Violetta Onishchenko
About her journey.
Violetta always wanted to be a fashion designer. After graduating from Central Saint Martins with a BA in textile design she found herself working on a number of part-time jobs alongside chasing her dream. She was then pragmatically steered towards the stability of a legal career by her father.
Reluctantly, agreeing with her father, Violetta described the first year of studying law as a real struggle, finding the dense language of legal terminology challenging despite being fluent in English since attending school in England from her native Russia at the age of 11.
A turning point came during a volunteering placement as a student advisor. That was the moment Violetta was able to use her ability to read, understand and consume information to help somebody. After years of studies and gaining paralegal experience Violetta qualified in 2019 as a solicitor of the High Courts of England and Wales while working with Anglo-Russian clients in family law.
During her time working in the legal sector, Violetta continued to be creative. In 2018 she discovered macrame and started using this ancient knotting technique as a way to relax, express her creativity and make fashion.
Macrame…
Eventually macrame took centre stage and at nine months pregnant, during the 2020 pandemic, Violetta registered her fashion brand VIITTA. She was determined to realise her dream.
Over the past 3 years VIITTA has developed from a sustainable fashion brand to VIITTA HOUSE, a creative and supportive community that offers sustainable fashion, mindful macrame masterclasses, internships and coaching.
The ‘day retreat’ begins with a group meditation followed by a connection game and macrame skills where Violetta teaches macrame patterns. Appearing extremely complex at first glance, Violetta patiently and with clear directions guides her guests through the basic macrame knots and enables them to apply newly gained skills to create beautiful patterns.
Violetta explains that her masterclasses are not only about the incredible results at the end, but the creative journey itself. The repetitive and meditative process of tying knots, self-reflection and shared energy in the room makes it an unforgettable, mindful experience that supports creativity and mental health.
Violetta says: ‘Whether as a lawyer or a fashion designer, I always had a natural ability to learn and explain complicated things in a simple manner and help people. This is what brings me joy – to be able to help others’.
A few more facts about Violetta:
Founder and Teacher of VIITTA Macrame Masterclasses which use an ancient knotting technique for mindful creation of sustainable fashion
Inspirational public speaker with events hosted in schools, corporate spaces and online
Former family law solicitor of the High Courts of England and Wales
BA Textile Design graduate from Central Saint Martins, London
After taking VIITTA Macrame Masterclasses, Violetta’s guests say:
‘…you have motivated me even more to follow my dream and make my creative work a side job one day.’
‘Violetta is an incredibly patient tutor…’
‘…I also learnt that if you want something you should always work towards it and not give up on your dreams.’
‘ I enjoyed the energy, the feminine get together, the fact that Violetta is encouraging inexperienced people with macrame to create something amazing and complex.‘
‘ …everyone was so nice and it was so relaxed you could be yourself.’
We are looking forward to sharing this beautiful synergy between Love Life Retreats and VIITTA sustainable fashion.
“ It’s not just about the amazing results at the end of the class, and how empowered and beautiful the person feels wearing a garment they made with their own hands, but the creative journey itself. The repetitive and meditative process of tying knots, self-reflection and shared energy in the space makes it an unforgettable, mindful experience that supports creativity and mental health.”