Romanian handcraft: the inspiring journey of Ceva Cu Dichis

When Oana Sofron sensed change approaching before the pandemic, she knew her path needed transformation. For years, she had been balancing motherhood, running a healthy food business called Băcănia cu Dichis, and nurturing a passion for design that always seemed secondary to everything else.

 

"I felt before quarantine that something was about to happen, and I needed a change," Oana reflects. The lockdown became her turning point—the moment she decided to close one chapter and fully embrace another. While the world paused, she made a decision: to step away from the food industry and dive into what had always called to her.

 

The love affair with textiles had been brewing for over a decade, through the demanding rhythm of entrepreneurship and motherhood. "There were moments when I thought it would remain just a hobby but before quarantine I decided to scale back the business and focus on design with all my attention."

 

What emerged from this leap of faith was Ceva Cu Dichis, "Something with Style", a Romanian creative business that would eventually find itself on the prestigious stage of the Creative Business Cup 2023 Global Finals in Copenhagen, representing not just a personal dream fulfilled, but the soul of Romanian craftsmanship on the world stage.

 

Oana's background reveals an interesting journey: she studied Finance and Banking, then Fashion Design. "I've been playing with materials since I was little. I've always been fascinated by creating simple things or beautifying them. There has long been a passion for loose clothes that can be worn at home or outside, made of simple materials and pastel colours. Besides clothes, I'm passionate about bed linen and everything that means textiles for the home."

 

At the heart of Ceva Cu Dichis lies an ancient art form: block printing. Each kimono, bedsheet, and textile piece is created using traditional hand-carving and printing techniques. This approach represents slow fashion in its purest form—where every piece carries the unique mark of human craftsmanship.

 

Her signature collection, the Meraki Kimonos, embodies her philosophy entirely. "My products are more than clothes, they are expressions of life, of naturalness and well-being. The kimono collection is called Meraki Kimono - which translates to doing something with soul, creativity or love, putting something of myself into my work."

 

The versatility of her designs reflects deep intentionality. "They are unisex products and can be worn by each person as they feel: for example, I have a yellow Meraki Kimono suit and I sleep in it, my friend has the same and goes out with it in the city - that's what differentiates them. There are people who wear the long kimono only at home and other people who wear it only outside or both at home and outside."

 

The business grew organically through Romania's creative community, finding its place on Dichisar, the country's marketplace for handmade goods. At Dichisar, they pride themselves on their community of Romanian creators, where each creator contributes to a marketplace of handmade, unique and creative products. Her Instagram presence grew to 16,000 followers drawn to both the beautiful products and the authentic story behind them.

 

The real validation came when Ceva Cu Dichis was selected to represent Romania at the Creative Business Cup 2023 Global Finals. This small Romanian business found itself among startups from over 80 countries, competing in Copenhagen during Green Impact Week at The Volume—a transformed tram depot that became a temporary home for the global creative community.

 

The Creative Business Cup represents the world's largest platform for creative startups, where authenticity meets scalability. For businesses like Ceva Cu Dichis, it provides a stage to prove that traditional crafts and sustainable practices have vital relevance in the modern marketplace.

 

What made Ceva Cu Dichis stand out wasn't just the beautiful products, but the authentic story behind them. Here was a founder who had chosen ancient techniques over modern shortcuts, who built a business model around sustainability and human craftsmanship, and who represented the growing movement toward meaningful, slow fashion.

 

The international exposure has opened new possibilities. At Ceva cu Dichis, sustainability doesn't mean compromising on style. All orders are hand-made from eco fabrics. Collaborations have expanded beyond Romania, bringing the brand's philosophy to international markets while maintaining its commitment to handcraft traditions.

 

Today, as Oana continues to hand-print fabrics in her Romanian studio, she carries the confidence that comes from international recognition. Her journey from financial professional to Creative Business Cup finalist represents something larger than personal success—it demonstrates the power of following authentic creative instincts.

 

The Creative Business Cup experience validated what she had believed all along: that in our digital, mass-produced world, there's profound value in the human touch, in the stories that only handcraft can tell, and in businesses built on genuine passion rather than just market trends.

 

As Ceva Cu Dichis continues to grow, the brand remains grounded in the principles that brought it this far: authenticity over trends, quality over quantity, and soul over speed. Each piece still requires the same patience and attention that traditional artisans have known for centuries.

 

This is the power of platforms like the Creative Business Cup—not just in celebrating winners, but in creating space where stories like Oana's can inspire others to trust their instincts and prove that sometimes the most traditional paths can lead to the most innovative futures. In a world increasingly hungry for meaning and connection, Ceva Cu Dichis offers both, one hand-printed piece at a time.

 

 

 

- YOKKO Interview with Oana Sofron, "Designeri in Vitrina YOKKO" - https://www.yokko.ro/designeri-in-vitrina-yokko/ceva-cu-dichis.html

- Dichisar Marketplace - https://www.dichisar.ro/cevacudichis

- Ibiza Fashion Festival - https://ibizafashionfestival.com/collections/ceva-cu-dichis

- Creative Business Cup 2023 Global Finals - https://www.cbnet.com/events/creative-business-cup-2023