Mongolian Roots & Zurich Couture
Solongo Batdelger in her Atelier Euphorie
What’s the common thread in a fashion designer’s life? Solongo Batdelger was born into a creative family in the heart of Mongolia. Her grandmother was a talented seamstress. As a child, Solongo helped thread needles, turn the sewing machine wheel, and fetch fabric. After school, she moved to Kyrgyzstan where she trained as a tailor. Next stop: Paris. But let’s take it step by step.
A creative family was the perfect springboard for Solongo’s own creative pursuits. Her father was a ballet dancer and a well-known singer and composer. Her mother played in the National Orchestra of Mongolia. And her grandmother – with whom she grew up – was a skilled tailor. Solongo spent countless hours as a child helping out in her grandmother’s workshop.
From Mongolia to Kyrgyzstan to Paris to Zurich
After school, Solongo moved to Kyrgyzstan to study tailoring. Three years later, she completed her training as a men’s tailor. Her thirst for learning remained unquenched – she wanted to express her own ideas and moved to Paris, the fashion capital. There she studied at Atelier Chardon Savard for two years and transitioned from tailor to fashion designer.
She then moved to Switzerland and worked in a variety of tailoring roles: alterations, bridalwear, costume design, couture, and even at the Zurich Schauspielhaus. Along the way, she honed her skills and started designing her own collections.
A passion for fashion – and for business
In Switzerland, Solongo met Luis Moreira – her great love and now business partner. Luis, a Portuguese national, holds a degree from Ecole de Cadres de Lausanne and has years of management experience in major companies. Together, they brought Solongo’s dream of owning a fashion studio to life. They founded Atelier Euphorie, a tailoring studio in Dübendorf.
Ahead gets fashionable
Soon after launching, Solongo ran into financial constraints and turned to her bank, Zürcher Kantonalbank, which referred her to Ahead Mikrokredite. After several advisory meetings in which Solongo convincingly laid out her business vision, she was granted a microloan.
She used the funds to purchase a leather sewing machine, a professional ironing system, and set up a fully equipped office space.
At Atelier Euphorie, Solongo welcomes her clients with an open ear for their ideas and a rich backpack of experience and creativity. The outcome is sure to be something special.
Atelier Euphorie
Zürichstrasse 69
8600 Dübendorf