EA11SV - FW 2018 Campaign

The Croatian based label E.A. 1/1 S.V. came up with an original campaign for their Fall/Winter 2018 campaign. They let the models take selfies of themselves in an Instagram-like setting while wearing pieces from their collection.
This is an interesting example on how contemporary fashion designers are playing with the opportunities that the technology of the internet has provided. In this case, there is a game with the voyeuristic and to a certain extend sexualised character of social media and fashion marketing in which a possible target group is directly involved, and eventually addressed.

E.A. 1/1 S.V. is a Croatian based studio offering products, ideas and research in a field of textile and fashion. The Studio in Zagreb consists of a few people who work with Silvio Vujicic on these experiments.

More information: www.ea11sv.com / instagram @ea11sv

Credits
Models/photographers: Ivan Grgic @ivngrgc, Mate Jonjic @matejonjic, Marko Kasalo @marko_tulu, Filip Matesic @matesic_filip, Matija Milutin @blueseaskybluered, Lucijan Mirdita, Stas Mlinar @autobiografija, Mario Vurdelja @marioprizmic

NIKA TOM - FASHIONCLASH Festival 2017

Meet Nika Čuić, the designer behind NIKA TOM, from Zagreb, Croatia. She is 26 years old and she holds a degree in Fashion Design and Costumography, and also economics. What she loves the most about being a fashion designer, is that she can be herself. She presented her latest collection 'Peripeteies' at FASHIONCLASH Festival in Maastricht.

Can you tell us something about the project you will present at the FASHIONCLASH Festival? What do you try to communicate with your project?
The project I will present is named 'Peripeteies'. It deals with balance between reality and the inner one made in our thoughts and felt through emotions. The question is what is real and how to delineate it from the mind of a self and is this real just a confirmation of our expectations and beliefs. On the other hand, the mind is living its own reality which is created by interconnectedness of yourself with lived experience, it is a gateway between the finite and ad infinitum. Letting the mind communicate with the reality enables a possibility to create its own reality which is then known only to ourselves. The mean is to represent both worlds, many realities on the same piece and let them connect together. Since the mind of oneself is hard to be grasped with words and expressions, my goal is to express it through clothing and in that way to explore the possibility of functionality of this balance.

What does your brand represent?
My brand NIKA TOM represent the extension of myself. First of all, TOM stands for my mothers shortened family. To continue, my work represents me, respectively, my mind, feelings, thoughts and everything that an individual can't describe with words. I have always had a need to express that in one way and, by set of circumstances, had always been surrounded with a sewing machine, fabrics and all sorts of materials helped me to achieve that.

What are so far your main achievements in your career?
Ihave participated in lots of shows and exhibitions during two years period, and one of the most notable was Berlin Alternative Fashion Week. I was also a part of the Designers Profile in the Mays issue of British Vogue- page designed with the intention of showcasing a range of upcoming designers.

What are your biggest struggles as a young designer/artist?
Lack of financial resources, technology, materials.

How would you define fashion?
I wouldn’t really define it. Every individual speaks and does for himself, respectively, creates something which he or she finds accurate. You can really communicate with clothing, and I think that is the goal here - to speak out.

What fascinates/inspires you and why?
Literally everything! I always have a different inspiration, but there always has to be a reason and connection why did it happen. These inspirations are often connected with my personality, surroundings, everyday situations, emotions, people, art , music…

Why have you decided to participate at FASHIONCLASH Festival?
I decided to participate at FASHIONCLASH Festival because it focuses on supporting emerging young designers and gives them the opportunity to experiment with fashion and create something unconventional.

Does fashion makes sense to you?
Most of the time not, because it had gone to extremes of consumerism, rapidly changeable trends and uselessness. On the other hand, communicating with it, expressing yourself, making something different, long-lasting and with good quality does make a lot of sense.

What are your thoughts on making ‘fashion’ more environmentally-friendly?
I think every individual also has to think and work towards sustainability as much as he or she can for the benefit of the unity.
What are your thoughts on the senses in relation to the human body? Clothing is in a close relation to the human body because of its tangibility. Body feels the fabric and decides whether it will accept it or not. When they match, they become one. Clothing and fabrics shape the body reacting differently on each person. Clothing serves the body's appearance and also helps a person to express themselves.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nikatom_ 

Marija Kulušić at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2016

Meet Marija Kulušić,  the award winning and promising fashion designer from Croatia. She graduated from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology with an MA in costume design. She showed her latest collection  "Layer on" at the FASHIONCLASH Festival in Maastricht.

Unlike many designers from Eestern Europe, Marija has a modern approach for contemporary women's wear. By deconstructing garments she created a layered collection that offers multiple options to the wearer. She used materials like cashmere, cotton, viscose, satin, and velour.

Q&A with Marija Kulušić

How was your experience at FASHIONCLASH Festival?
There are no better words than fashion clash to describe FASHIONCLASH Festival, and that's what I loved the most. So many various aestetics in one place, so many talented, positive and supportive people. Designers who support and help each other, that is something you can't find so easy these days.

Can you tell something about the collection you presented at the FASHIONCLASH Festival?
 "Layer on" collection deals with the human body and especially with the surface of the body- skin. Changes of the skin, chronic and temporary conditions such as vitiligo, stitches, wrinkles, etc. The human body is transitioned into the different shapes. Layered garments are complemented with belts that allow various ways to wear them. Various hand-made techinques are included in the collection such as dyeing fabrics, eyelets and silk ruffles shaped by hand.

What are your plans for near future?
I am not the one who makes certain plans and hold on to it. I prefer to go day by day and see where it gets me but I will expand my horizont, look abroad for opportunities. At the moment I know for sure that I will work on developing my brand in the near future; that is the main thing.

http://marijakulusic.com

All images by Team Peter Stigter

Coded Edge FW 2014 - 2015

Coded Edge 
FW2014/15 ''empyreal''

Credits:
Make-up: Petra Sever
Model: Ivana Solar@ TaliaModel
Photography: Jure Perisic

Black Spring Editorial

Sping is in the air with this stunning 'Black Spring' editorial shot by Jure Perisic.
Editorial story features some of  the hottest up and coming Croatian fashion brands Coded Edge, Obekei and Marija Kulušić.

Coded Edge is a clothing, jewellery & accessories brand by Silvio Ivkić & Jure Perišić.  Obekei is a croatian fashion brand, handmade design by Katarina Smolić.

credits
Photo: Jure Perisic
Model: Slobodan Mladenovic @FOX
Clothing: Coded Edge, Obekei, Marija Kulusic

Check it out!

DIORALOP SS2014 collection

DIORALOP by Andreja Bistričić and Maja Merlić

Inspired by socialist architecture of former Yugoslavia, surrounding Zagreb, the SS14 collection stands strong and stoic, facing the world without contention.
DIORALOP collections are inspired by Polaroid pictures, which are created through intentional spills of chemicals and their exposure to different temperatures. This technique yields different patterns, which are then manipulated and constructed to form the different pieces of the collection.
Androgyny plays an important role within this collection, trying to transfer different elements of both sexes, but retaining feminine characteristics and appeal. Maintaining clean lines and silhouettes, the way the print is cut is key in fulfilling a collection, which is fluid and effortless.
The fabrics used also highlight the transmission of both sexes, through the contrast of heavy cotton panama and light silk organza. All of the fabrics used are digitally printed and purchased within the Glasgow School Of Art in Scotland.
The colours used in every collection are very experimental, due to the technique employed. A spectrum of purple is encapsulated within this collection, with highlights of petroleum green, a robust palette, which fits with the designers daring aesthetic.
Uncompromising, aware and individual.

Lookbook credits:
Photo: Sanja Bistricic
Model: Antonija Bilobrk @Sonic Models
Make-up: Ana Rajic
Hair: Mijo Majhen

http://dioralop.org

DIORALOP at FASHIONCLASH Maasticht 2013

I was looking forward for their show and it was better than I expected. DIORALOP is a label by Andreja Bistričić & Maja Merlić from Croatia. I am also a proud owner of one of their pieces.
Read more about them in interview at Platinum Love Magazine: http://www.platinumlovemagazine.com/articles/dioralop-is-polaroid-spelt-backwards

DIORALOP at FASHIONCLASH Maastricht 2013

DIORALOP by Andreja Bistričić & Maja Merlić is one of the labels showing their collection at FASHIONCLASH Maastricht 2013.
I am really excited to see that we will have a label from Croatia for the very first time.
Here is a short preview of their AW 2013/14 collection.

“Dioralop is the quirky palindrome of Polaroid, meaning it's simply spelled backwards.”

Hailing from the island Pag, Andreja Bistričić is a 31-year-old fashion designer with a graduate diploma in fashion from Central Saint Martins in London. Hailing from Zagreb, Croatia, Maja Merlić is a 22-year-old student in architecture at the Faculty of Architecture & Urbanism in Zagreb. They founded Dioralop label together and it seems like a golden team. They won the Croatian Elle Style Award for the best young label in 2012 and gaining international exposure.

More info: http://dioralop.org/
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Photography: Goran Matijašec
DIORALOP a/w 2013/14 from Rene Batista on Vimeo.

Emerging Croatian fashion designers during London Fashion Week

Emerging Croatian fashion designers Andreja Bistričić, Romina Mejak, Adela Kliškić & Nikola Barbir jointly presented their work in  during International Fashion Showcase, that is scheduled during London Fashion Week AW2012.
It's a strong exhibition that looks at fashion beyond its narrow definition as a moneymaking commodity, by focussing on its importance in our wider society. The exhibition aims to question whether we should follow fashion, or be free from its influence, while also considering the role it plays in defining our identity in the world from both personal and national perspectives. Incorporating sculpted leather accessories, clothes inspired by human anatomy and chemically- treated fabrics; the show engages both on both a visual and philosophical level.
Alongside the clothing and accessoiries the exhibited work also showcased beautiful photography. The presentation took place in Stone Theatre Gallery, which was not really on my route but at the end I was happy I went.