BRANKOPOPOVICBLOG: Serbia Fashion Week SS 2017

Neo Design

The spring/summer 2017 edition of Serbia Fashion Week took place in from November 7 - 12 in Novi Sad, the recently elected Cultural Capital of Europe for 2021.
With this new future perspective Serbia Fashion Week seems to have a more stable marriage with the city of Novi Sad.
Mrs. Svetlana Horvat has managed to settle a platform for fashion designers in Serbia and the Balkan region but has also made connections globally. Thank to partnerships with many fashion weeks from all over the globe she has created new paths for Serbian designers, in addition a selective group of relevant media has been accommodated during the event.
The schedule of the event features an extensive program with fashion shows of emerging and renowned designers from Serbia and abroad. But there is more to see and do; there are seminars, talks, showrooms and fashion film screenings.
Following the previous editions, the opening show again the hands of Srđan Šveljo, the Novi Sad based stylist and editor who curated a show based on Oscar Wilde. Under the title 'Heroes with Oscar Wilde' he gathered work of 25 menswear designers.

Following highlight of the fashion week is the young designers contest - the EFTDC (international designers ) and the FTDC (serbian designers). The winner of the FTDC, Neo Design by the promosing designer Nevena Ivanović won participation in the coming FASHIONCLASH Festival. Other finalists from Serbia where Jelena Đukanović and Katarina Romčević. International finalists where Polona Roblek and Nina Grubek from Slovenia and Strangelove from Belarus by designers Marina Smalygova and Victoria Tkacheva.

Strangelove

Following days the program varied in styles, international and local names, but also in quality. Among the favorites was Catch Michelle from Romania who surprised with her quirky surrualist collection, the colorful and arty brand Sarah Jessy Jones from Argentina and outspoken Betaomega from Czech Republic.

Betaomega

The local designers that impressed the most was Vasilije Kovačev, in particular with his menswear pieces. Ana Vasiljević presented a descent casual but creative collection that stood out with its minimalism besides all the womenswear that mostly contains eveningwear and gowns.
Furthermore worth mentioning where designers Bata Spasojević, Mladen Milovjević Baron, Zvonko Marković, Marta Miljanić and Bosko Jakovljevic.

Mad Mood Milano

Last but not least - if I may say so myself - was my own collection 'Best of Both Worlds'. It was a great honor that Serbia Fashion Week gave me the stage to show my work in my birth country. In particular because my work has always been inspired by my former Yugoslav roots and experiences.