The Interview —

Lena Baranovsky, Partner and COO of Hunting Season

I started my fashion career at Intermix in 2010 as a stylist working on the retail side of the business and later became involved in the wholesale aspect; both very valuable experiences. At the same time, my dearest friend and now business partner Danielle Corona founded Hunting Season. I was very impressed with her impeccable taste in design and commitment to quality. I was inspired by her unwavering vision for Hunting Season and could not resist the opportunity to work with my best friend to build a brand and a business that we would be proud of. 

Hunting Season is our constant search for expertly skilled craftsmen, ethically sourced materials, and essential silhouettes in a woman’s wardrobe. 

Hunting Season is created for women who appreciate luxury but value discretion and are not defined by a logo, instead, they choose pieces based on the craft and story of whom and how it was made. To the Hunting Season woman that is the ultimate luxury. We are very proud of our story and the factory we have built in Colombia where we employ 53 people with the majority of them being women heads of household. Not only is it rewarding to provide employment/training opportunities it also allows us to have full transparency on production and material use, quality, and pricing. 

My partner and Hunting Season’s creative director Danielle is inspired by nature, films, books, travel, people, and of course her passion for beautiful materials and high-quality workmanship. The designs are minimal, allowing for the craft to speak for itself, removing everything but the essentials.

The Top Handle is definitely one of my “go to’s”! It is classic, timeless, and feels like a modern heirloom. I appreciate the versatility of this shape as it works for various lifestyles. It is a piece that can be worn with a pair of jeans, a work suit, or an evening gown!

We feel very proud and grateful when we see celebrities wearing Hunting Season… it never gets old! In a world and industry where there are limitless options, we are always thankful to be chosen. This has been a very organic process for us through our industry relationships and the support of amazing stylists such as Kate Young, Leslie Fremar, Julia Von Bohm, and Andrew Mukal which we feel very lucky for!

I would like to say that my personal style is effortless. I tend to dress in what I'm comfortable and confident in. I like keeping a bit of mystery in the designers that I choose to wear and select items that are not overly saturated with retailers. Lately, I have been obsessed with the “hunt” for vintage pieces on First Dibs and The Real Real, I love a rare find and a bargain!

I honestly don’t follow trends too much, I find them a bit daunting and I think provides an opportunity for consumer overconsumption. I am looking forward to the winter season of cozy sweaters, boots, and great coats… that I already own!

My advice for someone who wants to pursue a career in fashion (or anything else they may be passionate about) would be to turn down the volume of your inner critic and take the first small step forward. There is a quote from Ijeoma Umebinyuo that I love:

Start now.

Start where you are.

Start with fear.

Start with pain.

Start with doubt.

Start with hands shaking.

Start with voice trembling but start.

Start and don’t stop.

Start where you are, with what you have.

Just… start. 

We are focused on growing our factory and our direct to consumer business. We hope to expand into other lifestyle categories in the future and create consciously sourced pieces that will continue to be relevant in a woman’s wardrobe for years to come.