All Photos by Ula Kóska
Words by Katie Farley
Residing and designing her enchantingly beautiful and contemporary Collections in Warsaw, Poland, emerging fashion talent Kalina Kocemba is pioneering innovative design that is unquestionably setting the standard for upcoming industry influencers in her native country and the world over. The Polish designer creates clothes that are aesthetically attention-grabbing, ethereal and idiosyncratic – all interestingly rolled into one, with an edgy editorial appeal that emits the wonder of the avant-garde in all its glory. You only have to capture a glimpse of Kalina’s novel thus futuristic sartorial creations to appreciate the fact that despite being a newcomer to the world of fashion and design, her extraordinary conceptions are housed in an entire land of their own.
White fabric is abundant throughout the collection, which tightly conceals the female form and dominates the majority of looks, creating the illusion of a second skin sensation. This look is apparent in the dichotomy of fleshy, heavy and high-gloss materials that are married with the delicacy and lightness of the tulle. This infusion allows for the two individual aesthetics of innocence, transparency, ephemerality, and self-confidence, remoteness and incomprehensibility to ultimately confront each other. The deep white is intercepted by inserts of nude and beige, which complements each other beautifully. “I focus on tailoring and choice of fabrics,” says Kalina. “I like designing bags and backpacks that match some elements of clothes, and you can clearly notice that.”
The designer further elaborates, “I want my designs to have an impact on people. I don’t want them to be emotionless or neutral. I would rather want them to love or hate what I’m doing. I want them to have an opinion when they look at my projects. It’s unbelievable how people can change your vision about something.”
Bringing a piece of herself, her thoughts, feelings, character, and vision to the world of fashion, Kalina Kocemba is a name to note.