Eco Fashion World

Being European myself, even I had difficulties guessing where Ljubljana lies. But this pretty capital is a little treasure in the relatively new state of Slovenia, five hours from Vienna, three hours from Italy and ten hours from Eastern Switzerland where I travelled from. A work meeting seems the perfect occassion to explore this Slavic part of Europe and check how many locals are eco fashion inspired.

´There is not much awareness here, that´s why Focus exists´. Lidija Živčič is founder of this environmental NGO and tells me enthusiastically about the projects they initiate. Fashion is one of our topics in the exhibition we organize in collaboration with Smetumet. This assocation of waste artists creates bags, accessories and fashion pieces out of reclaimed materials. ´When you say eco fashion, they come the closest to doing that I guess´.

But strolling through the city, I come across more. Like a recently opened organic cosmetics store. ´Unfortunately only French beauty products, but this might change´, the saleswoman tells me. Or what about the Terra Plana store that sells Worn Again and the funky Dida heels out of recycled fabrics? ´We just opened´ the owner tells me, ´and are confident that customers will find us soon´. The fairtrade store across the road of Mestni Trg and Stari Trg sells gifts and products made in developing countries, but a little bit further down local designers like Tanja Devetak exhibit their pieces in small boutiques. Although Ljubljana is a relatively small city, this shows that there is a creative scene that might be called cultural too.

This is confirmed by Lidija´s sister Barbara, a former fashion student and now involved in several projects. ´I have designed a collection in hemp fabric which attracted quite some attention´. Although her collection was unfortunately not taken into production, she points out another store to us, hidden in the shopping mall on the corner of Dalmatinova Ulica and Slovenska Cesta. We find Sreda closed but the window displays show promising pieces by young artists that give us an appetite for more Slovenian design. This time, the quest ends here, but we look forward to returning in a few years to see that Slovenia has caught up with some of its European neighbours.

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