By Madoline Markham Koonce
Mykola Vyshyvanyuk’s dream to design wedding dresses came true in 2013 in Lviv, Ukraine, but then it came to a sudden halt when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
He and his wife, Olena, sent their three children to live with grandparents in Greece and France and started using their atelier’s sewing machines to make vests for soldiers. No one needed wedding dresses anymore.
Nearly two years later, his dream got a new American chapter, this time in Birmingham with his shop NiEl’ Bridal Atelier.
After staying in war-torn Ukraine for six months and as it seemed the war would not end soon, Mykola and Olena started thinking about what to do next. They wanted to reunite their family, but the prospect of moving was challenging, especially since they had such little income since the war started.
An answer for their next steps came through Uniting for Ukraine, a U.S. government program that connected them with a host family in America. By the time the Vyshyvanyuks arrived in a place called Vestavia Hills in November 2022, they were provided with a home, car and access to schools through their hosts Ed and Natalie Cotter and donations they had gathered. Olena, an engineer by training, started working as a case manager for Ukrainian refugees and Mykola worked in alterations.
A few months into their new life, Mykola told Olena he wanted his old life back with the joy that came with designing wedding dresses. Olena remembers being unsure whether that dream was even possible for refugees who’d been in the country less than a year. But when they met with REV Birmingham, an economic development nonprofit, and showed them photos of their dresses from Ukraine, they learned it was in fact possible to open a business in their new home.
With guidance from REV, NiEl’ Bridal Atelier opened in Forest Park almost a year to the day after the Vyshyvanyuks moved to the U.S. The bright, white showroom showcases dresses on mannequins in its windows. In the back right corner stands a large cutting table – Mykola’s first purchase for the new business. Photos of Mykola’s dress designs from photo shoots in the Ukraine line a wall.
The name NiEl’ is a combination of Mykola and Olena’s names in Greek – the names they were going by when they met in Greece, where Mykola attended fashion school. The Vyshyvanyuks’ shop in Ukraine carried the same name.
American Learning Curve
Although alterations was not Mykola’s dream job, he did work on many dresses for Birmingham brides and learned the styles that are popular here and the extent of alterations needed when brides order dresses that aren’t custom fit.
That, in turn, has him excited to create custom dresses for brides from his new shop.
“Every bride can change whatever she wants,” he said.
To begin the design process, a bride-to-be goes in to discuss styles she likes and show the ideas she has, and from there Mykola creates a sketch of a dress. At that point, Mykola orders fabric for the dress and begins work. The process usually takes six to eight months, allowing time for fabrics to be shipped from Europe.
When NiEl’ first opened in Ukraine, business was quiet at first, the Vyshyvanyuks recall, but not in Birmingham. Before they even opened, a bride came by and told them she had seen their dresses in the windows and wanted to design one.
For now, the shop creates only custom dresses, but Mykola plans to build a collection soon, all with labels that say, “Made in Birmingham.” He also makes dresses for first communions, flower girls and mothers of the bride, and he can redesign a mother’s dress for her daughter’s upcoming wedding.
The Vyshyvanyuks said they were unsure at first about moving to a smaller city from Lviv, but they have found they like Birmingham.
Their three daughters – ages 7, 12 and 14 – are adjusting to school at Vestavia Hills Elementary East, Pizitz Middle and Alabama School of Fine Arts. The oldest is in the art program at ASFA, the middle is on the math team at Pizitz and the youngest, who spoke no English when they arrived, is quickly learning the language of a new country.
The family also has connected with other Ukrainians in the area to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day in August and Christmas in December.
The Vyshyvanyuks are among what Olena said are more than 600 Ukrainian newcomers in Alabama and more than 100 in Birmingham since the war began. Their experience here has been akin to the American dream, she said.
“We came with nothing, and then we were able to open this shop. It’s crazy and happy. I hope people can see us and understand that, yes, it’s hard to start from zero, but here you can in the USA.”
NiEl’ Bridal Atelier is at 701 37th Street South, Suite 4, in the Forest Park area. Learn more at nielbridalatelier.com or @nielbridalatelier on social media.
