Stella Gaile, a native of Riga, spent her childhood in the south of Sakhalin Island. Until 1945, this part of the island was a Japanese prefecture known as Karafuto.
The harsh coastal climate, the proximity of the ocean, the immense vegetation and the distinctive monsoon environment, combined with traces of the ethnic and aesthetic traditions of Japan and Korea, made a profound impression on the sensitive and emotional young girl.
Opposite the house where Stella’s family lived was an atelier, where her parents would sometimes leave her while they went to work or attended to other matters. Stella recalls spending her time playing with fabric remnants kept in a large TV box beneath the cutting table. This became the beginning of her creative path. The girl began sewing dresses for her dolls, and later for herself...
Stella Gaile completed her schooling in Riga. Her dream of becoming a fashion designer began to take shape. It took many years of dedicated study and work for her to become not only a fashion and clothing designer, but also a qualified specialist in garment production technology. Throughout her years of study, Stella created clothing with her own hands, always with joy and enthusiasm. Her client base of people who valued unique, high-quality fashion and an individual approach to each client continued to grow.
In 2000, Stella Gaile opened the exclusive atelier-club “Esprit”, which offered not only bespoke clothing, but also a range of additional services for its clients: stylists, hairdressers, make-up artists, manicure and pedicure specialists, cosmetologists and massage therapists. The salon also became the centre of an active social life for club members, hosting performances by opera soloists, art exhibitions, musical evenings, poetry gatherings, lectures and tastings.
A master of bespoke tailoring, Stella Gaile never stood still. Over the following years, the names and locations of the ateliers and showrooms she opened changed, while her professional reputation, expertise and demand for her work continued to grow.