We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Vladimira Dancova ("VD").
W. Vladimira Dancova is young fashion designer. She is interested in street style fashion, which can people wear everyday without compromise and fear, but still want to stay unique and different. She tries to make young and fresh fashion for young people, and help them to show their young spirit and attitude to the world. W. Dancova makes menswear and womenswear fashion, also unisex fashion to link two genders together. In her free creations she prides herself on good cuts, draping and modeling to perfect fit. More then handmade embroideries she use construction, variability and features for everyday using.
Vladimira Dancova Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Vladimira Dancova.
Designer Interview of Vladimira Dancova:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
VD : I am a fashion designer. I do the street style and ready-to-wear fashion. It is a little bit unbelievable, but yes, I always wanted to be a fashion designer. From my early age I drew only models in clothes. Then I started studying School of aplied arts and my enthusiasm for fashion stayed with me.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
VD : I am young designer and I currently study Fashion design. I do not have a company, but I am working on my own brand .
DI: What is "design" for you?
VD : For me design is the way how I can display myself. Design things makes me happier every day, because they are lovely for my eyes and usefull for my hands. The things what you have around you, in your home or what you wear helps you feel better.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
VD : Street style fashion and clothes for every day wearing.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
VD : At this time I am designing work uniforms for company, and it is my first experience.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
VD : It depends on my current collection or clothing. I like designing prints and patterns on synthetic materials. But I also like to work with natural material such as cotton or wool. My technology is always based on the perfect cut and shape of the garment.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
VD : When someone or something inspires me. People, music, place.. everything.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
VD : First of all, I will choose an imaginative customer. Then I imagine his needs and I try to satisfy them when designing. In my opinion, however, it is most important to wear clothing in fashion.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
VD : I feel some kind of freedom. You can let your mind and imagination be free and put yourself to the something new. It doesn´t matter if it is garment, painting, drawing or furniture. It´s as something is rise from the ash.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
VD : Every time it is very special feeling, because not each design is always realized, so it is nice to see your best idea goes real.
DI: What makes a design successful?
VD : Aesthetic appearance, for sure, and practicality. Then very important is marketing, price, prezentation, advertisement and right selectation of customer.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
VD : A Harmony of apperiance, if it is practical or not and how can I use it and the idea.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
VD : Designer should satisfy needs of people and society, with regard to enviroment. If we want to make and enjoy design, we have to be considerate to our nature. But it is a difficult task.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
VD : Future of design is absolutely in new technologies. Evolving of materials, computers and visions. On the other side is important to maintain traditions and our cultures. We need to preserve and transfer our heritage to other generations.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
VD : My last exhibition was in March 2017, in Prague, Gallery one and it was a combined exhibition of several students. The next I´d like to have on Mercedez-Benz Fashion week.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
VD : Inspiration is everywhere, so I just need to let my mind open. It helps, when I am meditating, or walking in nature where is calm and silence. I try to be connect with nature and draw energy from it. I sketch a lot everytime, so I have all my ideas on the paper. It is a lot about my curent mood and what I want to share through the collection. Often I visit galleries, check fashion trends and I am interested in other sections of design and art.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
VD : I try to work with young people and meet their needs. Through fashion, I display my spirit and attitude to the world, and I want young people to do it too. My style is based on comfort and wearable clothing. Fashion is not just art for me, but also a challenge to incorporate other features into one - visual effect, new design, new idea, originality, comfort and variability. I'm looking for a middle way between a fashionable object and a ready-to-wear garment. A design that is simple but original. Something that is new but inspired by history. It's a long way of discovering art, life, design and me.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
VD : I come from a small town in Slovakia, but I live and study in Prague, in the Czech republic. Here are more oportunities for my work and better up-country than in Slovakia. Of course, both have beautiful culture heritage. When I am in Prague I draw the inspiration from multicultural place, people and architecture. When I am at home in Slovakia, my source of inspiration is nature, mountains and calm. Different places, different designs and the best result.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
VD : Companies should not be afraid to collaborate with designers. Good design can increase the production and the company's productivity. It not only about good or bad designer, but it is also about putting the right product on the market at the right time. If it is good or bad designer, companies have to try out.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
VD : I always start with finding inspiration. Inspiration is everywhere, so I just need to let my mind open. It helps, when I am meditating, or walking in nature where is calm and silence. I always take my sketch book with me and then I just draw something. Plants, flowers, view, trees, it doesn´t matter. Just thinking and drawing. When I have an idea I transform it to the garment. I create pattern, technology, shape, practical properties, select materials and create a collection concept. Then I continue to the realization. I drape and fit on a figure or model, I look at proportions and fine the details. The rest is sewing by hand or by machine.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
VD : Every day I use a Gustav Klimpt porcelain cup. Then there is my linocut, Callendar from my friend artist "Neznamy", with his graphics, Handmade choker from silver and ebony wood from my friend Majda and own production jacket in wardrobe.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
VD : I feel to be gifted, to do the work of designer. I love to make things by hand and know there is someone who will be happy with it. It is beautiful to see people like they enjoy and wear my designs and this unrecognizable feeling is why I am doing it. The negative is, that many designers and artists are under big pressure and often have to work with many restrictions. Because of clients, companies, business and many other things.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
VD : Let my mind open.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
VD : Endurance, creativity, mettle, flexibility, positivity, courage, tolerance, humility and never give up.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
VD : My sketchbook and pencils are always with me, you never know where you can get the best idea. Then I work a lot in my laptop, for research. And of course needle, thread, sccisors and pins everywhere.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
VD : Sometimes it's really hard to manage your time. I'm trying to work and distribute my time. But before the deadline, I'm always in a hurry.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
VD : It depends on the complexity of the object. The longest process is to create the right technology and materials. On average I think it can be 2 months. From an idea to the real prototype is a long way of fitting, thinking and working.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
VD : Where should I wear it?
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
VD : I absolutely love design fashion. For me it is the best way how I can show my attitude, my opinions, my art. And the best thing for me is, when people can wear it and use it.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
VD : I would like to stay in Fashion design and continue studying at University abroad.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
VD : I work and suggest myself, but I often consult my sketches with other people, because it is important for me to have a different view. I try to consult with people in the fashion industry and on the other hand with people from another section. They have different opinions, everytime. I am averaging them and trying to develop the design in the best way
DI: How can people contact you?
VD : Via e-mail: wdancova@gmail.com or on social networks: https://www.facebook.com/wdancova/