About Us

Rich History

The founders and the passion: how everything started from a friendship

The founders and the passion: how everything started from a friendship

The founders and the passion: how everything started from a friendship

Reviving the almost extinct Custom Dress Making Trade 

We are the only female run and owned tailors in Connecticut who are truly bespoke, as our 100% hand-tailored pieces are skillfully crafted for the most sophisticated women right in our Atelier in Darien CT, with our own hands.

Bespoke tailors mainly cater to men, leaving women who want to dress well often at a loss about where to get a well-cut shirt, suit, or dress.

The custom dressmaking trade is practically extinct. Even the most stylish and affluent women are prepared to wear the seemingly only choice of ready-to-wear, mass produced clothing.

They are left desperately hoping the piece will fit both the bust and the waist, or wishing it came with sleeves, or maybe in a different color/pattern.

About Us

Elena Niejelow and Svetlana Sokolova opened SOKAYRI Atelier and Boutique  in February of 2018 in the beautiful town of Darien to welcome their already existent private clients who came from far ranging places such as:  Long Island, Manhattan, Greenwich, Westport, Hartford and Vermont.

They would now offer the women in Connecticut an opportunity to experience the long-lost art of custom dressmaking while bringing it to a whole new level.  

Sokayri follows the ideals of old school tailoring, where quality is the main goal of the process, yet still applying modern techniques and keeping up with the pulse of fast-paced fashion trends

Svetlana is a third-generation tailor from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, she grew up among fabrics, patterns and elegant gowns, and now has dedicated her life to threads, needles and fine creations for ladies with the most  refined taste. When she moved to the United States, she immediately started receiving orders from her friends, and friends of theirs in turn.  

One of these was Elena Niejelow.

Svetlana and Elena met a birthday party, which both of their then 3-year old daughters attended.  

The two quickly became friends, and eventually business partners

They both share a passion for fashion, beautiful fabrics, and what can be created with their own hands in order for the woman who wears their creation to feel comfortable, beautiful and confident

Being better artists than business ladies, they care more for quality than cutting corners for profit

In fact, the process of making of a new bespoke garment is always magical and personal: you are creating something unique that reflects the personality of that particular individual for whom it is being made. 

Elena and Svetlana work on a flexible schedule and always welcome an open conversation with you to ensure the product they create is to your fullest satisfaction.

What is an Atelier?

Derived from the French word meaning “workshop,” an atelier is a private space for designers and/or prestigious fashion houses to produce their highest quality pieces, typically for there high end clientele. All couture is produced within the walls of these studios. An atelier is a sanctum of artistic creation, a space for designers to pursue their creative visions and manifest clients ideas into tangible realities. It is a space that nurtures collaboration, innovation, and the honing of traditional techniques passed down through generations.

What is Bespoke?

Bespoke refers to the process of creating clothing that is individually designed and tailored for a specific client. The process involves close collaboration between the client and a skilled tailor or designer to create a personalized piece that fits the client’s body shape, preferences, and style. Bespoke clothing is typically made in small-scale workshops or ateliers, with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and customization.

What is Couture?

Derived from the French word meaning ¨sewing¨ or ¨dressmaking¨, couture is a type of clothing sold by fashion designers/houses. The couture process entails creating high quality custom-fitted pieces of clothing typically for high end clientele looking for exclusive, cutting edge fashion designs. Couture is the epitome of luxury fashion, second only to haute-couture.