OUR story
Hello dear mermaid, and thank you for your interest in OVERTHESEA. We are excited to share more about our history and principles with you. So please, make sure you feel comfortable and cozy, and let’s dive into the depths of our world.
In the photo: Kseniia Kramarenko
How its started
OVERTHESEA was founded in 2017 by our main mermaid, Kseniia Kramarenko:
“I was born in Crimea, the most beautiful and picturesque place I’ve ever seen. My early life was deeply connected to the seaside of the Black Sea, and I could never have imagined that one day life would take this place away from me. In 2014, my home was invaded and annexed, and I decided to move to Kyiv, where I felt lost and lonely without My Sea. I worked as an architect, but something felt wrong—I felt so lonely and homeless without my place of power. That’s when I decided to create something that would bring my sea back to me. Something that would always inspire, something deeply connected to traveling, the seaside, and nature’s power.
That’s how OVERTHESEA appeared. That’s how I realized that dresses, full of the energy and power of the ocean and sea, are an infinite source of fantasy and beauty.
I had only $200 in my pocket, a big dream, and an immense amount of energy. I was eager to learn how to make products and understand how the fashion industry works.
In the photo: the first overthesea studio
The life of the brand started smoothly. I had only $200 in my pocket, a big dream, and an immense amount of energy. I was eager to learn how to make products and understand how the fashion industry works. Without any friends or help from this tough industry, I began making dresses while learning about customer care, production, and marketing.
Step by step, dress after dress, a small community formed around the brand. Then we opened the first studio, and the first OVERTHESEA employees joined.
Our first studio was a cozy 24 square meters. I remember the days when my mom and I renovated it ourselves, transforming the small space into something special. Although it became a bit too small for us after two years, we still cherish that place with love and gratitude. It holds a significant spot in our hearts, as it was where our journey began and dreams started to take shape.”
In the photo: Florence Welch at sziget festival wearing a custom-made OVERTHESEA dress
Why this style?
“I remember my lonely and sad evenings when I first watched a YouTube video about Coachella, captivated by the beautiful, airy women in bohemian dresses. In that moment, I felt a strong pull—I needed to be there and create dresses for those ladies. I missed my Black Sea and my element, and this inspiration combined with the music, the vibe, and the freedom of that lifestyle made me realize that OVERTHESEA would primarily be a luxury boho brand.”
We love ruffles, chiffon, and strong emotional romanticism. This is our language with all the mermaids in this world.
The language of mermaids
We love ruffles, chiffon, and strong emotional romanticism. These shapes and silhouettes evoke images of waves, storms, calm seas, and swells—all elements of nature that will always inspire our imagination. A woman is like the ocean—full of memories, dreams, passion, and emotions. She is ever-changing and new every day, yet always extremely captivating and strong. This is our language with all the mermaids in this world, and we hope you will understand it.
Dear mermaid, thank you for your attention and interest in OVERTHESEA!
We’re excited to share more of our stories, designs, and behind-the-scenes content with you. Follow us on Instagram and sign up for our newsletter to stay connected to the world of OVERTHESEA!