Svetlana Gafurova, Store Director at Bottega Veneta in the Miami Design District, joined the I Want Her Shoes podcast to discuss her path from Soviet-era Ukraine to luxury retail leadership. The conversation covers early influences, service strategy, sustainability measures and the distinctive character of Miamiโs fashion scene.
Mom as fashion icon
Growing up in the USSR, Gafurova experienced limited clothing choice. Her mother sewed garments at home using Burda Moden patterns. โEveryone was wearing the same exact outfits. My mom was actually making clothes for meโ she recalls.
Early exposure to handmade apparel established her long-term interest in design and quality.
Path to Luxury Retail
After studying hospitality, Gafurova joined the opening team at Wynn Las Vegas in VIP Services. High-touch service standards there led her to store roles at Prada, Valentino, and now Bottega Veneta. โThat luxury service experience really took me to luxury retailโ she says.
Digital resources have changed the retail dialogue. โThe consumer now is very, very educated because of social media sitesโ she says. โNow you can shop anywhere at any given point of time.โ
Clients arrive well-informed and expect immediate access to products across channels. Thatโs why relationships are the best way to keep customer interested.
โItโs all about the relationship. Sometimes just โhow are youโโ she says. Staff keep detailed knowledge of each clientโs wardrobe, stay in contact between purchases and offer in-store hospitality that online tools cannot replicate.
Sustainability Initiatives
Bottega Veneta aligns with Keringโs corporate targets and runs the in-house Green Initiative app that scores products on five sustainability criteria. Recent steps include a fragrance line with 99% recyclable components. โEverything from the bottle to the packaging is 99 % recyclableโ she says.
Select leather goods carry a Certificate of Craft that grants lifetime repair.
Leadership & Team Culture
Running a profitable boutique requires clear goals and accountability. โCommunication needs to be extremely clear, very much on point and ongoingโ she shares.
Team members must share a passion for fashion and service, viewing sales as an outcome of genuine client support.
Industry Trends
Luxury houses are extending into hospitality and home categories. Examples cited include cafรฉs at Louis Vuitton and Dior, and reports of a forthcoming Christian Louboutin hotel. Such spaces create brand immersion beyond traditional selling floors.
Miami as a Luxury Hub
Miamiโs Latin influence encourages colour and full-look dressing:
โYou could do anything and be anyone you want to be in Miami in terms of your styleโ she says. The city contrasts with Californiaโs athleisure-plus-handbag aesthetic and New Yorkโs practical layering, requiring sales teams to adapt to a diverse, high-energy clientele.
WorkโLife Integration & Final Anecdote
Gafurova stresses consistent self-care to balance motherhood and retail hours. She recalls an incident in San Francisco where both heels of her Prada โbanana-heelโ sandals broke while she carried coffee. โI need to make sure I donโt spill my coffee, and I have to fall in the most gracious way possibleโ she says.
The episode illustrates resilienceโmaintaining composure and continuing the day despite setbacks.
Summary
Svetlana Gafurovaโs experience shows how modern luxury retail blends detailed product knowledge, relationship building, sustainability efforts and local cultural insight. As brands integrate hospitality elements and clients demand authenticity, calm yet attentive service remains the differentiator.
