Simona Lampe
Simona Lampe designs an upcycled womenswear collection as a means of spreading awareness about waste.
Evgeni Petkov
With its recent inclusion in the European Union, Bulgaria is in the process of establishing its own unique identity, through its distinct mix of ethnicity and creativity. As part of a this vanguard of art and design, Evengi Petkov stands apart, as a designer who works to incorporate his native cultural landscape through his work. Petkov combines the rich textile tradition of the region, with local craft skills and contemporary design. Working predominately with natural fibers such as soft spun wool, organic cotton, vintage lace trims, raffia and finely woven Bulgarian silk, the designer’s aim is to sustain craft skills as well as communities in his homeland, while looking for eco solutions to his creative process. “I wanted to find a novel way of combining the skills of local craftswomen with the sweeping elegance of chic couture.”
His Pure Beauty Collection, not his first, is a continuation of his quest to incorporate sustainable fabrics into his collections. Based in Sofia Bulgaria, his collection is artfully created locally out of hand crochet, eco cotton, soy, silk charmeuse, and some less conventional materials, such as coconut fiber and raffia palm. Sourcing fabrications from industry leaders in sustainable fabrications, the designer celebrates his cultural roots in combination with his love of exquisite materials and embellishments. His latest collection shows a marked maturation of design, with sophisticated designs, silhouettes and details, as well as complex combinations of materials, and a rich understanding for texture, with wonderful combinations of shine and matt, fluid and crisp, patterned and silky, textural, draped and deconstructed.
At twenty-four with his degree still in process, he has already garnered invitations to show his work through various international venues, as well as been featured in multiple publications, amongst the Ecouterre and Ecco Eco. Petkov views eco fashion as a bridge between his ongoing exploration of his roots and culture, his past and his present, and as a vehicle to express his abiding love of Parisian design. While sourcing natural and eco friendly materials, allows him to source sustainably within his homeland. “Designing with natural fibers and eco friendly materials allows me to course sustainably within my homeland, while also creating high fashion inspired by the cultures of everywhere.”
Website: www.eugeniomoda.com
