ISOLATED GARDENS
Throughout history, there have always been individuals among us who, regardless of place or time period, visiblystood out from the crowd. Their way of thinking, dressing, and lifestyle was entirely different from the socially accepted and 'normal'. There was something unusual and quirky. These individuals who were the pioneers of their time, pushing the boundaries of the accepted norms with their extravagance and leaving behind the mark of their originality.
Who is an eccentric and what is eccentricity? I posed this question to myself before embarking on the research and, in my own language, responded to the concept of eccentricity and what it means to me. As the collection was being created during the initial global quarantine amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it directly impacted the work process. Time flowed differently, allowing me to surrender to the creative flow and the process of exploring.
I named my final collection "Isolated Gardens," drawing upon wordplay, since it was created during a time of isolation and reflects the unique creative exploration that emerged from it.
The collection is based on the subjective understanding of the eccentric. It borrows from the innovative approaches to fashion, drawing inspiration from Edie Bouvier and the fascination with exotic animals by Joe Exotic. Much like the ladies from the documentary film ‘Advanced Style’ it refutes the social norms of dressing up and reminds that even the most unusual behaviour can be perceived as positive.
The collection consists of sixteen ensembles, including trousers, jackets, dresses, skirts, coats, and capes. Warm shades dominate, with accents of purple, pink, and blue hues. Sleeve openings, waistlines, pleats, and neckline cuts are playfully incorporated into the distorted shapes of my prints with a gentle alteration of their shapes. Using flat textile patterns that have now become templates, I designed the garments through numerous experiments with trial fabrics and shaping them on a mannequin.
Thank you prof. Marija Jenko and doc. Petja Zorec for mentorship, Lilijana Ban modeling, Ana Krek, Lara Krnc in Milana Lacevic for stajling at Ljubljana Fashion Week 2022.