WTALENT: MAGDALENA KOZIEJ

Magdalena Koziej is the freshest face of Poland’s up-and-coming fashion scene. She has received so many awards at so little time – most recently, she won the Air France Fashion Contest 2014 and was awarded an internship with Manish Arora. The young talented designer walks us through her line and original inspiration and discusses her hometown and its boundless dynamic.

How did you come to decide you wanted to be a fashion designer?

I knew I wanted to be an artist since I was six years old and fashion became for me the most convenient form of expression. Since I was a little girl, I have been drawing and painting. After graduating art high school, I was sure I wanted to work in fashion, and decided to go on and study fashion design.

How does your personal style affect your designing for your line?

My personal style has no effect on my designs. My projects always have similar features which reveal my personal artistic vision, but they do not represent my own way of dressing. When I design, I forget about myself. I am trying to make my work my artistic statement. I do not design for myself based on my personal habits and fondness. That would limit my subjective assessment.

What is your philosophy and vision as a fashion designer?

Fashion is a particular form of art for me. It is my way to express myself through kinds of sculptures compatible with the human body. Therefore, the most important is to seek unique solutions of form, dynamics and color.
I am trying to design clothes that are a bit mysterious yet full of energy, clothes that are two-dimensional; they are not meant just for wearing but for viewing and experiencing also, just like an art gallery exhibit. If my clothes were to meet only the first dimension, they would miss this quite important element.

How did it feel taking your collection from Poland to Berlin Fashion Week?

I was happy I could join the Polish designers’ fashion show at The Gallery Berlin and present my Fall/Winter collection to the Berlin audience. I also had the great opportunity to meet international representatives of the fashion market. For me, the biggest pleasure was that my collection was well-received not only by the Polish and German crowd but by foreign journalists and buyers as well.

Tell us a few words about your A/W ’14 collection.

It is an exclusive collection aimed at young women who appreciate originality and elegance at the same time. The inspiration for the collection was the art of Gothic, particularly the architecture of cathedrals. From their characteristic elements, I have chosen to use verticalism, richness, complex compositions of vaults and heavily marked sharp angles and bends – common in the arms, neckline and cuff finishes. Furthermore, I have resorted in many ensembles transparency and laser-cut openwork, referring to the form of stained glass, vault divisions and traceries.
My personal interest in Gothic architecture – which is best represented by the cathedrals of that period – is associated with the ambience, the richness of ornaments and the sculptural forms. All those elements are so similar to clothing! It is also a challenge to try to make my inspiration accurate, and make my clothes echo the Gothic art. This led me to an interesting exploration of forms and details.

How would you describe your hometown’s fashion scene?

Poland has a growing fashion market. Poland Fashion Week is organized in Lodz, the city where I live and study; it is called the Polish fashion capital. The atmosphere of the city is very interesting and inspiring due to its industrial history and structure. There are artists and designers, and various art-related events take a place.
I am currently finishing my master’s degree on Fashion Design at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Lodz. Polish designers are very capable, as far as I can see in the works of my colleagues. However, Lodz market is too small for me, as my sense of aesthetics is not only targeted to the Polish audience.

What are your future plans?

Before graduating, I would like to focus on promoting further my collections via fashion shows, media and editorials. My long-term professional goal is to lead an independent fashion brand as a designer and to receive recognition beyond my hometown. I would love to have the opportunity to offer casual collections but also keep them high-fashion oriented.

For more information, visit magdalenakoziej.com

Header image © Gala Poland #1/2014

Image Credits:

Header Image

Photo: Marlena Bielinska
Styling: Magda Jagnicka
Make Up: Sylwia Rakowska
Hair: Aneta Kostrzewa
Model: Alicja Bachleda-Curus

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ShuString Magazine #1
Photo & Styling: Oliver Rauh
Make Up & Hair: Heiko Palach
Model: Natalia Albinska/ www.voxmodels.com.pl

2/4
Photo: Sylwia Bomba
Make Up & Hair: Marlena Kurtyka
Models: Joasia Chalupnik, Marta Przybylowska

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Photo: Wiktor Zawisza
Model: Natalia Maja Hyzy
Make Up & Hair: ColoursPhilosophy Make up
Bag: Mysh Collection

5/6/8
Photo: Sylwia Bomba
Make Up & Hair: Marlena Kurtyka
Model: Joasia Chalupnik

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Photo: Kinga Wasilewska
Model: Maja Nadolska
Make Up & Hair: Marta Bedka

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