The "Opera" collection is a combination of elegance, inner strength, femininity and depth.

Fashion designer who lives and works in Montenegro, Natalija Urbanova, presented the new collection of her brand "Nurban" at this year's spring edition of Montenegrin Fashion Week, officially called Blanc Fashion Week Montenegro.

For the occasion, she prepared gowns and evening dresses inspired by opera, and one of her models was worn at the show by Ksenija Popović, the second runner-up of Miss Montenegro, who will also represent her country at the international Miss Earth pageant.

Urban spoke to "Vijesti" about the collaboration with her, as well as her collection, after the end of the fashion event in which she had previously participated.

"It is a great honor and joy for me to be part of Montenegrin Fashion Week. I am sincerely grateful to the organizers for the atmosphere they create - I really feel comfortable here, like at home. Since I live in Montenegro, this is especially important to me," she explains.

"I would like to especially thank the entire team, not only the organizers, but also everyone who works behind the scenes: the models, makeup artists, hairdressers, technical crew, sound engineers and people who work with lighting. It's a huge job that the audience doesn't always see, but it's what creates the magic of the show. This is the twelfth time we've worked together and it's always a feeling of a connected, professional and warm team," concludes Urbanova, who also reveals more about the collection she recently presented.

"The latest collection is called 'Opera'. It was created largely through my collaboration with opera singer Tamara Radjenovic - her grandiose concert was held in London on April 13th, and it is a great honor for me that my dresses were part of that event and shone on stage," the fashion designer boasted.

"The inspiration for the collection also comes from the architecture of the Palais Garnier Opera House, its majesty, details and the drama of the space. I grew up surrounded by art, opera and ballet, and that aesthetic is deep within me, which is why this topic is particularly personal and important to me," adds the interviewee of "Vijesti".

"The 'Opera' collection is a combination of elegance, inner strength, femininity and depth. Each piece carries emotion, like a stage costume in which there is drama, sophistication and a special inner energy," she describes, and then answers the question of how long she worked on the models, from the initial sketches to the final product.

“This collection required a lot of time and deep dedication to the process. Normally, I start a new collection immediately after finishing the previous one, so this process was continuous and lasted about six months,” she points out.

"It is a very demanding and precise work, which requires maximum dedication to detail - from the first ideas and sketches to the final hand-made processing. For me, it is important that each piece is brought to perfection and carries the emotion and quality that I invest in my collections," continues Urbanova.

Given that the models are extravagant and intended for special occasions, it also looks at what kind of ladies the models from the collection are intended for.

"The collection is intended for women who want to be noticed, but at the same time maintain subtlety and depth. These are women who cultivate self-awareness, inner dignity and respect for their own worth. My designs are about presence, individuality and expressing yourself through condition, not through loudness," the fashion designer emphasized, and spoke more about the materials she used for this collection.

"In my work, I use silk, satin, jacquard, lace, as well as hand embroidery and crystals. For me, fabric is not just a material, but a carrier of emotion and meaning. The color palette always arises from feelings - I love colors, because each tone has its own energy and character. It is important to me that the fabric 'speaks', that it conveys emotion and reinforces the idea of ​​the model," she concludes.

But the collection wasn't just about dresses, as several trouser sets could also be seen on the runway, although those models were also very formal.

"Although the brand is primarily known for its formal and stage creations, trousers are a natural part of a modern woman's wardrobe. I wanted to include them in the collection in a way that would maintain the brand's aesthetic. These models bring a balance between femininity and strength, making the collection more universal, modern and practical," explains Urban.

He says that he does not plan to present the "Opera" collection outside of Montenegro for now, but it is very possible that some of the next collections will be seen by foreign audiences.

"Yes, we receive a large number of invitations for international events and Fashion Weeks - in Paris, Milan, as well as for events such as the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, projects in Monaco and others. This is a great recognition and confirmation of international interest in the brand," she pointed out.

"However, there are currently certain difficulties with documentation and obtaining visas, which sometimes limits the possibility of participation. However, Montenegro is now my home, my brand is registered here and I represent it from here with great respect," adds the fashion designer.

"I believe that everything comes at the right time and that in the future there will be opportunities to present collections on the most important world stages. We are gradually moving in that direction and will expand the brand's presence," she says, revealing further plans for the "Nurban" brand.

"In the coming period, you can expect new collections, creative collaborations and projects with artists and women from the world of art from the 'Nurban' brand. I continue to develop the direction in which fashion becomes an art form and a way of expressing one's inner state, with a focus on unique design, handcraft and a strong emotional component of each piece," said Urban.

Creates dresses for confident women

One of the models from the "Opera" collection was worn at Fashion Week by Ksenija Popović, Miss Earth Montenegro, and Urbanova reveals how this collaboration came about, but also how important it is, on the one hand, to have a model who attracts attention, and on the other, to manage not to "distract" from the model she is wearing.

"The collaboration with Ksenija Popović happened very naturally. She is a regular model at Fashion Week and participated in my show, so the choice was logical and spontaneous. As Miss Montenegro, she represents her country and it is important for me to support girls who are entering the international scene," says Urbanova.

"I create dresses for exactly those women - self-confident, who know their worth and who express their femininity and strength naturally. Since I live in Montenegro, I have great respect for this country and I think it is important to support its representatives," adds the designer.

"I believe that in such moments it is important to be together and support each other. When a girl represents her country abroad, she should feel warmth, support and love - like a family. I make my contribution through my work. And this does not only apply to Ksenija, I always support girls from competitions like Miss World, Miss Globe and others, when they contact me," she emphasized.