Elena Klaassen, Founder

I spent over a decade leading financial and economic departments at major Ukrainian state companies—managing teams, budgets, and strategic planning at a national level.

In 2014, feeling unfulfilled in my work, I decided to look for a hobby and began collaborating with a local fashion designer, Anna October. This experience transformed my career path, as I discovered an industry that ignited my passion and allowed me to use my financial and management skills to help grow a fashion brand.

In 2017, I co-created Place of Power, a consulting and wholesale fashion agency with a seasonal showroom in Paris. We represent international designers to major retailers worldwide, including Harrods, Saks Fifth Avenue, Galeries Lafayette, Net-A-Porter, Harvey Nichols, I.T, Ssense, United Arrows, Mytheresa, and more.

Since 2023, we have focused on digital wholesale presentations and brands development.

Below is a selection of the international brands the agency worked with:

– BOBKOVA, Litkovska, VORANIDA, DHRUV KAPOOR, Nicola Finetti, HUEMN, Flaneur Homme, TSYRK

Over the last 10 years, I have had the opportunity to learn every aspect of running a fashion brand—developing a collection concept, sourcing materials and suppliers, creating samples, working with ateliers and factories, dealing with customs, producing campaigns and lookbooks, organizing fashion shows, participating in international fashion weeks, handling wholesale and D2C sales, managing orders, contracts, and deliveries, and establishing long-term relationships with retailers, as well as collaborating with influencers and celebrities. Most importantly, I have met incredible industry professionals and formed lasting connections.

We know how challenging it can be to start a brand—how difficult it is to decide where to allocate a limited budget, assemble a team, manage production and orders, and still find time to develop new design ideas. The mission of Place of Power is to give you confidence that your brand will remain vital and functional, freeing you to focus on the creative side of your work.