THE DESIGNER
Dorottya Csókási, founder of the Budapest-based fashion brand CHOKASSY, is a dedicated advocate of sustainable and regenerative design. Graduating from Central Saint Martins in London in 2023 with a degree in Womenswear, Dorottya returned to Budapest to launch her own brand, deepening her design identity through the narrative of her "Ecce Tenebrae" BA collection which garnered significant attention, including features in British Vogue and several other magazines like Granary, Paper Magazine, The Perfect Magazine and Dazed Fashion.
THE BRAND
Founded by Dorottya Csókási, Chokassy is a Budapest-based label focusing on regenerative, low-impact design. After recently graduating from Central Saint Martins, London, specializing in Womenswear fashion, Dorottya moved back to Budapest to launch her brand and expand her design identity, further exploring her BA Collection’s narrative ‘Ecce Tenebrae- Shed-off’. The brand wishes to unravel an innovative attitude towards an incorporative, circulative design practice. Chokassy is based on responsible creativity, praising heritage, reworked into uncompromising innovation, to lead toward a more conscious approach to modern everyday life.
THE COLLECTION
‘AQUA VITAE’, the water of life. The CHOKASSY SS25 collection offers a glimpse into the world of fashion inspired by Hungarian cultural motifs, exploring the functional wardrobe of the modern-day woman with freshness and sophistication. "Aqua Vitae" symbolizes the natural source, healing water, fluidity and circularity in the collection.
The collection is built around the symbolism of the tulip, one of Hungary’s oldest decorative elements, which returns as a foundational element of the brand from the previous collection. The emblem of femininity and womanhood, and the parallel of the female soul, are present both in form and decoration throughout the collection. We can further follow the blooming of Ilushka, the archetype from 'Ecce Tenebrae,' as the collection speaks of creation, birth, and the triad relationship of girl-woman-mother. The petal appears as the contour of the female body, as a collar, and as an appliqué decorative element.
Such decorative elements also include braids, symbolizing continuity, unity, and belonging, appearing as both hair braids and basket weaves. The braids evoke the roots of nature, tht are revisited with the use of natural fiber materials such as typha, corn husk, and leather, as well as the woven pieces made from 'worn-out' stockings that emphasize the element of sustainability. The braids also return as appliqués, inspired by the piping of traditional Hungarian men's shirts.
The collection builds on the playful colors of plants moved by the cooling summer breeze of nature, emphasizing the traditional base colors of Hungary. The textiles reflect the plant-shadow motifs created by nature itself. The tulip motif and other flowers' rounded petals serve not only as color but also as contour forms. The light silhouettes of the garments are inspired by traditional rural attire, of women's blouses and vests, pleated skirts, men's shirts, and ceremonial garments influencing the collection's modern, functional pieces.
Striving for sustainable material usage, the collection is based on 'household fabrics' like cotton and linen. Drawing from the experience of being close to water, the SS25 collection introduces the recycling and incorporation of the 'objet trouvé' (found object) sailcloth into everyday life attire.
Representing sustainable fashion is essential for CHOKASSY. Returning to the ideals of Hungarian heritage, the collection not only adopts the cultural motifs as aesthetic inspiration, but also embraces Hungary’s timeless approach to the sustainable way of life and ‘make-do and mend’ creation.