This project weaves together the rugged authenticity of traditional Romanian clothing, particularly the richly textured shepherds' coats, with the opulent fantasy of Hollywood glamour from the 1930s to 1950s. Rooted in a deeply personal story, the collection begins with the image of a little girl in communist Romania, secretly watching forbidden Hollywood films—her only window into a world of light, beauty, and escape.
As she huddles by a flickering television, the stark contrast between her rural surroundings and the silver-screen starlets fuels a lifelong dream. This collection is that dream made tangible—a reimagining of heritage through the eyes of a child enchanted by glamour, color, and freedom.
Traditional Romanian silhouettes are reinterpreted using playful, surreal elements, most notably brightly colored faux fur that mimics the shaggy textures of shepherds’ outerwear but explodes with cinematic fantasy. Vibrant tones meet oversized shapes; the utilitarian becomes theatrical. The volume nod both the folkloric strength and Golden Age elegance, while dramatic sleeves and linings recall the costumes of stars like Marlene Dietrich and Rita Hayworth.
This is a story of dual identity—rural and urban, hidden and seen, Eastern restraint and Western opulence. Heritage & Hollywood is both homage and rebellion: a tribute to cultural roots and a child's act of imagination, draped in fur, lit by a projector beam in the dark.