Children's fashion is not so inspiring to local creators, but she is a Montenegrin designer Ana Radulović decided to show her talent by making models for the youngest. Thanks to this venture in which she has been for a decade and the brand "Petit Paris Clothing", she recently made it to the British "Vogue", where her new collection was presented.
“Being featured in British 'Vogue' was an incredible opportunity for me and my collection. They contacted me after they spotted me on social media and that was the beginning of an enriching collaboration. I believe that this recognition emphasizes the growing interest in fashion from the Balkans, a region that is increasingly being followed in the fashion industry," said designer Ana Radulović in an interview for "Vijesti", and reminded that the Balkans produced world-famous designers, such as Roksanda Ilinčić, Serbian designer who is widely known, Marko Mitanovski, the winner of the British 'Vogue' contest in 2009 and a cult brand like EVICA, whose founder Evica Milovanov Penezić, also had a significant influence in the world of fashion.
She hopes that this editorial will open new doors for her in the world of fashion.
“This not only builds my credibility as a creator, but also gives me valuable international exposure. I expect that this recognition can facilitate my expansion to other markets, especially to the European market, which is the goal I set for myself", points out Radulović, who graduated from school for designers in Paris, and after many years of working in women's fashion, decided to use her creativity show through the collections for the youngest.
"I chose to make children's clothes because at the time I made this decision, I was fed up with the women's fashion industry and I was looking for something new and refreshing. I firmly believe that children should be children, for as long as possible. So I decided to focus on creating specially designed clothes for the youngest, with an emphasis on comfort, durability and preservation of childhood through style and design. My studies in Paris gave me the skills to realize this vision, and with passion and dedication I strive to create clothes that allow children to simply be who they are: children," says the creator, whose collections are aimed at children up to 10 years old.
Montenegrin creators rarely decide to design clothes for children, and about how much easier it was for her to show her creativity, she says:
"When I started some ten years ago, the truth is that there was not a large selection of children's fashion on the Montenegrin market. Noticing this gap, I saw an opportunity to create quality, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing clothing for children. However, working in children's fashion comes with its own challenges. I constantly have to balance between aesthetics and functionality, because children's clothes must be both practical and comfortable to wear. This limitation encourages my creativity and forces me to find innovative solutions that meet the needs of the children while also reflecting my aesthetic and my creativity,” she claims.
For Ana, fashion is a form of personal and cultural expression, and she points out that through what we wear we show identity, values and emotions, and it is very important that children are taught its importance from a young age.
"For me, fashion goes beyond simple clothing and becomes a complex visual language that constantly evolves with time and socio-cultural influences. Learning about fashion can raise young people's awareness of issues such as sustainability, ethics and diversity, helping them become more aware and responsible consumers in the future," notes the designer.
Appearance is the deciding factor when we buy things, but in order to wear them, they must be comfortable. Given that what she creates is worn by the youngest, Ana reveals how they feel in her models, and how important it is that the pieces are equally comfortable, but also pleasing in appearance:
"Although aesthetics play a key role in choosing clothes, I think comfort is just as important, maybe more important, especially when it comes to children. I take great care when choosing materials, that the cuts are adapted to their movements and that details such as seams and labels are designed to avoid any discomfort. However, this does not mean that I sacrifice aesthetics. On the contrary, I believe that it is completely possible to combine those two aspects", says the "Vijesti" interlocutor, who does not hide that finding quality fabric can sometimes be a challenge.
"I personally advocate the use of natural and certified materials that are safe for children's skin. This means that they do not contain harmful substances and that they meet strict safety and quality standards," she adds.
Blue is usually intended for boys, pink for girls, but Ana's collections so far are more intended for the gentler sex.
"In my current collections, I use colors that are still more associated with girls, like pink, which stems from market demand. Even though I have two boys myself, sometimes it's harder for me to get inspiration for boys," she is honest.
Collections signed by Ana Radulović are recognizable by their retro style. It is girls who like to look like princesses and how difficult it is to combine that retro style with some current details, Ana reveals:
"It's true that my style is often associated with a retro aesthetic, but that doesn't mean it's difficult to combine this style with current details, especially when it comes to girls' clothes. In fact, I find that the retro style fits perfectly with the preferences of girls who like to feel like princesses. The retro style among girls is very childish and often resembles the elegance of princesses in classic cartoons. If we look, for example, at the 'vintage' drawings of girls from the 1950s, we can see how the fashion of that time was both sweet and refined," says Ana, who chose the retro style because she thinks it evokes an era of sophistication and innocence in children's fashion.
“In addition, it offers a unique opportunity to combine the timeless charm of the past with modern details to create unique and elegant clothes for today's girls. Combining retro style with current details, I try to create collections that capture children's imaginations, while at the same time providing a nostalgic and elegant look that appeals to parents as well", concludes Ana Radulović.
Bonus video:
