Vedrana Mastela is an independent fashion designer from Croatia. She earned her MA in Fashion Design from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology.
During her studies she was actively involved in the world of fashion, participating in numerous projects, competitions and exhibitions in Croatia and worldwide; INFLUENCE Mediterranean fashion festival 2009 in Slovenia, Triumph Inspiration Award Croatia 2011, Habitus Baltija 2011, competition of young fashion designers in Riga, Latvia, 2012 iD International Emerging Fashion Awards in Dunedin, New Zealand; The Exhibition of Croatian Design 1112. Vedrana has also showcased her work at events like Design Day in Zagreb and Month of Design in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
As a finalist of Fashion Incubator 2013 she showed her collections at the 23rd Schwarzkopf Cro A Porter fashion show and was also invited to present at the Cro A Porter AVANTGARDE 2014 fashion show in Zagreb. She has continued to showcase her work at the following 25th and 26th Schwarzkopf Cro A Porter. In 2016 she showed her collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Central Europe as Gombold újra! finalist and she was 2017 OPENMYMED Prize finalist.
Her work has received plentiful positive reviews, primarily for exploring different ideas with conceptual thinking, as well as for bringing an innovative approach in the study of textile materials and fashion silhouettes. She is focused on her growth as a designer, as well as the growth of her brand, but retaining local focus by embracing ideas of fashion that are sustainable and support local communities and artisan craftsmanship.
IN CONVERSATION WITH VEDRANA MASTELA
When did you first realise you wanted to pursue a career as a designer?
I was drawn to fashion as a kid, I started to draw my creations at a very early age and after I finished artistic high school, I had several interests, directions, but decided to pursue a fashion design degree.
How important is your cultural background for your brand?
Everything influences us and makes us the way we are and how we see the world and it reflects in our work. For example, I believe my interest in sustainable practices came naturally as in my family there was always awareness about reusing, upcycling, repairing, etc. I’ll always remember how my grandma would mend things, how she would get mad about how people just throw away stuff and don’t care with respect for what they have.
Who have been your biggest mentors in this industry and what is the best advice they have ever given you?
I would say a few of my professors at University. It’s not so much advice, but their faith in me and my work, their guidance and their trust made me pursue my ideas and this path even more.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career what would it be?
To save more money or don’t try to fit in, keep doing it your way.
What was your biggest fear when starting your own brand?
Maybe the financial and business side of it as when studying fashion design you’re more into exploration of creativity and ideas, visions and less into business.
Who would you most like to see wearing your garments?
Whoever feels drawn to them and enjoys them.
Name two icons you admire or you would like to collaborate.
Hmm, I’ve been a fan of Nick Cave since I was 10 so to collaborate in any way would be more than phenomenal
A letter to your future self. What would you write?
Keep doing it your way and never forget how far you have come.
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