THE DESIGNER
Marko Ječmenica is currently finishing his undergraduate studies at the Faculty of AppIied Arts in Belgrade, at the department of Costume/Fashion design. During his studies, he researched and built the field of his own artistic activity, both through faculty assignments and exercises and through various projects outside the faculty. He believes that his own artistic sensibility and signature in art has already formed during his university education, but he considers that artistic practice and formation of a persona' stamp are a continuous thread and his desire is to gain as much exnerience as possible that will help him to get to know as many possibilities for artistic expression as possible. Learning about art and fashion are the biggest drivers for the designer when creating, thinking and dealing with fashion. In addition to his studies, his previous experience includes working in theater, on fashion campaigns and editorials, music videos and other related projects where he worked as a costume designer or stylist.
THE COLLECTION
WHERE I'M GOING AND WHERE I'M COMING FROM
The initial idea for creating a graduation collection came when the designer was talking about the graduation thesis, and came to the conclusion that the graduation collection should be something that he is, something that keeps him awake, something that makes him think and that makes him drive forward. That was the moment when he understood what designer fashion means - that is when the idea of a graduate collection became clear to the designer. lt was not difficult for him to see what it is that makes him unable to sleep and what thoughts make him, so naturally, the idea of the graduate collection starts trom that. The work process was liberating for him, it was a space in which he discovered and got to know himself.
The materials used in the creation of the collection are primarily natural fabrics for suits and various types of cotton. There is also a lot of handwork in this collection, and the designer used the technioue for hand-stringing beads, from which the top was created. Also, there is a lot of screen printing in the collection, which helped him to bring his idea to life.
For him, this collection talks about growing up as a continuous process and evokes childhood memories.