Archive

SUMMARY – 13TH BELGRADE FASHION WEEK

Exception - Giorgio Rossi

The 13th Belgrade Fashion Week was held from 14th till 20th April. This time, Fashion Studio “Click” organized it under the official name TECHNO MARKET EUROPE FASHION WEEK. Once again, the City Assembly of Belgrade was the official patron of this fashion event, which Slobodan Milosavljevic, the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Services in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, officially opened. Hosts of all fashion shows were the “Belgrade InterContinental” Hotel and the Historical Museum of Yugoslavia. Fresh ideas, young designers side by side with established designer names presented their collections at 26 fashion shows and various exhibitions to the local public and foreign guests, who had come to Belgrade just to attend this important fashion event.

“Yugoexport”, one of the most renowned fashion houses in the country, now experiencing its renaissance on the domestic market, had the honour of opening 13th Techno Market Europe Fashion Week. Finding her inspiration in the 1980s, Verica RakoÅevic, an established designer in the world of fashion, created a collection for young women and those who feel that way. Luxurious fabrics and balanced lines characterize garment pieces presented at the opening night of the Belgrade Fashion Week.

“Mona” is the leading manufacturer of leather garment and accessories. Its autumn-winter 2003/04 collection, designed by its creative team that consists of Ana Lekovic, Zvonko Markovica and Jelena Danilovic, includes high-quality leather garment pieces done in natural fabrics and supplemented with numerous details, predominantly Swarovski, as well as bags and belt that have made this company famous.

Following its policy to satisfy the demands of a fashion connoisseur with a highly refined taste in clothes, “Afrodite Mode Collection” presented its spring-summer 2003 collection from AMC Exclusive line, designed by Vesna Matijevic. This collection distinguishes itself by high-quality black & white fabrics and lines inspired by the 1920s, when navy style was in fashion.

DI FASHION presented its already popular brand “EXCEPTION”. At the first show, Giorgio Rossi, an Italian designer, presented his spring-summer 2003. collection for businesswomen and men, which includes garment pieces adjusted to a modern way of living. EXCEPTION ATELIER (designer Darko Kostic), had the honour of closing the Belgrade Fashion Week once again. His collection “Where dragons fly” represents his new vision of womanhood. Finding his inspiration in the Far East and the urban life style of the 1930s and 1940s, Kostic created some exceptional garment pieces in an audacious mixture of silk and denim.

COCA COLA LIGHT NIGHT is an exceptional segment of the Fashion Week, because of its international character. Coca Cola Light was the host of two guests from Portugal. Alexandra Moura, the most prominent young designer from Lisbon, presented her conceptual collection for autumn/winter 2003/2004, characterized by excellent ideas, unusual materials and attractive cuts. Aleksandar Protic, “an offspring of the Fashion Week”, established himself as a designer on the fashion scene in Portugal. Garment pieces comprising this designer’s collection for the current season are refined, chic and sexy.

FASHION STUDIO BB has been working successfully on the domestic market for 6 years. Its spring-summer 2003 collection - “Innocence”, designed by Bata Spasojevic, is created for women who follow trends. Transparent garment pieces and their u nusual cut breathe the air of optimism. Fashion shows of underwear always find their place at the Belgrade Fashion Week.

Thanks to its representative on our market, AS Company from Novi Sad, SANPELLEGRINO, a prestigious underwear manufa-cturer from Italy, presented its collection. We enjoyed immensely a fashion show by CHICCO, a world leader in the domain of children’s fashion, as well as a fashion show by fashion house OOOPS that represent dozen italian brands for trendy girls.

PUMA, the most popular brand in the domain of sport fashion, was patron of Boris Nikolic with his collection – “LoveSexDevotion“ who obtained BAZART Award for the best fashion show last year.

Several final year students, studying costume design under the tutelage of Ingrid Huljev at the Faculty of Applied Art in Belgrade, recast the concept: White, Shirt, Experiment into some interesting garment pieces. “Amnesia” by Bogomir Doringer, a prosperous young designer, was an inspiring mixture of a conventional fashion show and a video film. Tamara Radivojevic, Dijana VujaÅic, Iva Stefanovic, Mirjana Djordjevic, Lana Pavlovic, Katarina Puzic and Nataša Krstic shared with us their ideas of new tendencies in fashion as well.

A team of hairstylists from REDKEN Academy, being in charge of the entire styling, created imaginative and trendy hairdos for every fashion show.

Thanks to an exhibition of accessories, which represents an accompanying program at the Belgrade Fashion Week every year, we had the opportunity to get acquainted with the current trends within this significant fashion segment. This year’s exhibitors were: Jasmina Sanader (small handbags and belts), Maria Tasovac (unique handbags and scarves), Evica Milovanov Penezic (unique gloves), Leonora Vekic (hats), LILU by Daniela Biškup (footwear), MONA – handbags by Velibor Antonijevic, PASSAGE (the first domestic brand of watches), BPM (wristwatches), EVITA PERONI (details and hair decorations), BOMAR (wristwatches and sunglasses), Nataša Filipovic (lamps and hats) and several third year students at the Department of Textile, the Faculty of Applied Art in Belgrade.

Tanja CiCanovic, a designer living and working in Paris for ten years now, exhibited a series of photographs representing her current collection of accessories and a retrospective of her earlier works in the French Cultural Centre.

ORIFLAME, a Swedish company engaged in manufacturing cosmetic products, was the official patron of beauty at the Belgrade Fashion Week.

FTV, a prestigious fashion TV channel and one of the official media sponsors, is going to broadcast its report for the Belgrade Fashion Week. Domestic media have proved once again that this fashion event is one of the best-covered projects. We expect that 300 hours of program is going to be on all major and a dozen of local TV stations in the country. Around 150 articles published in the most important newspapers are going to contribute to the popularity of our Fashion Week and fashion as well.

The 14th TECHNO MARKET EUROPA FASHION WEEK is to be held from 20th till 26th October 2003.

Exception - Darko Kostic

JUGOEXPORT - Verica Rakocevic

AMC - Vesna Matijevic

MONA - Zvonko Markovic

MONA - Ana Lekovic

MONA - Jelena Danilovic

MODNI STUDIO BB
Bata Spasojevic

MODNI STUDIO BB - Bata Spasojevic

CHICCO

Modna kuca Ooops!

Alexsandra Moura

Aleksandar Protic

SANPELLEGRINO

IDENTITY

Boris Nikolic

Bogomir Doringer

Tamara Radivojevic

Dijana Vujacic

Iva Stefanovic

Mirjana Djordjevic

Lana Pavlovic

Katarina Puzic

Nataša Krstic

THE THIRTEENTH AND THE BEST
Na It is the common practice to analyse the results of a project that is so big and important as the Belgrade Fashion Week. Several public figures and celebrities coming from the world of fashion and culture were asked to give their opinion regarding to the 13th Belgrade Fashion Week and its. We were also interested to hear their views on our fashion.

RADMILA HRUSTANOVIC, the Mayor of Belgrade:
In my opinion, this Fashion Week was better than the previous one, in view of organization and creative audacity. It seems to me that our fashion shows are as good as those coming from abroad. I attended the collection presentations of “Jugoexport”, “AMC”, “Mona” and “Exception”. There were some interesting garment pieces at each of these shows. Darko Kostic presented a haut couture collection. It should find its right place here, in our city and country as well. Personally, I prefer fashion that can be worn in everyday life. My preferences are: high-quality fabrics, skilfully styled garment pieces, fine handiwork. We saw that in the first segment of tonight’s fashion show. «Mona» presented an excellent collection. An enchanting combination of various fabrics and colours. The collection of “AMC” was very interesting. I noticed some exceptional garment pieces that every business woman should have in her wardrobe. The fashion show of «Jugoexport» was traditionally good. I suppose that Verica Rakocevic had to create within the boundaries set by “Jugoexport”, bearing in mind the demands of its clientele.

VESNA ARSIC, the Vice-President of the National Bank of Serbia:
The Fashion Week makes us feel that we are part of the world. In my opinion, fashion industry in Serbia can offer a lot. I have been following fashion tendencies for years, but I do not dare to claim that I am an expert. I have the impression that the Belgrade Fashion Week is getting better and better every season. This time, we had the opportunity to see and enjoy a wide range of some interesting ideas. The organization should stay on the highest level. I think this event should be supported extensively, because fashion, culture and art as important segments of our lives cannot lean on their own resources.. What distinguishes one society from another are art and fashion, because those two domains are strongly bonded. We have seen that at the Fashion Week. The first presentation segment of «Di Fashion» was very interesting, because it is a collection for businesswomen . I am in that group. «Exception Atelier» presented a different kind of fashion. Nevertheless, it is an extraordinary collection. A true artistic experience. Not just a conventional fashion show. Both female and male public enjoyed it. The author showed us something modern, fascinating, and a bit sexy.

SRDJAN BIŠEVAC, the Director of Marketing in «Tehnik&Kom»
I am more than satisfied. The entire event was truly exceptional. Although I am not an expert, I am of the opinion that designers and collections presented at the 13th Belgrade Fashion Week were excellent. Probably, the best so far. I can confirm that Fashion Studio “Click” organized this project on the highest professional level. I am certain that our company is going to be present at the next Fashion Week.

BOŠKO JAKOVLJEVIC, a TV presenter:
This Fashion Week was better than the previous one, because there were more young designers. I think that designer names, such as: Jelena & Svetlana Prokovic, Aleksandar Protic etc were absent from our fashion scene too long, ten years to be exact. We had the opportunity to see an excellent designer from Portugal, Alexandra Moura. She is still unknown to the wider public. Her ideas are fresh and original. She can be compared with any designer coming from Belgium, Holland, Great Britain. This Fashion Week can be renamed freely into the «Fashion Week of New Ideas in Design». That is why fashion fans enjoyed it so immensely. Fortunately, there were less people eager to be on TV, and more of them who appreciate fashion. I hope «Click» intends to maintain this course. To be more precise, I expect that “Click” is going to organize these fashion events for young people, that is, for people who are ready to understand and see things that are not present in the world of entertainment, both here and abroad. I do not know whom I should single out, but what is certain is that anyone, who presents his/her ideas at the Fashion Week without any help or support by a big company, should be respected greatly. I like that theatrical way of Darko Kostic, scene, movement and act. A model can express unconsciously even things that are not in her/him if there is a good music and she/he wears a good clothes.

SNEZANA DAKIC, the author of TV program «In trend» on BKTV
This Fashion Week was a momentous fashion event. If we examine the list of participants, we can freely say that all the designers, engaged seriously in the fashion business, were present at this event: AMC and Vesna Matijevic; «Mona» and its creative team; Bata Spasojevic, already an affirmed name in the world of fashion, with a very successful and trendy collection created under the aegis of Fashion Studio BB; «Di Fashion» represents a serious competitor on the domestic market. Aleksandar Protic and a guest from Portugal, Alexandra Moura, presented two attractive collections, thus contributing to the appeal and significance of the Belgrade Fashion Week. Last year we had the opportunity to see designers from London. Now we had an insight into the fashion created in Lisbon that is also one of the most vibrant fashion scenes in Europe. Jelena and Svetlana Prokovic’s comeback on the domestic scene is also of the utmost importance. They are among the most imaginative designers on this market.
The last collection at the 13th Fashion Week demonstrated Giorgio Rossi, brought a new quality into “Exception”. First of all, in the fashion for men. Casual Italian style permeated with a light touch of two sports - polo & golf, a pleasant spectrum of pastel colours, especially in the garment pieces made out of linen and combined with jeans, enable numerous creative combinations, nothing extravagant. It is a classic sport style.
A businesswoman in linen - a good choice. It is casual, and yet wearable in any business occasion. Mr Grossi brought back the colour. It is praiseworthy. Excellent cuts, luxurious fabrics, fine handiwork and creativity characterize Darko Kostic’s collection. His presentation was imaginative in the true spirit of every garment piece we saw.

DRAGANA KUNJADIC, Costume National
My compliments to Darko Kostic. In my opinion, his work is truly professional. The closing of the Belgrade Fashion Week speaks in favour of my statement. The entire show was perfect: choreography, make-up, hairdo, music and models. His domain is definitely «haut couture», both in the sense of concept and creativity. Evening dresses were fantastic. Girls look very feminine, dominant and erotic in them. I would gladly wear one of his dresses.
This Fashion Week proved the well-known fact: a designer with more financial means at their disposal can carry out their ideas. It understands high-quality fabrics and fine handiwork. The public and critic get a better impression of a fashion show. Everybody knows how much time, energy and work one needs in order to create a good collection. To be a designer means: to work in a team. The entire work depends upon a lot of people. It is also necessary to have sufficient financial means in order to create a final product. My compliment to all the people who had insufficient financial means to create their collections and still presented some excellent ideas.
I would like to single out two collections: one by Bata Spasojevic and the other by Darko Kostic (the segment of evening garment pieces). I have to admit that I was disappointed by the student’s collections. I expected more. I can single out anyone.
Fashion Studio «Click» organized this even in the highest professional level again. Abroad, the state, huge financial means and numerous agencies are usually involved in such projects. That is why «Click» desires to be highly praised. My compliments.

AFRODITA BAJIC, the owner of “AMC” Fashion House
Domestic textile industry needs an event such as this. If we work together, we can contribute immensely to its image in the same way that our renowned fashion houses try to maintain theirs. The lack of financial means has a great impact on our textile industry. I am thinking of commercial aspect. The presented collections should find their place not just on the domestic market, but also on the foreign one. In order to solve a number of problems, we should organize debates and discussions within our own guild, which could take place in the course of this important fashion even. We need commercial catalogues and Internet presentations. We should educate people working in this industry, in order to find the right customers for our fashion. If we gave a complete and encircled offer of our domestic textile industry, its presentation on the local and foreign market could be more professional, stable and successful. The Belgrade Fashion Week and Fashion Studio «Click» as its organizer should be the leaders in this domain. They could bring everything to a much higher level. After a short break, «AMC» is present again at the Belgrade Fashion Week. We got very positive reviews. Vesna Matijevic was highly professional and creative once again. It is obvious that domestic fashion industry has a lot to offer. It is capable of carrying out various ideas. The presented collections were excellent. Everything was organized on the highest professional level thanks to Fashion Studio «Click». All of us can contribute significantly to fashion. The Belgrade Fashion Week is a perfect place for that. We should also make an enormous effort in turning textile industry into a highly profitable branch.
Our prominent magazine for women - «Politika Bazar» gave awards to the best fashion designer, fashion show, a female model and a male one at the 13th Techno Market Europe Fashion Week.
Marija Kranjc, the fashion editor of «Politika Bazar»:
«Politika Bazar» awards creativity for the second time in row. This Fashion Week proved that there are some exceptionally talented designer, who create imaginative collections even when they do not have enough financial means at their disposal. It seems to me that the Belgrade Fashion Week is getting better and better. Besides young designers, who always prove our fashion has a future, we have to pay our compliment to the Historical Museum of Yugoslavia, because this location has turned out to be an interesting place for fashion presentations. Numerous fashion connoisseurs immensely enjoyed new tendencies presented by both affirmed and unknown young fashion designers. All collections were trendy. They could be compared with those coming from abroad. That is why the jury: Zora Mojsilovic Popovic, a professor at the Faculty of Applied Art, Irena Mišovic, a journalist, Marina Kosanovic, the editor in «Bazar», Andrija Djordjevic, a distinguished doyen model, and Marija Kranjc, the fashion editor in «Bazar», had a difficult task, taking into consideration that we saw numerous creative designers, interesting shows and models. The jury decided to give the following awards to:
Vesna Matijevic - the best designer for her black & white collection;
Bogomir Doringer - the best fashion show;
Jelena Trninic - the best female model; Danijel Stevanovic - the best male model
We hope that BAZART is going to contribute to the further affirmation of the awarded designers and models that we have chosen.