Y.A.T. David Hojnik - DH Fashion
I'm starting Y.A.T. section with young and talented (obviously) David Hojnik, who went from working at Zara to styling assistant and now fashion designer. He has his own line of extravagant jewelry and clothes under name DH Fashion and in just one day he's preparing his own big fashion show. I did an interview with him and after an hour of talking I can tell you that he has some great potencial to create a big name for himself. His positivism, good energy and modesty totally work in his favor and his exquisite hand-made jewelry makes every woman stand out!
Photos via DH Fashion
1. We met at Zara where you've been working as a fashion consultant. Now, after two years, you have your own brand. Tell me how long have you been developing this idea of launching your own line?
“It all started in my childhood when other kids were drawing cars and houses while I drew clothes. The idea to design did not strike me until later on when I went to high school and college. I thought about applying for design school but saw no greater future in it, so I chose media communications. At the same time I started working at Zara and participated at various photo shoots as a stylist. At that point I could express my own creativity and combine different items into attractive designs that caught people’s attention. That time I realized this is something I want to do a bit more seriously and voila – a year after developing my idea I’m having my own big fashion show!”
2. Your jewelry is unique and handmade. How long does it take you to create one piece?
“Since every piece is unique the process from the idea to final product is very long and can last for days. Actual labor depends on the difficulty of the jewelry design itself. Clothing is different. It’ made by two seamstresses (one of them is my grandma), but the ideas, sketches and sewing patterns are all mine.”
3. Leglace (a necklace for the leg) is something completely new and never before seen in Slovene or foreign fashion industry. Where did this genuine idea come from?
“Honestly, leglace was created by mere coincidence. I wanted to do a special styling, so I thought about where to put a necklace other than the neck. We tried putting it around the leg and it looked well. I adjusted it, added elastic and so the leglace was born.”
4. You have over 3.000 fans on Facebook, which probably means people like your products. How do they accept your brand?
“People have accepted my brand excellently, especially the leglace, which has become quite a sensation. I’ve also noticed girls making their own leg jewelry. I’m really glad to have experienced such a positive feedback, which is exactly what gives me an extra boost and makes me want to exceed even more.
5. What’s your say on Slovenian girls? Are they bold and fashionable enough, or should they be more daring?
“It seems to me that mainly younger generations are becoming more and more fashion-aware and go for the bold combinations more frequently. Men are a bit more reserved when it comes to fashion novelties, but I’m sure that will change in time.”
6. Who is the best dressed Slovenian socialite, in your opinion? Which celebrity would you like to dress?
Lately I’ve been following this new generation of famous Slovenian girls that are very fashionable and have the image of trendsetters. These are Demetra Malalan, Zala Đurić Ribič and Ula Furlan. Their style is closest to me, but I am pleased to dress any woman, especially if I make her happy by doing so.
7. Now let’s talk about the big event. We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s big fashion show on Hotel City’s terrace where you’ll be introducing your collection. What can the visitors expect? Are you preparing any surprises?
By all means, the show will be very extravagant and prominent. I’m expecting about 400 guests. Also, Amaya (Maja Keuc) will be performing and walking down the catwalk. I’m really excited and sorry not to be able to see the show, since I’ll have to be backstage. In any case, I promise a high-ranking fashion show that won’t let down the audience.
8. You named the show VIVID. What does it represent? Is there a special meaning behind it?
Vivid means something vibrant, something different and it represents peculiarity and sophistication. Besides, it’s a connection to my name (David) and I think it represents exactly what my collection expresses.
9. How much preparation was necessary for the show? Are we talking days or months?
“We’re talking months, for sure. The idea of a fashion show was in my head since the beginning of my designing career and the execution bean at the end of last year, when I saw I was ready. Even though it’s only been a year since I’ve made my first jewelry, I didn’t want to wait too long. I realized this is the best time for it, since people don’t know me that well. A lot of hard work has been put into it and it lasted about six months to do it. I’ve put the last dress on the clothing rack yesterday, so the collection is ready at last.”
10. What are your plans? Are you staying in Slovenia or would you like to prove yourself abroad?
“Everyone’s telling me to go abroad, because I have nothing to do here in Slovenia – but I disagree. Everyone that is good goes abroad and therefore no potential is left here. I believe you can succeed in our country, so I will persist for now because I would like to spread a vision about accepting differences and daring to stand out. It’s more of a daydream for now, but I believe I can make it eventually. I stand behind the philosophy that allows you to be who you are without having a guilty conscience.”
11. Any advice for aspiring fashion designers who’d like to make names for themselves?
“Dare to do it! I feel sorry for people that study fashion, but throw their talent away later on, because they lack the courage to develop it. Think positive and trust your skills. Thinking about failure is pointless. If you won’t make it the first attempt, you’ll make it the second time around!”
Rubriko Y.A.T. začenjam s predstavitvijo mladega talenta Davida Hojnika in njegove linije nakita in oblačil DH Fashion. David je 22-letni študent medijskih komunikacij, modni svetovalec v Zari in po novem tudi modni oblikovalec z izrednim občutkom za estetiko in modo, ki se odlično znajde tudi v vlogi modela. Sicer oblikovanje nakita in oblek ni bilo v njegovem prvem planu, a ga to delo trenutno zelo veseli in želi na tem področju še veliko doseči. "Go with the flow" pravi in si ne želi točno začrtati svoje kariere, ampak pušča odprta vrata novim priložnostim. Njegova kolekcija odraža drugačnost, vpadljivost in ekstravagantnost in Davidov nakit je definitivno nekaj, s čimer izstopa prav vsaka ženska!
1. Pred dvema letoma sva se spoznala v Zari, kjer si delal kot modni svetovalec. Zdaj, ko se ponovno srečava pa imaš že svojo modno znamko. Povej, kako dolgo se je ta ideja oblikovala v tvoji glavi?
"Vse se je začelo že v otroštvu, ko so nekateri otroci v vrtcu risali avte, drugi hiše, jaz pa sem risal obleke. Sicer se mi ideja o oblikovanju še ni porodila takrat, ampak ob odhodu na srednjo šolo in faks. Razmišljal sem o vpisu na oblikovalsko šolo, ampak takrat v oblikovanju nisem videl neke prihodnosti, zato sem se raje odločil za študij medijskih komunikacij. V tistem obdobju sem začel delati tudi v Zari in poleg tega sodeloval pri raznih fotošutingih, kjer sem pomagal kot stilist. Takrat sem začel izražati svojo kreativnost, kombiniral različne kose in nastale so atraktivne kreacije, ki so pritegnile pozornost ljudi. Spoznal sem, da se s tem želim ukvarjat malo resneje in evo, zdaj, po enem letu, odkar se je razvila ta ideja, imam veliko modno revijo!"
2. Tvoj nakit je unikaten in ročno izdelan. Kako dolgo traja, da izdelaš en kos nakita?
"Ker je vsak kos unikaten, je proces od ideje do končnega produkta zelo dolg in lahko traja tudi po več dni. Kar se fizičnega dela tiče, je odvisno od zahtevnosti nakita. Neka verižica lahko nastane v dveh urah ali pa zanjo porabim petnajst ur. Pri oblačilih je drugače. Izdelujeta jih dve šivilji (ena od njiju je moja babica), ideje, skice in kroji pa so moje delo."
3. Leglace (verižica za okrog noge) je nekaj popolnoma novega, kar še ni bilo videno niti na slovenskem niti na tujem modnem trgu. Od kje taka izvirna ideja?
"Iskreno povedano, je leglace nastal po čistem naključju. Hotel sem narediti en poseben stajling in razmišljal kam je še mogoče nadeti verižico, razen okrog vratu. Poskusili smo z verižico okrog noge in ker je dobro izgledalo, sem jo prilagodil, dodal elastiko in tako je nastal leglace."
4. Na Facebooku imaš že več kot 3000 fanov, kar verjetno pomeni, da so ljudem tvoji izdelki všeč. Kako sprejemajo tvojo linijo?
"Ljudje so mojo linijo odlično sprejeli, sploh leglace je postal pravi bum. Opazil sem celo, da so si punce začele že same izdelovati verižice za okrog noge. Res sem vesel, da so odzivi tako pozitivni in prav to je tisto, kar mi daje dodaten zagon in zaradi česar se bom še bolj izkazal."
"Zdi se mi, da se predvsem mlade generacije bolj in bolj modno ozaveščajo in vedno pogosteje posežejo po drznih kombinacijah. Mislim, da se nam počasi obeta modni napredek. Moški so sicer glede modnih novosti še zmeraj bolj zadržani, ampak verjamem, da se bo tudi to sčasoma spremenilo."
6. Kdo je po tvojem mnenju najbolje oblečena slovenska estradnica? Katero med njimi bi z veseljem oblekel?
"V zadnjem času spremljam to novo generacijo slovenskih slavnih punc, ki so zelo dovzetne za modo in se jih že drži imidž trendseterk. Ko vidiš ta dekleta, si rečeš: Njo pa je vredno posnemat. To so npr. Demetra Malalan, Zala Đurić Ribič in Ula Furlan. Njihov stil mi je nekako najbližji, drugače pa sem vesel vsake ženske, ki jo lahko oblečem in moje največje veselje je, ko jo s tem osrečim."
7. Zdaj pa se posvetiva še velikemu dogodku. Jutri se nam obeta velika modna revija na terasi hotela City, v kateri boš predstavil svojo kolekcijo. Kaj lahko obiskovalci od nje pričakujejo? Nas morda čaka kakšno presenečenje?
"Vsekakor bo revija zelo ekstravagantna in odmevna! Pričakujem približno štiristo gostov, nastopila pa bo tudi Amaya (Maja Keuc), ki se bo sprehodila po 60m dolgi pisti. Zelo se že veselim in prav žal mi je, da revije ne bom mogel videti, ker bom moral biti v zaodrju. Vsekakor pa obljubljam, da bo revija na nivoju in da obiskovalci domov ne bodo odšli razočarani."
8. Revijo si naslovil VIVID. Kaj predstavlja to ime? Je za njim kakšen poseben pomen?
"Vivid pomeni nekaj živega, nekaj drugačnega in predstavlja posebnost in sofisticiranost. Poleg tega gre za navezavo z mojim imenom (David) in mislim, da v končni fazi predstavlja točno to, kar izraža moja kolekcija."
9. Koliko priprav je bilo potrebnih za revijo? Govoriva o dnevih ali mesecih?
"Bova govorila kar o mesecih. Idejo o modni reviji sem imel v glavi že v začetkih mojega ustvarjanja, realizirati pa se je začela konec lanskega leta, ko sem videl, da sem nanjo pripravljen. Čeprav je od tega, odkar sem ustvaril svoj prvi nakit, komaj eno leto, nisem hotel z revijo predolgo čakati, ampak sem se odločil, da je najboljši čas zanjo prav zdaj, ko me ljudje še ne poznajo tako dobro. Pri realizaciji mojih idej mi je pomagala moja ekipa, brez katere mi ne bi nikoli uspelo. Bilo je ogromno trdega dela in trajalo je približno pol leta, da smo ta dogodek spravili skupaj. Včeraj sem na stojalo obesil še zadnjo obleko, tako da je zdaj kolekcija dokončno pripravljena."
10. Kakšni so tvoji nadalnji načrti, boš ostal v Sloveniji ali se želiš uveljaviti tudi v tujini?
"Vsi mi pravijo naj grem v tujino, ker v Sloveniji nimam kaj iskati, ampak jaz se s tem ne strinjam. Vsi, ki so dobri gredo v tujino in tako v Sloveniji ne ostane nič potenciala. Jaz mislim, da se tudi pri nas da uspeti in zato bom zaenkrat še vztrajal v Sloveniji, saj bi rad razširil vizijo o tem, da ljudje sprejmejo drugačnost in si upajo izstopati. Zaenkrat je ta vizija še fantazijska, ampak mislim, da mi/nam sčasoma lahko uspe. Zagovarjam mnenje, da če hočeš lahko 'furaš' to kar si, brez da imaš pri tem slabo vest."
11. Kakšen nasvet za mlade nadobudne oblikovalce, ki se želijo uveljaviti na tem področju?
"Naj si upajo! Žal mi je ljudi, ki študirajo modno oblikovanje, potem pa ta talent zavržejo, ker nimajo dovolj poguma, da bi ga razvili. Naj razmišljajo pozitivno in zaupajo v svoje sposobnosti. Razmišljanje o neuspehu je nesmiselno. Če ne bo uspelo v prvo, bo pa v drugo!"
