THE DESIGNER
Clarissa Bánáti is the founder of the BANCLA men’s fashion brand.
She is a student of Fashion and Textile Design at Budapest Metropolitan University, currently pursuing her master’s degree.
Her work focuses on men’s fashion, with an emphasis on using high-quality materials and manufacturing processes that minimize environmental impact,
while creating stylish, unique, innovative, and sustainable garments.
Each of her collections tells a story, often inspired by her family and heritage.
From her mother’s side, she has inherited Transylvanian roots, incorporating elements of this rich culture into many of her designs.
Her goal is to blend cultures while introducing bold forms and utilizing special, natural materials.
THE BRAND
BANCLA merges cultures while modernizing them, using unique tailoring, functional details, and creative natural materials to create timeless pieces with versatile wear. Great emphasis is placed on ensuring that the designs in the collections are adaptable and layered to suit all four seasons.
The brand embodies a distinct character and personality, made unmistakable by its groundbreaking cuts and material choices. The mission of BANCLA is to build a bridge between generations, showcasing how traditional craftsmanship and innovative design come together seamlessly.
Her work is driven by passion for craft and devotion to romance. Clarissa likes to rely on simple silhouettes and offers a modern take on feminine classics. She has the desire to be raw and beautiful and to exist in her own special perspective of femininity, even if it feels isolating and off-putting sometimes. Being a woman is not always the best feeling especially if she grew up in a small town, but she’s extremely inspired to create clothes that make us feel prettier.
THE COLLECTION
Contemporary design rooted in cultural heritage
The AW2627 collection is inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Hungary and Transylvania,
blending traditional handcraft techniques with contemporary fashion language.
Drawing from ancestral methods such as embroidery, smocking, felting, and hand-stitching,
the collection transforms these into structural and shaping elements, rather than mere decoration.
Born from a personal connection to my Transylvanian roots, the project aims to reinterpret
and preserve cultural memory while speaking in a modern visual and material vocabulary.
The designs combine innovative fabric manipulation with reconstructed tailoring
to create wearable yet statement pieces that reflect identity, memory, and belonging.
Sustainability is a core value: natural, locally sourced materials are used whenever possible,
supporting both environmental and cultural balance.
Modern Ancestry reimagines the past for the present —through fabric, form, and the spirit of tradition made new.