Jana Filipčić

“Mrlja” started as a project for HRT (Croatian Radio Television). A series about garbage and recycling is currently in the works, and they decided to dedicate one episode to fashion. Since the theme of the show is garbage, it was asked of us to make a collection made entirely from recycled materials. One outfit was chosen and the whole process; from production to final photoshoot, was filmed. For my collection I focused on using materials that were either thrown away or were defected last meters of fabric bundles. I was lucky that; throughout my fashion education, I managed to collect a lot of fabric. Some bundles were factory waste donated to students, some I got from stores for free or at a discount for being damaged, and some were my own waste from previous projects.
As soon as I heard the theme for our project, my mind jumped to the time I used to work in a storage room for a large fashion store. In the corner of the room we had a box for all the returned damaged items that were waiting to be processed and thrown away. Most of the items weren’t badly damaged; make up stains that could easily be washed; loose threads that could easily be repaired; defected items that were made incorrectly but the mistake often gave them an interesting new design, and so on. Even though most of these items were easily repaired or even just sold as is, for the workers and the corporation, it was easier to just throw them away.
As a young adult just starting to find my place in the work force, I often felt like an item in that box. Moulded by the education system; with no work experience; to the employers I was a cheap defected item ready to be picked up and either fixed or thrown out.
That is how “Mrlja” was started. The designs have hints of professional attire but noting is quiet right. Quality materials with make-up stains, footprint stains, and bright red letters reading, “stain”, “damage claim” or “defected”. Suit jackets missing the other half or lapels that have moulded with the tie, perfect attire for young professionals trying to fit in but their inexperience being too obvious to everyone around.