My main inspiration is a monumental building called ‘Slavín’ in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. It was built when communism striked through my nation, of which stories were told to children of my age. Once I moved out of my home, I noticed that these stories were still living through buildings like ‘Slavín’. I never realised the impact it made on me and many others, hence this makes my collection more personal and sentimental than any other collection that I have ever made.

I wanted to showcase these “stories” through my clothing and evoke the same emotions in people, that represent that era. The cut outs in sleeves and legs of pants show the destruction that took place in Bratislava. Every hole is combined with a patchwork of joined squares in the same shape as the hole, or a missing part. I chose this technique to resemble the outside fassade of ‘Slavin’. The dismanteling of buildings, the ruins of our heritage, this emtiness, are being present once again on the unfinished hems, waistlines, arm holes or necklines. The fabric pick was denim which can best replicate rough edges on garments, and pulled this idea together.

One of the most spoken and most significant aspect of communism in Slovakia, or Czechoslovakia at that time, was the wired fence which no person could pass. This idea of imprisonment and no freedom is hidden in the exposed seams that emphasise on this feeling, and are put out for attention because they are place on the outside parts of garments. Harsh reality is contrasted with the use of felt, a soft fabric that foreshadows the bright future for Slovakians.