THE BODY - MARTINA HERAK





You've seen this asymetrical body before in the "Touch of Red" gallery. 
Today I wanted to show you two more looks - a sharper and softer one, both feminine and sexy.
The body was custom designed for me by Martina Herak, a designer from Croatia. 
You can find our more about her in my interview below.


Tell me about your beginnings. How you got into fashion?

I'm 38 :) finished my Master in Fashion design, but while I was studing I was working as a journalist....As a child I was watching Italian television and fashion shows with my grandmother, and already knew that I was interested in fashion. So, after high school I started my education in fashion design. 

Where do you draw inspiration from? Art? Nature? Other designers? People? 

It depends. Sometimes I’m inspired in other peoples design, like – I love Japanese design, and I’m always inspired with the work from Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. But the fact is that I always look on fashion design and on my work as a beautiful playground. I play with my hands and my mind and my inspiration. So, I just make the basic cut and then I just start to play with my fabrics, until the point when I’m satisfied with my garment. This is how I make my clothing. Sometimes I’m inspiredd by music or art in general. 

What it’s like to be a designer in your country? What is the market like? What is your relation with other designers? Anyone you’d recommend? Are there any good places to find/shop local designers?

It’s not easy to be a fashion designer in Croatia, and that’s why unfortunately a lot of young and talented designers change their profession or just start to work as designers somewhere outside the country. The market is not big and everything that starts with FAST is involved in our everyday life. So is FAST FASHION. A lot of our designers are making unique garments where the price is available just for narrower masses, so, for a lot of people it’s much more cheaper to go in one of the shops where they can buy a dress for example for 20 Euros (without thinking that it will go out of fashion and maybe that the material is not so good) then buy something unique that will last. We have a lot of good designers, but the one I love the most are Morana Krklec, Matija Čop and XD design. You can find a lot of concept stores where you can buy croatian designs; but usually the best concepts stores are in Zagreb and on the coast. 

Is your country the place where you sell you work or are you focused on foreign market? Is there a country or city that you think would be the perfect place for you and your brand? 

I presented my collections during London Fashion Week, so, I opened a small door there and met some great, creative people in fashion. I’m not focused just on croatian market, but yes, it’s the country where I sell the most of my clothes. I think that we just have to love what we do, work a lot and only sky will be the limit :) So, to be honest, I would love to work also in London because the market is bigger and the city is beautiful. We should have no fear to start something new or jump into something different. We always have a place where we can go back, but we have to give all our potential. 

How do you see your future? Where do you want to get and what do you want to achieve with your brand? 

I’m working step by step, making 3 collections a year, doing everything by myself and working with clients. I’d love to have a showroom somewhere in the centre of Zagreb and maybe to go to London Fashion Week again one day. I’m just trying to give 120% of myself in my work, learn everyday something new, not only to be a good designer but also to be a good person. I always say that my designs are in a synergy with my emotions, so, I trust myself, trust in my passion for...fashion. As long as I’m working with my heart, I know it will be in order. 

How does the opposition of artistic satisfaction vs. commercial success affect your work? 

I think that every garment has an owner. In the beginning, I had a lot of sceptical persons around me that asked me:” Really? You think that people are going to buy unique asymmetrical dresses?” I said :”Yes!”, and I was right. To be honest, I consider myself an artist, not only because I love to write and to paint and to make exhibitions, but I love to FEEL every product of my imagination. So, as we know, nothing that is extreme is good, we just have to find the balance. I think my fashion design is a balance between my artistic satisfaction and something wearable. 

Do you ever feel limited by the customers’ (and the fashion industry in general) opinions, needs and fears? Do you consider yourself a rule-breaker or you prefer to keep it safe? 

I don’t think I’m a rule breaker, I just love to play with fabrics and giving them “life”. I’m always sewing something I would love to have in my wardrobe, and my clients know that they are going to have something unique, but also wearable with both sneakers and high hills. I use natural fabrics, but always love the asymmetry and monochrome fabrics. I have a good conection with my clients, and we always find a good idea, but the signature is always mine and my word is always the last ;)


tights: BOLA
earrrings: AUMORFIA
bracelet: Djeziarli
rings: RANNKA
necklace: BFV / INSIDE FLESH

corset: ASOS
fishnet leggings: He-m-noid
bracelet: vintage via Amoria Bridle
Hoop earrings: vintage

make-up, styling & photo: Sylvia Lajbig