Interview by Robert Joseph Sheckler
Writeup by Leah Whalen
Viki Christman is an emerging Hungarian-American designer whose sewing hobby has quickly grown into a true vocation. Viki designs vintage-style clothing, primarily for women and children. Currently, she is working on launching her first children’s collection and building a business focused on spreading kindness by choosing cruelty-free materials that don’t harm any living creature.
Born in Hungary, Viki came to the United States as an au pair in 2015. Her plan, she recalls, was to work for two years and then return home, but life took a different turn. She met and married her husband, and a few years later, they welcomed a little girl. Eager to make clothes for her new baby, Viki started taking private classes for guidance at Classic Childhood in Austin Texas, which proved to be a fountain of information. Soon, she was sewing baby clothes on her little Brother sewing machine and found herself completely absorbed in the craft. Driven to master the skill, she decided to take college-level classes, upgraded to a Juki machine, and has been sewing nonstop ever since.
She has a deep love of slow fashion and likes to source fabrics locally when she can. Viki also draws on the legacy of her grandmothers, both of whom were avid stitchers; in 2024, she showed a look that combined their hand embroidery, with an apron stitched by her maternal grandmother and cuffs stitched by her paternal grandmother. She says, “This piece connects me deeply to my roots and the incredible women who shaped my family.”
Viki’s first fashion shows took place in Austin, Texas, where she and her family were living at the time. She recalls getting the opportunity through House of Emagi and immediately falling in love with the energy and excitement of preparing a runway show. She has since shown her work in Paris Fashion Week, Austin Fashion Week, and Houston. After moving to Maine last winter, she is eager to see her pieces on the runway at STITCH. She has already fallen in love with the state, noting that the people who live here are incredibly kind and she is deeply in love with the local wildlife. For her collection at STITCH, she will showcase her signature vintage-style pieces with a Hungarian influence—think ruffles and flowers. The garments will feature high-quality cotton and linen, mixed with vintage fabrics (including some from her grandparents). This choice reflects her abiding interest in environmentally friendly, cruelty-free, and skin-safe fabrics.
Please join Viki on the STITCH runway on Thursday, June 4th!
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