Meet The Designer: Barbara From VIRAGO
Tell us a little about yourself and how your brand started.
I grew up in a small town in Bosnia and left to attend college in Croatia, where I’ve been living for the past 12 years. My days are mostly filled with reading, sketching, dreaming and sometimes socializing. I enjoy being free and doing what I want, no matter how hard somebody tries to stop me. There were periods in my life where this “spite” of mine was repressed, but I always found my way back. That resilient part of me is the source of Virago.
What made you want to create your own label?
My goal was to spend my 20’s studying, traveling and gaining as much experience as possible, before I start my brand sometime in my 30’s. And then the pandemic hit and the feeling of doing something that isn’t meant for me became overwhelming and I just had to make that final step into the world I’ve been fantasizing about for a long time.
How would you describe your style or aesthetic in three words?
Depending. On. Day.
Where do you usually find inspiration?
Mythology, history, mysticism, astrology…Fields that are abundant with both information and inspiration.
Is there one piece or collection that’s especially meaningful to you? What’s the story behind it?
It always changes, but right now it’s the Vespera crewneck. Purple is my favorite color and this shade is just pure perfection. It’s so calming, but eye-catching at the same time. I named it (very) late at night, almost dawn, while I was reading a story about Venus and that word came up, so I went online to research the origin and it said that one of its meanings is the “evening star”, which is a nickname for the planet Venus.
How are your pieces made, and what matters most to you when choosing materials and production?
Virago is produced all over Europe, with an emphasis on Portugal, and I have no plans to change that, except that I’m working on establishing a more secure system of domestic production, here in Croatia. That part gets a little challenging for a few different reasons, but I am proud of the pieces we managed to create here so far. It gives me a lot more freedom in design and trying new things, so I’m looking forward to pushing that.
How do you want people to feel when they wear your pieces?
Like there’s more behind it than a piece of fabric stitched together. In this “it ain’t that deep” era, I enjoy people who find meaning in every little detail. It doesn’t have to match the idea I had in mind when creating it, what matters is that it represents something to them personally.
What are you excited about right now, and what’s coming next?
Virago is turning 5 in December and it’s been so interesting to think about its growth, as well as my own. The other day I scrolled through our first photos and read some of my old ideas and, after I was done cringing, it woke me up as to how far this story went. That’s what’s been inspiring me lately. Sometimes you wonder if things are gonna keep expanding, is there anything new to try and learn, and then you look back and realize how much has changed since last month, let alone 5 years. So that’s been my vibe lately, admiring the evolution. I wanna keep this positive outlook on the past and stay excited for what’s coming, always.
Credits:
Models: Magdalena Gero Viktorija Pavlaković / Vere Models Palison Tee Doe Wesseh Andrea Jurić / Vere Models
Styling & Creative Direction: Barbara Janković
Hair: Josip Mirković Jo Salon
Fran Brunović
Makeup: Ema Posavčić Dora Rešetar
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