Sasha Solana: Revolutionizing Fashion for Curvier Women with House of Solana.

Photo credit: Sasha Solana Walton

Fashion designer and CEO of House of Solana, Sasha began sewing at sixteen, a response to the stark absence of flattering, stylish clothing in her size. The lack of representation was not just inconvenient, it was disheartening. Before she ever touched a sewing machine, she understood one truth: the industry had a gap so wide it actively excluded women like her. With almost no plus-size inspirations to turn to and only the great couture houses for distant reference, she set out to change the narrative. As she famously declared, “The industry is missing me.”

At eighteen, in 2008, Sasha pursued formal training at Mount Mary College (now Mount Mary University), immersing herself in the Apparel Product Development program for five years. There she mastered pattern making, draping, CAD, and the fundamentals that would later shape her design language. Driven to broaden her horizons, she saved diligently to study abroad at the Paris American Academy and in Antwerp, Belgium, experiences that enriched her craft but also underscored the shortcomings of traditional fashion education.

While courses were tailored around standard, smaller sizes, Sasha committed herself to understanding the architecture of full-figured bodies, their silhouettes, their elegance, their complexity. That dedication not only deepened her technical command but also empowered her to build a brand with complete creative autonomy. Today, her work is a seamless blend of feeling, artistry, and refined design, expressed through the lens of a woman who knows exactly who she is creating for.

Sasha’s career has evolved into an ode to plus-size femininity. Her collections have graced runways across Portland, New York Fashion Week, Curves Beautifully Empowered in Seattle, Model Icon, Chicago Fashion Week, and a six-month Los Angeles showcase. She has shown twice in London, first at a networking showcase and later at African Fashion Week London, where she made history as the event’s first plus-size designer. She went on to become the first plus-size designer to present at Paris and Milan Fashion Week with Fashion Week Studio, and later at Thailand Fashion Week, proving that her vision resonates across continents. Her portfolio also includes dressing a journalist for the Oscars red carpet in 2023 and 2024, and launching a Fall/Winter ’23 collection with SHEIN.

On February 24, 2024, Sasha unveiled her own production: The House of Solana Fashion Show, a sweeping retrospective of her work, curated entirely through her own creative eye. Every detail bore her signature, from branded chair covers to custom-designed napkins. Her makeup line, Solana Beautè, was used exclusively on the models, forging a striking connection between beauty, identity, and the garments themselves. The show was less an event and more a declaration: a bold reminder of whose house the audience had entered.

House of Solana champions lavish beauty, unapologetic style, and contemporary sophistication. It is designed for women who want to feel powerful, elegant, daring, or effortlessly chic with a twist. Sasha creates for plus-size women because her passion is to build a world where they don’t just fit in, they stand out. Her designs elevate confidence, demand attention, and challenge the narrow boundaries of beauty that fashion has clung to for far too long.

THE STORY BEHIND THE RUNWAY

The pieces presented here are a curated blend of looks from international runway showcases and editorial photoshoots, each collection carrying its own story, mood, and mastery.

“Opulence,” shown at Paris Fashion Week 2020, unfolded in a procession of black-and-gold beaded gowns, embroidered with intricate gold and silver detailing and meticulously hand-appliquéd embellishments. The palette—bold, commanding, eternally elegant—evoked power and luxury. Inspired by the grandeur of excess and the poetry of extravagance, the collection stood as a deliberate push against the industry’s long-standing boundaries, proving that plus-size women deserve couture, not merely ready-to-wear. Sasha brought to the Paris runway what had rarely been seen before: high fashion crafted unapologetically for curvier bodies.

The next chapter, “Flourished Fantasies,” debuted at Milan Fashion Week in 2022. A dreamy palette of mint greens, jewel tones, and powdered pastels shaped a world of soft, feminine silhouettes, ballgowns and flowing dresses adorned with delicate beading and romantic structure. This collection drew on the magic of fairytales reimagined, evoking princesses of every background and celebrating a gentle, ethereal beauty.

The Ankara-inspired collection from African Fashion Week London, “Goddesses of Power,” paid homage to the inherent strength and individuality of women. Each garment stood apart, intentionally unique, its own expression of grace, personality, and unrepeatable identity. From the makeup, crafted by Sasha herself, to the bold hairstyles and vibrant fabrics, every look was built to speak for the woman wearing it. The silhouettes, color stories, and construction techniques were chosen to mirror the many powerful forms of womanhood.

The final image belongs to “Velvet Cake,” a collection that explores texture with playful sophistication. Plush velvet meets shimmering sequins, blending softness and sparkle in a way that feels both indulgent and refined. For Sasha, using a single fabric felt limiting; this collection became her invitation to creativity, an experiment in mixing textures while staying true to elegance.