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LOOK INTO THE FUTURE

If we look into the agendas of fashion professionals, journalists and fashion aficionados, we can notice that the month of October has been reserved for the Belgrade Fashion Week for eight years now. In the autumn edition of the most relevant fashion event in our country, which will be held from 18th till 25th October this year, we shall see the latest ideas, creative achievements and designs of our fashion scene.

The City Assembly of Belgrade and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Services of the Republic of Serbia are the patrons of the Belgrade Fashion Week again, which is organized the sixteenth time in a row. Our esteemed partner and friend supporting this important fashion event for the second time is the regional leader in banking – Hypo-Alpe-Adria Bank.

Despite the fact that domestic fashion industry is experiencing a serious crisis, the Belgrade Fashion Week remains faithful to its original idea, for many years now encouraging all fashion professionals – affirmed designers and fashion houses – to continue their work in spite of unfavorable conditions for this kind of business. It has also been supporting young designers in their efforts to fulfill their own dreams. The fact that some of the most famous world brands have found their interest in backing numerous authors’ fashion shows at this year’s Fashion Week, shows best that energy and ideas invested in the above-mentioned “mission impossible” by Fashion Studio “Click” and the Belgrade Fashion Week were not futile in the past years. “Moet & Chandon”, as one of the most renowned Champaign brands in the world, has given that kind of support. This brand, which is also known for being one of the biggest sponsors of fashion events in the world, introduces the latest collection by Suzana Peric, our internationally affirmed designer who will have the honor to open the 16th HYPO ALPE ADRIA FASHION WEEK.

Some other world brands, such as Puma, Coca-Cola Light, Samsung, V Vodka, Gorki List etc, mostly having backed the work of young designers, recognized the Belgrade Fashion Week as an excellent medium for sending their messages. A gesture worth our attention and gratitude. Of course, in the name of authors and organizers...

Unlike our textile industry going through difficult times, the creativity of our designers is undisputable. The best proofs of our claim are those designers whose talent, work and career are often praised by the international fashion scene. At the 16th HYPO ALPE ADRIA FASHION WEEK Roksanda Ilincic, our star living and working in London, will present her collection together with a chic designer team from London called “BLAAK”. This designer team has recently presented its collection in Paris. Nina Gajic, our designer from Australia, will also introduce the Belgrade public to her creative work.

Some of the most renowned domestic fashion houses and authors, as well as designers who were growing together with the Belgrade Fashion Week in the past years, will “defend the colors” of our fashion scene. “Trends Show”, organized on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of an author TV program by Snezana Dakic, which is broadcast on BK Television, will undoubtedly mark the 16th HYPO ALPE ADRIA FASHION WEEK, because domestic fashion will be presented through several governing trends in the world at the moment.

As we know, the Belgrade Fashion Week has always found a way, in accordance with its profile, to give its contribution to humanitarian and socially beneficial campaigns. This year, it is a campaign against people trafficking – a burning issue that concern both our country and our entire region. This project will be carried out by Fashion Studio “Click”, TV Pink and MTV. Namely, MTV has been supporting this campaign for a long time. A great number of world celebrities have taken part in various actions and events initiated and organized by this television. Since the fashion is one of the most influential planetary phenomena, it possesses an enormous power to shape and model the minds of young people, especially young women. Therefore, MTV firmly believes that this very creative domain could forward information on people trafficking as well as educate people how to fight it. An entire day will be dedicated to this noble campaign at the 16th HYPO ALPE ADRIA FASHION WEEK. Its highlight will be the collection presentations of two guests from the region: Aida Korman from Bosnia and Herzegovina and a designer duo from Athens (Greece) called “MIRO” that participated in the latest edition of the Rome Fashion Week.

Once again, an opportunity to make their debut will get postgraduate students who are studying under the tutelage of Prof Ingrid Huljev at the Faculty of Applied Art in Belgrade. An interesting additional program will accompany this year’s Fashion Week as well. The most eminent designers of those indispensable “details” will display their latest creations in the scope of the traditional exhibition of fashion accessories. An exhibition of Natasa Saric will be held in a newly opened gallery “Ozone”.

“Politika Bazar” Magazine will give prestigious BAZART Awards to the best designers, fashion shows and models.

KENT EXPLORA INNOVATION AWARD will be given away for the first time to the most innovative domestic designer who is getting a chance to attend the New York Fashion Week in February 2005. The awarded designer will have a unique opportunity to present her/his designs in an exclusive editorial that will be photographed on the recognizable locations of the world’s capital of innovation – New York. A special jury, consisting of renowned fashion representatives from our country, will give away this award to a domestic designer who has entered in a creative sense the unexplored territory of innovation, skillfully combining current trends and her/his personal artistic sensibility.

In spite of all the impediments, we keep on going!

WELCOME TO THE 16TH HYPO ALPE ADRIA FASHION WEEK

Suzana Peric

PS Fashion

MANGO

SPRINGFIELD

IVKOVIC

CHICCO

TODOR

TODOR - Predrag Neric

TODOR - Predrag Neric

JSP - Jelena i Svetlana Prokovic

Bata Spasojevic

Sanpellegrino

BLAAK

Natasa Saric & Thierry Guitard

Marija Sindjelic

Nina Gajic

Ingrid Huljev Nikolic

Roksanda Ilincic

Darko Kostic

Aida Korman

MIRO - Atina

BELGRADE FASHION - TRENDS SHOW - AUTHOR SNEZANA DAKIC

Business chick - Ašok Murti

East/West - Maja Atanasijevic i Boris Nikolic

Guerila Glam - Goga Grubjesic i Filip Maksimovic

Street smart - Iva Stefanovic

Retro glamour - Pedja Govedarica

FACULTY OF APPLIED ART IN BELGRADE - PROF. INGRID HULJEV NIKOLIC

Aleksandra Ziravac

Jelena Lekic

Natasa Milanovic

Natasa Palum

Vladimir Savic

NEW DESIGNERS AND FASHION PERFORMANCES

Ana Ljubinkovic

Jelena Markovic

Srdjan Vekic

Marija Kadelbug

Marija Petrovska & Tanja Jakovljevic

FASHION ACCESSORIES EXIBITION

Evica Milovanovic-Penezic

BLOOM HAND MADE

Marija Tasovac

BPM Watches

Evita Peroni

Labrador

Velibor Antonijevic

LILU - Danijela Biskup

Leonora Vekic

IMPRESSIONS

ROKSANDA ILINCIC, Fashion Designer - London
My first steps in the fashion field were connected with the Click and the Fashion Week. Each time it is better and better. The organization was on a very high level. Unfortunately, I missed the other shows, but I must confess, the people responsible for this Fashion Week were full of positive energy and working with them helped me to full up my own batteries. To my opinion, the Belgrade Fashion Week is an exceptionally good manifestation. I can draw a parallel with all that is happening in Moscow, Prague, Brazil and again, I have to praise highly the Click and Nenad, because the Belgrade Fashion Week was better organized. It is the result of years of work and experience. I had the opportunity to be in these other metropolises, but in earnest, the organization here was the best. I believe the other guests from abroad, present at this manifestation, will agree in full with me. I must point out I am always being partial. This is my country and I am always happy to be here. I see the Fashion Week is growing by itself. It used to last four or six days, but now it came to whole eight days. It is very positive as well as the desire of people who made a name abroad to come and participate, which is the case of the designer team "Blaak".

THOMAS SCHAFER, Managing Director, Heidekruger Concepts - Germany:
During the three days of my stay in Belgrade, I saw several fashion shows. I am really impressed with the artistic range of the young designers. I saw several experimental shows. No doubt, a young and a very powerful designer scene is growing in Belgrade, which left me with a very good feeling. In fashion, the potential grows out of the new, each season, each year and we always need an impulse emanating from the young and new designers, which of course has its influence on the commercial side of fashion.
To my opinion, there is no need to watch similar manifestations too much in London and New York. More famous names make appearances there, of course, but personally, I prefer this kind of new and fresh design with indigenous spirit of this city and this country. I think Belgrade has an exceptional growing potential to find its place in the world, and here I point particularly to young fashion designers. Each country making a fresh start, and I am convinced Serbia is making a fresh start in a special way, has a potential and when youth succeeds to use this potential to create something new, they for sure have in front of themselves a prospering future.
I watched with interest the "Trends Show", an attempt to give a stylistic presentation of five different teams. They made an excellent job, which was backed up by many known Serbian companies. I found this attempt to show the trends in a new way very interesting.

ZORAN BOSANAC, fashion consultant - Paris
The Belgrade Fashion Week keeps being a very pleasant and nice surprise both to vision and mind. Unfortunately, my profession kept me very busy and I missed some shows I wanted to see. I liked very much the performance day with Nataša Šaric, Marija Kadelburg, Marija Petrovski and Tanja Jakovljevic. To my opinion, this kind of fashion presentation should be present more at the Fashion Week. On the other hand, I liked Bata Spasojevic. I want to have his jackets with fur. I want to thank the Click and Nenad Radujevic on exceptional reception of our guests from France representing the "Blaak". They are more than satisfied. The organization was sensational. More chances should be given to the enormous creative impulse of the young and talented people. I am very glad the Fashion Week offers opportunities to young people. I find it very interesting and positive.

ARON SHARIF, fashion designer - "Blaak" - London/Paris
I find this city very real, the city in which you can see people enjoying themselves very well and going their own way. I liked Belgrade very much, it is a European city, but with its own, indigenous and authentic appeal. I hope it will preserve it for a long time. Our impressions of Belgrade are mainly related to the nocturnal life of the city. We enjoyed our stay here. Our journeys from London to other parts of Europe differ very much, for we were elated with the way people enjoy themselves over here and how much they go out in the evening. I am nearly ashamed to say that under some circumstances I would rather prefer to enjoy myself in Belgrade than in London. When the Fashion Week in Belgrade is concerned, I think that it is always very interesting to see people attempting to do something new. We are doing just that and we want to encourage people to take chances and express themselves through fashion. It was very prudent of designers to present their shows in different environments.

LUNA LU, author of the "Glamurama" show - TV B92
This time I missed half of the Fashion Week shows with a reason, so that I shall watch many of the shows on the editing desk during editing of my show. If I were to single out one of the details I saw at the Fashion Week, it would be the Fashion Week show at the Sava Centar. I like the site, it seems as if it is designed for the show and emanates a team spirit and atmosphere of the kind I imagine spreads from the world fashion weeks. I like to be there because the space is bare and experimental and this made me enjoy in the designs of the young designers from the FPU. As they were not "hit" by fame, they dedicated their attention much more to the design of dress than to the fashion business. This would be my first super association to this Fashion Week. It would be appropriate to introduce in future press conferences or something similar with the designers in the foreground. I liked the "Mango" show particularly because the models demonstrated much more from the usual posing. I like something like that, as I think it to be the spirit of the Fashion Studio Click from the very start.

SACHIKO OKADA, fashion designer of the designing team "Blaak" - London/Paris
I find people in Belgrade nice. They like to enjoy themselves, and since we like to enjoy ourselves, it was a perfect combination. Belgrade is not frivolous; you can see it on people and in the architecture. We watched the shows during the Fashion Week and our impression is that the fashion here is relatively new, and novelties are always exciting and interesting to people. Everybody wants to see new things. I am very glad that the Fashion Studio Click endeavors to support young people in the fashion, to educate them on fashion and to give them opportunities to show their ideas. It is really a positive attitude and it is not easy to get such a great help in any other city. Organization is excellent. I am greatly impressed by the beauty of the models, both the girls and the men.

ANTONIJA MANDIC, journalist - RTL Zagreb (Croatia)
Everything I saw was excellent. From the shown collections to the organization, which was, I must confess, on an enviously high level. I rather liked collections I saw, particularly the collection by Darko Kostic, showing glamour in a kind of Versace way. Excellent. If I were in show business, I would without hesitation wear what he offers. Beside Darko, I was thrilled with the firm "Todor" with many designs both for children and the adults. Variety, lot of colors, lot of materials, a whiff of eighties, fluttering. Excellent. The sisters Prokovic were on the highest level, from the design, styling, music, and stage and they deserve the Kent award. The Fashion Week is the best way for the Serbian fashion and the Serbian designers to enter Europe and the world. I take to Zagreb exceptionally positive impressions both on the Fashion Week and the organizers. Excellent atmosphere. I enjoyed myself and I am sure to come again.

IRENA MISOVIC, fashion editor - magazine "Gloria"
I have to confess that for the first time at the Fashion Week, I was pleasantly surprised by some people of whom I have not expected it. It was great to see two very exceptional collections of the world designers on the last day, Roksanda Ilincic and the "Blaak" designing team. They are paving a new fashion direction, no matter how known they are to us. It is a present fashion image shown in Paris and in all world fashion magazines. To my opinion, "Blaak" is up to now the strongest guest, except for the "Costume National" who is very well known. I would like to single out divine designs done by the final year students. The Knitwear "Ivkovic", finally applying new production technology and offering the home fashion market something new, was a great surprise to me. Equally surprising was to me that a firm permitted its designers to finalize their designs, promote the technology and work on new material, because such a case has not happened in the history of home fashion industry for a long time. Ana Ljubinkovic had very interesting designs. There are many things, which she could offer to us. The sisters Prokovic have finally made a collection "from the beginning to the end", taking care of the production of the designs as well. They have made a completely mature collection and it was time to do so. They may be the best example denying that we, as a fashion scene, have fallen asleep. To my opinion, the sisters Prokovic, awarded with Kent award for innovation and the Knitwear "Ivkovic", that applied the production innovation, are sufficient shift forward for this Fashion Week. I must not forget the performance by Nataša Šaric who made designs very close to the haute couture. It is sufficient for one Fashion Week in Serbia without a budget of those abroad. We should be proud of the results we have achieved.

BOSKO JAKOVLJEVIC, presenter - TV PINK
Even if we do not wish to admit, this Fashion Week has shown that people living abroad think of the fashion in a different way. This was particularly felt in the shows taking place on the last day, in the designs of Roksanda Ilincic and the "Blaak". The Fashion Week differs from other similar manifestations for the professional skill of the people organizing the event and the professional execution of the tiniest detail. Nevertheless, I think that some of the shows should be held on different sites with changed scene. Sava Centar was an excellent choice marking the manifestation and contributing to a particular atmosphere of the shows held there.

MARIJA KRANJC, Fashion Editor - magazine BAZAR
The sixteenth Fashion Week confirmed to be the most important fashion manifestation, not only in our country, but also in the surrounding regions. Thanks to the persistence of the Fashion Studio Click, as the organizer, the public was offered opportunity to get acquainted with the present possibilities in the fashion field at home, and through guest appearance of foreign designers - in Europe. I consider this side of the HYPO-ALPE ADRIA FASHION WEEK program of same importance as the long-term endeavors of the organizer to assemble on one spot, during seven days, most of the relevant home designers. This Fashion Week presented authors of different sensibility: from commercial collections, trough very creative and avant-guard ones to explicitly "staging" and non-wearing ones. I liked very much the way of thinking by Ingrid Huljev Nikolic, Bata Spasojevic, Roksanda Ilincic, Knitwear Ivkovic, BLAAK. I would like to commend the concept of the "Trends Show", which took place on the tenth anniversary of the Show by Snežana Dakic.

BAZART, the fashion award established three seasons ago with the idea of supporting faster affirmation of the home fashion, which has already achieved acclaim, was awarded to:
JELENA AND SVETLANA PROKOVIC - the most successful fashion designers
NATAŠA ŠARIC - the most attractive fashion presentation
AGNETA AZIROVIC - the most successful model (girls)
MARKO MILANOVIC - the most successful model (men)