Sherri Hrycay, owner and designer of Sova Design Millinery, took her collection to new heights for Saskatchewan’s annual fashion week in Regina — a three-day festival from May 7–9 showcasing prairie-based design talent.

Hrycay graduated from the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Education in 1994. After graduating, she taught home economics in Calgary where she discovered her love of fashion and design. In 2008, Hrycay and her husband Michael were inspired to create Sova Design Millinery, a brand initially dedicated to couture hats.

“Sova” is a derivative of the word “owl” in Ukrainian, and Hrycay chose it to honour her family roots by using the feminine form of her surname. After three years of perfecting the collection, Hrycay debuted her brand at the Vancouver Fashion Week in 2011.

Hrycay’s journey to this point began in self-reflection. She was encouraged by a past teacher to become a milliner — the traditional term for a hat maker — and she began by returning to fashion sketches she had made when she was younger. Hrycay was also inspired by reading about fashion designer Coco Chanel’s classic rags-to-riches journey to the creation of her iconic high-end label.

Millinery was only the beginning for Hrycay. A new challenge for her creativity this year is the inclusion of clothing to complement her line of couture hats. Since this addition, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Contrary to current fashion norms, Hrycay’s vision for her line does not consist of designs intended exclusively for size two models.

“My mission is to produce a line of fashion that makes women of all sizes feel comfortable and beautiful,” Hrycay said. “My philosophy is that clothing graded up from size two does not fit the body shape of larger sizes.”

In a time when designers strive to be modern and cutting-edge, Hrycay brings a unique element to her collection by shining a spotlight on the past and emphasizing the style of a forgotten era. By doing so, Hrycay consistently presents a line brimming with class and elegance.

“The works are inspired by the roaring 20s, and in particular, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. The show is centered on a 40-something woman who is strong and independent — which is what inspired my clothing line.” Hrycay said. “We believe one of a kind and handmade goods form the essence of a bygone era where quality and style supersede consumerism and materialism.”

In addition to presenting her collections at fashion weeks across Canada, Hrycay garners attention beyond the fashion industry. In 2012, the Saskatchewan Government House commissioned her talent to create six replicas of hats that Queen Elizabeth II wore on each of her trips to Saskatchewan. Her collection was on display in the Government House in Regina and was viewed by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales during his tour commemorating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Hrycay credits it as the most memorable moment of her fashion career thus far.

With another successful fashion week under her belt, Hrycay will now look ahead at what’s next for her career. She aspires to expand her brand and eventually create a label dedicated to clothing intended to be carried in small, independent boutiques across Canada. She’ll also continue to create couture hats for private clientele at her storefront located in downtown Saskatoon, and will seek to further their production nationwide.

Hrycay’s classic yet unique hat and clothing designs have already been noticed by retailers in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec — proving that Saskatchewan has more to offer than wheat and canola.

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Lyndall Mack

Photos: Michael Hrycay / Supplied