As an Albanian designer, I felt that throughout my creative career I needed to embrace my culture and heritage in a contemporary way that felt organic and innovative to me. Throughout my years here studying at SAIC I have learned many different techniques that have aided in my creative process. In this class I learned various methods that I have now introduced into my practice. These series of projects I created during the semester in fall of 2022, I focused on elevating and interpreting Albanian traditional dress with more modern techniques such as machine embroidery and laser cutting. I found this project to be inspiring and as a point of venture to a more extensive and larger project beyond that semester.
Diaphanous
Spring Summer 2023
Moodboard, Inspiration Board of Albanian Cultural Dress, 2023
Mixed Media Collage, 2023
Collection Color Story, Pantone Color Swatch Library
Collection Research Sketchbook Page, 2023
Mixed Media, Sketchbook 2022/23
Collection Research Sketchbook Page, 2023, Hera Look
Mixed Media, Sketchbook 2022/23
Diaphanous Six Look Collection, Six Look Collection Overview, 2023
Digital Illustration, Procreate, 2022/23
DIAPHANOUS COLLECTION - 11
Hera Look Final Photoshoot, 2023, Film Photograph, 2023
Photographer Instagram: T.antonakis Kane Model Instagram: Leannajosie Makeup Artist Instagram Handle: Givahgray
Gaia Look Final Photoshoot
Photographer Instagram: James.prinz Model Instagram: Jadenicoenelle
Contact Card
The union of profound emotion including desire, anger, sadness, and fear, is required to be emitted through the artwork for it to be proclaimed as an artwork. The cycle of artworks relies upon the genuine components by the composer–the more intense sincerity in the work, the more infectious the piece becomes to the audience. As an interdisciplinary artist my work consists of various mediums including sculpture, illustration, writing, poetry, painting, among many others. Many of the techniques used throughout my work consist of embroidery, beading, laser cutting, and 3D printing.
Drawing out these sincerities and the impurities (because art–much like nature–will have its impurities), can the individualism be illuminated and catapulted beyond the artist’s intention. While I find it important to look toward myself and my experiences as a source of inspiration, I find it even more liberating to connect to nature, culture, and community and to interpret what that looks and feels like to me with fabric. The dichotomy between nature and identity, hard and soft materials, and diverse textures are used to create sculptural and organic pieces while nodding towards my Albanian culture. Harmony is achieved between the women’s form and the fluidity of textiles, techniques, and silhouettes. My designs utilize mostly natural materials as well as materials native to my home country, Macedonia, to create elegant and intuitive designs. The collections I create are elemental, open, and unrefined garments that are natural and organic. The wild and chaotic nature of the universe is a direct inspiration with each collection that is created.