BRANKOPOPOVICBLOG: 3rd edition of IDENTITY DRESS

On Thursday, 19 November 2015, the third edition of the international fashion design exhibition IDENTITY DRESS was launched with its opening show in the atrium of the National Museum of Slovenia.
Curated by Eric Maj Potočnik and Matjaž Plošinjak, IDENTITY DRESS discovers and constantly re-explores the possibilities of expression in design when limited by a strictly defined form. Based on the same dress pattern, each participant, whether a young aspiring talent or a well established designer contributes to the challenge by creating a dress that defines him.
The highly anticipated fashion-related project in the region launched on Thursday night, 19 November, at the National Museum of Slovenia, in Ljubljana (Slovenia, EU), and will be exhibited in its premises until 13 December 2015.
A live design installation through which the exhibition was set up was accompanied by the mystic sounds of a vibraphone, and showcasing works of eighteen selected conceptually expressive fashion designers from around the globe.

Yojiro Kake

This year, the orbit is represented by two continents, from 14 countries in total; using conceptual craftmaship techniques, such as Baiba Ladiga - Kobayashi (Latvia) with plastic sheets, Derek Lawlor (UK) by impressive chordwork sculpture, Leandro Cano Luque (Spain) transforming the silhouette into a porcelain-looking garment, and Viviano Sue (Japan) true to his use of unconventional ideas such as long haired shoulders. Some designers dared to challenge the sheath dress form by creating a three-dimensional effect, especially Ece Ozalp (Turkey) who rendered an illusion of perception, or Loredana Bahorić of Charlie Design (Croatia) true to her abstract volumes creating a new shape onto the body. Even so Timotej Bistan (Slovenia) comparing his designer debuts to a visual creative eruption, similarly to Paula Carmen Rimoli (Italy) who chose to symbolize her blooming second skin, and not to forget, Yojiro Kake (Japan / Italy) creating a new allure through precise origami-like folding of fabric. On the other hand, a few chose to stay within the form by exploring its surface research, among which Dajana Ljubičić (Slovenia), by tiling black reptile-looking leather stripes, but also Jolka Wiens (Germany / Netherlands) exploring a laser engraving technique, where Matic Veler (Slovenia) chose to incorporate lasercut shapes. Judith van Vliet (Netherlands), mixed different textures and contrasting cuts, Stefán Orschel-Read (UK / Hong Kong) created a 3D effect through embroidering beadwork onto a custom-made digital print, and finally Yong Kyun Shin (South Korea) weaving silk stripes in a mosaic trompe-l’oeil pattern.
Among all, three designers have oriented their creativity towards wearability, yet insisted on an interesting research on its pattern construction and honored the opportunity to revolutionize by detail, print, and cut. Dóra Mojzes (Hungary), superposed organic layers of safety-pins printed fabric, Eleftheria Arapoglou of Digitaria (Greece), synthesizing the technical likes of a trenchcoat and jumpsuit in a single dress and Nikki Duijst (Netherlands), using her signature barcode print onto a double paneled garment.

IDENTITY DRESS 2015 opening show / photo: Tadej Bernik

curators Eric Maj Potočnik and Matjaž Plošinjak

In collaboration with the Slovenian national brand I feel Slovenia, Eric Maj Potočnik, the creative director of IDENTITY DRESS, prepared an accompanying exhibition I feel the Dress. It presents the identity of Slovenian clothing culture, as well as the identity of Slovenia through eight women’s dresses. The accompanying exhibition is being put on display in the old Roman lapidarium of the museum, surrounding the atrium.
Through the expressive sharpness of both exhibitions genuinely completing each other, the visitor is encouraged to understand that garment per sei surpasses its excessive commercial character and becomes an art form. IDENTITY DRESS is thereby affirming its influence on the international fashion scene as an independent platform. Its aim is to prove diversity by putting expressive fashion designers from all around the globe in the foreground, continually showcasing relevant design ideas that contribute to creativity, authenticity and innovation.

Text by Feyrouz Ashoura

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