Ana Maria Atanaskovic

This collection aims to bring valuable knowledge from tradition into the contemporary mainstream.

Confucius said “Study the past if you would define the future.” The starting point of this collection was to find a new approach to sustainability and reduce waste by studying the resourcefulness of our ancestors. How were previous generations able to create such long lasting and powerful  things with so much less resources? While studying historical Serbian garments I came to the conclusion that well-thought-out purposes and multi-functionality was the key. Influenced by historical and cultural references, my collection introduces traditional dress to modern elements. Made up of layers that work together and fabrics carefully chosen to give a refined, feminine look to the unisex silhouette, my designs were adapted to become functional, ready for action and movement.

 

By looking back, I believe we can find more sustainable approaches to prolong the lifespan of our clothes. Historically, clothing could be inherited and worn by generations. Inspired by that, the focus of this collection is on functionality and layering. The garments are made to be transformable. Garments with a wider fit that can change silhouettes, be adjusted with straps or reversed, all while depicting fluid silhouettes and enabling movement. I also wanted to examine if attaching an additional artisanal and cultural value to garments, could change how the end-users cherish the garments and therefore add to a prolonged lifespan of each garment. In collaboration with Vilenica Studio, prints were developed. Our environmental friendly screen prints are made in the shapes of flax and other local plants, to replace the traditional floral embroidery. With this mix of commercial and artistic approach, we merged the past with the future and could bring elements of both, the traditional and contemporary.