THE DESIGNER
Anika Opara is a Slovenian fashion designer who began her fashion journey at the undergraduate program in fashion and textile design at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering in Ljubljana and continued her studies at a master's programme in fashion design womenswear at Istituto Marangoni in Milan. After completing her studies, she furthered her knowledge through an internship at a men's knitwear fashion house in Amsterdam. She later deepened her expertise in digital fashion by completing a course at AUAS (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences). In 2021 she founded a fashion brand ÆMONA and since then she has been actively creating and expressing her vision through collections. The designer had the opportunity to create a dress for Slovenia's performance at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, which was later showcased at an exhibition at the City Museum of Ljubljana.
THE BRAND
ÆMONA is an independent fashion brand based in Slovenia. The women's fashion brand was created with the intention of combining digital and physical fashion, as well as the desire to create and express through its own collections. In the production of physical garments, the advantages of digital prototyping and pattern-making are often utilized. In 2023, the brand debuted at a fashion show during Ljubljana Fashion Week, followed by a show in Milan, which helped introduce the collection to a wider audience. ÆMONA's creations have attracted the attention of several fashion publications, including Vogue, Numéro, Grazia, Elle, and Tmrw Magazine. The collections are conceptually designed and often inspired by psychological concepts and wordplay. The garments are made with a contemporary interpretation of classic pieces, which often interferes with breaking the traditional form, but preserves the elements of traditional tailoring.
THE COLLECTION
ARGENTUM
“Every cloudth has a silver lining”
Among every cloud, a silver lining emerges—a glimmer of hope piercing through the shadows. Metaphorically, a silver lining represents the light that shines through life’s darkest moments, symbolizing resilience and optimism. The Argentum collection captures the essence of discovering beauty and strength amidst adversity, weaving the metaphorical meaning of a silver lining into a tangible expression that blends symbolism within the new garments. On a tangible level, a “lining” in clothing refers to the carefully crafted inner layer that provides structure, comfort, and finish—often overlooked yet essential. Though hidden, a well-made lining enhances the quality and feel of a garment, elevating it from within. Beyond representing the silver lining, the silver elements in our collection symbolize the journey of transformation. Just as silver undergoes a change when polished, reflecting transformation and personal growth, these pieces remind us that challenges can lead to the new, refined forms. Argentum intertwines the duality of these interpretations and wordplay, presenting a collection of garments that resonate with both the metaphorical and literal aspects of silver lining with each piece creating its own story.