ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Hi, I’m Tzila, the founder of ZITO. Fun fact: I am an introvert. Sharing my personal journey online doesn’t come naturally to me, but I deeply value connecting with my community. When rebranding ZITO, I realized that my ideal customer—you—are insanely brave. You’ve taught me that curating an aesthetic isn’t the goal; connection is. Vulnerability is. And that’s why I’m here to get vulnerable too.

I grew up in a small apartment in Kensington, Brooklyn. My family didn’t have much—my mom’s side immigrated from Odessa in the ’90s, leaving behind Soviet Russia for a better future. While I’m proud of little Tzila now, back then, I felt out of place. I went to Jewish private schools where everyone seemed to have more than we did. No one lived in apartments; they had houses.

Fashion became my way of fitting in. I spent my babysitting and tutoring money on Ralph Lauren loafers and preppy cardigans, desperately trying to blend in—and maybe even stand out. But my love for fashion grew into something deeper: a way to express myself beyond the shame I carried.

There was also the shame of being gay in an Orthodox Jewish community. I stayed closeted until 2017, which made growing up even more isolating. While I’ve lost people along the way, I’m grateful for the friends and family who stuck by me—and who now celebrate my relationship with my girlfriend. If you told little Tzila that she’d one day be the founder of a fashion brand, living openly and happily, she’d be shocked. But I think she’d also be proud.

My journey in fashion began in 2017 when I worked as a fit model to learn about the design process. Though I initially studied Psychology in college, I pivoted to fashion, earning a master’s in Fashion Marketing from LIM College in 2019. I’ve worked at ALIX NYC, Club Monaco, and most recently Victoria’s Secret as a print and intimates designer.

These experiences showed me both the beauty and the flaws of the fashion industry. That’s why I started ZITO—to channel pain into beauty and create a brand rooted in creativity, individuality, and sustainability. ZITO is a safe haven, a rebellion against overconsumption and toxic workplaces. It’s a place where fashion is free, honest, and deeply personal—just as it’s meant to be.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me!