Lessja Verlingieri’s gowns are not for the faint-hearted

Red carpets are synonymous with avant-garde gowns, flashy appearances and show-stopping silhouettes. Often, they are also the source of discovering new talent. It was among red carpets that Lever Couture stole the hearts of the public,  spotted on the likes of Nigerian music artist Tems, pop icon Lady Gaga and American singer Coco Jones. Established in 2010 by Ukrainian designer Lessja Verlingieri, the brand is based in Los Angeles, where its atelier is also located. “I grew up in Ukraine, learning to sew beside my grandmother, where I discovered the magic of creation through craftsmanship,” says Verlingieri.

At eleven years old, her family moved away from Ukraine, settling in Germany and then the United States. “After moving to Germany and eventually to Los Angeles, I realised there was a space for a brand that could combine emotional storytelling with architectural design,” the designer says. Her creations embody this ethos — they feature geometrical shapes, voluminous material innovations and dramatic draping. On the other side of the coin, Verlingieri often takes her cues from nature, such as the tranquillity of water or the landscape of her home nation.

Reflecting these inspirations, at the heart of each gown lies attention to detail and a reliance on the work of skilled artisans who take their time perfecting each component of these custom-made pieces. “Every piece we create is an act of devotion, hand-draped, intricately constructed and designed to move like a second skin,” says Verlingieri. The designer does not shy away from crafting silhouettes that hug the female figure and accentuate the form in the most flattering of ways. In February, The Office star Mindy Kaling turned heads at the 2025 Costume Designers Guild Awards in a floor-length red gown from the label’s Leleka collection, first presented at Tokyo Fashion Week in 2022. The asymmetric dress, made of a mesh fabric, featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and a cascading train meant to imitate the fluidity of water.

This excerpt was taken from HUNGER Issue 35: F**k it. Stay tuned for the full story.