Irena ivanova

Grey Sheep

irena_ivanova.studio

Location

Kennedale / united states

University

Falmouth university

Graduation year

2019

Contact

1997. BORN AND RAISED IN BULGARIA. 43°49′23″N 25°57′14″E
Irena Ivanova earned her Bachelor Degree in Fashion design at Falmouth University, UK in 2019.
Her first taste of the fashion industry was in 2015 when she was an assistant designer for a Bulgarian based brand called 1INMIND prior to her higher education; her experience at 1INMIND later developed into a desire to put Bulgaria onto the Fashion world map, which is a goal that she still persues.
During her second year of education, she had the chance to create and present a collection in front of the brand director of Fred Perry, Rob Gaitt. When graduating, Irena was shortlisted for GFW and her portfolio was nominated for GFW portfolio award. After graduating she moved to Texas, US where she is planing to establish her company.
Her Bulgarian heritage and her familly are the biggest inspration for her work.

Latest Collection

EXHIBIT 91 "the shared memory"

My graduation collection concept is based on the "shared memory" that mid 80s and 90s generation experienced, growing up in countries part of the Eastern Block. The focus of my collection is on the collective "we" and the architecture as a living architype of the Soviet space. The reason of my collection is to put more light on that part of the world labeled as "Eastern" Europe, but not as a geographical term but as a bad place that has been demonized throughout the years. The collection's objective is to provoke people's attention to this part of Europe that has been isolated from the west and to present a creative representation of what is to live during and after the influence of USSR and to share my own experience and childhood with the audience.

"shared memory"- the generation that shared the past, the present and the dark future that very little escaped.
"1991"- historical mark that changed the world forever.
"exhibit" - the past that shound not be forgotten but learned from.

Credits:
photographer: Daniela Yordanova
Models: Divna Stancheva, Yuliyana Georgieva, Katerina Slugina