drawing secrets with fellow designers around the world.
Golden AgeFor the next 7 years, I poured my heart into creating everything I felt was missing in the aspiring designer's world. I made tutorials, templates, online courses, internships, and contests! I was totally dedicated to providing the fashion world with all the resources I wished I'd had when I was starting out. The site grew quickly and became the go-to place for fashion sketching.
OPPORTUNITIESAs the site grew, certain people started advising me on how to turn my platform into a business. Eventually, I listened. I shifted "I Draw Fashion" to a subscription model, which was not aligned with my personal values. This made me feel inauthentic and led to a burnout so severe that I could hardly look at my website.
The big VoidThe pressure to create content, engage on social media, and focus on marketing and sales was overwhelming. I felt creatively drained and stopped enjoying my work. I realized I had strayed far from what I once loved and cared about.
RediscoveryThanks to my fiancé, I fought through my anxiety and decided to go back to my roots. I want to do things the way I believe is right: calm and authentic, without subscriptions or frantic marketing. I aim to create high-value content for my fellow designers again—content that I feel connected to and love.
New BeginningWe are here today. A fresh new beginning. I'm excited to share this new chapter of I Draw Fashion with you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this journey!
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Some fun facts about me
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I'm a fashion illustrator and educator from Bulgaria, helping designers improve their sketches
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I've published over 50 Books on Amazon
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I’m working on an upcoming fashion game app
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I'm illustrating for fashion brands across the world last 15 years
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I’ve traveled to the US, France, Italy, Germany, Israel, Georgia, Greece and lived in Spain for a while
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For 4 years I’ve taught Digital Art at Bulgaria’s top Art University
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I live with my fiancé and our two cats in Plovdiv, Europe’s Oldest City ( est. 8000 ago)
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In my free time I enjoy dancing, deep conversations, drinking tea and listening to true crime stories