Natalia Fedner
Natalia Fedner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chernivtsi, Ukrainian SSR (present-day Ukraine) |
| Occupation(s) | Fashion designer, inventor, artist, actress |
| Known for | Developing a unique six-way stretch metal fabric |
Natalia Fedner is an American fashion designer, inventor, artist, and actress, best known for developing a unique six-way stretch metal fabric.
Early life and education
Born in Chernivtsi, Ukrainian SSR (present-day Ukraine), Fedner moved to Columbus, Ohio as a refugee when she was six years old. Her mother, Alla Fedner, works as a computer programmer, while her father, Gregory Fedner, is a civil engineer. She has twin sisters who were born in the United States.
From third grade through high school graduation, she attended art classes at the Columbus College of Art and Design on a merit-based scholarship.
After completing her studies at Bexley High School in Bexley, Ohio, Fedner obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design from the Parsons School of Design campuses in New York City and Parsons Paris. During her freshman year, she was awarded the Fusion Award in the "Fusion Fashion: FIT vs. Parsons" competition. Under the mentorship of Tim Gunn at Parsons Paris, she earned the Silver Thimble Award for best collection during her junior year. Her final-year creations were showcased in the Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Window Display.
Career
Following internships with fashion houses Donna Karan and Marc Jacobs, Fedner served as a design assistant on the Women's Collection at Calvin Klein, working under designer Francisco Costa.
In 2014, Fedner participated in the inaugural season of Lifetime's Project Runway: Under the Gunn, where she placed sixth. Additionally, she was the costume designer for season two of the YouTube series Epic Rap Battles of History, which received a Streamy Award recognizing excellence in fashion and design.
That same year, Fedner launched her self-titled couture brand based in Los Angeles. Jennifer Lopez was among the first celebrities to publicly wear her designs, featuring a Natalia Fedner knit gown in the "First Love" music video. Since then, her creations have been donned by numerous prominent figures including Charlize Theron, Lenny Kravitz, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Shakira, Alicia Keys, Sharon Stone, Cher, Cardi B, Doja Cat, Rosalía, Pamela Anderson, Megan Thee Stallion, Camila Cabello, Kim Petras, Hailee Steinfeld, Vanessa Hudgens, Anitta, Keke Palmer, Karol G, Becky G, and Bebe Rexha.
In 2016, Entertainment Tonight revealed that Beyoncé wore a custom metal dress designed by Fedner for her visual album Lemonade, styled by B Akerlund. This outfit was highlighted by publications such as Harper's Bazaar, Elle, and New York Magazine as one of the standout fashion moments from the project.
By 2018, Fedner's line had been incorporated into luxury retailer Bergdorf Goodman, with her pieces prominently displayed in their store windows. In August 2020, she collaborated again with Beyoncé and stylist Zerina Akers to produce a gold chain headpiece featured in the "Already" segment of the visual album Black Is King. This design attracted attention from media outlets including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Dezeen, and Billboard.
Fedner debuted her first solo runway show in July 2021 during Miami Swim Week with her Spring/Summer 2022 Ready-To-Wear collection. The following month she obtained a patent for her innovative six-way stretch metal fabric. This achievement earned her recognition in Vogue, which dubbed her "The Designer Creating the Hottest Celebrity Looks Made of Metal."
In October 2021, Fedner was honored with the Emerging Leader Alumni Award by Bexley High School. By August 2022, she had been announced as one of the designers contributing to Beyoncé’s Renaissance album wardrobe.
Her international profile expanded further when Shakira wore Fedner’s creations during the Las Mujeres No LLoran World Tour in March 2025. Prior collaborations included designing Shakira’s 2024 Coachella outfit as well as costumes for music videos such as "Copa Vacia" and "Don't Wait Up."
In April 2025, Fedner received the FGI Rising Star Eveningwear Award at their Gala event. The honor was presented by Ken Downing, Halston’s creative director. Reflecting on her path from Ukrainian refugee to established designer, Fedner highlighted how meaningful this accolade was to her career journey.
Awards
- Recipient of the Silver Thimble Award from Parsons Paris in 2004
- Honored with the Bexley Distinguished Alumni Award in 2021
- Awarded the FGI Rising Star in Eveningwear in 2025
Causes and advocacy
In February 2020, Fedner traveled to Ukraine via the Ukrainian Fashion Club, marking her first visit since leaving as a refugee. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, she launched fundraising efforts and collaborated with NGOs and charitable organizations to assist Ukrainian refugees, leveraging connections made during her 2020 trip. In October 2022, Fedner coordinated a fashion event aimed at generating funds for medical supplies to support Ukrainians.