Roksanda x Marina Rinaldi: Creative Brilliance

What happens when two fashion intellects come together? The industry blooms.

After Fausto Puglisi in 2006, now, the Serbian designer Roksanda Ilincic writes a new chapter of collaborations with Marina Rinaldi. In this interview she speaks about the head and heart that went into the making of the collection. Edited extracts...

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Can you tell us about your fashion journey up to the launch of your brand in London?

I studied architecture and applied arts at home in Serbia. After graduating, I moved to London to pursue my master’s degree at Central Saint Martins, headed by the late Louise Wilson. She was an incredible force and the reason I went for it. London was bursting with creative energy at that time, amazing ideas everywhere. Thus, it was the perfect time for the launch of my own brand.

Since your show in London in 2005, how has fashion evolved in England?

Fashion in London is synonymous with innate creativity along with free and inspiring energy. It still resonates strongly today and is more evident as we live in more difficult times. Freedom of expression, both personal and creative, continues to define London’s fashion and make it more exciting.

This is your first collaboration with another big house, tell us all about it. How did it happen?

When Marina Rinaldi offered to collaborate in this capsule collection, I was intrigued and excited at the same time. I have known the Max Mara group for a long time, and I know very well that it is the only this brand which represents luxurious knowhow in an inclusive way. As a designer, I think clothing can be a beautiful form of expression and should empower the wearer, regardless of age, shape, or skin colour and the same philosophy is shared by Marina Rinaldi. It was the first house to offer a super fashionable wardrobe celebrating bodies without exclusion, which makes it the perfect partner of choice.

Do you consider your fashion to be sustainable?

I think as designers, it is our duty to engage as much as possible in sustainability. First and foremost, it is a question of informing everyone about what it really means and how best to support it. My company and I have had to make a lot of changes to achieve some of the goals we’ve set in this area. I think it’s also important that customers fully embrace and understand these changes, I feel there is a positive shift around the world, which is really encouraging.

From the November–December 2019 issue of L’Officiel India.