We talked to Gašpar Marinič, who created this beautiful “Pride” editorial. He is a student of textile and clothing design at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, where he is currently attending the 2nd year, and under the mentorship of prof. Elena Fajt created the collection in the following editorial. With this project, he wants to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability and sustainable design. At the same time, he put a member of the LGBTQ + community at the forefront, as he believes that the current representation of people in the world is still very small, especially in the area of ​​Slovenian design. The project titled “Pride” represents the emotional path of a young LGBTQ + person who leads with self-esteem, love, and a reminder of the presence of LGBTQ + people in society. Photographed by Marijo Županov and modelled by Gregor Kokal Golčer.

Who is Gašpar Marinič?
I don’t know who I am. I am still discovering new parts of myself every year and I think that is the beauty of life; never knowing who I truly am because I am constantly evolving and discovering new parts of myself I didn’t know were there, a sense of perpetual evolution. I do know what I like and dislike and it is not that I don’t know anything about myself. I believe that it is simply not as important as it is to know what I’m meant to do and/or create.

What are you doing, why do you do it?
I’m currently a student at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, in the department for Textile and Fashion Design, BA 2nd year. I aspire to create a world that is sort of a dreamland, where you go to find yourself and your freedom. It is a slow and long process, but it is very important for me to create a space where expression, individuality, feelings, and freedom are all very important. I believe in a better future that is deeply connected through each one of us.

How do you create?
Every project starts with a different playlist I create depending on the mood and the feelings that I want the project to have. My biggest inspiration is music and the everyday things I see and feel when I walk outside. I’m trying to understand the world I live in so that I can see the flaws I think it has, which I can then fix in this dream I’m creating. I try to showcase this through my designs. Implementing some kind of sustainability is also a key point in my designs, although the main focus of the things I design isn’t sustainability. With this project specifically, I wanted to showcase the path of an lgbtq+ person who finds himself on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. It includes sustainable designing but the main focus isn’t sustainability but the growth and the emotions one has through life.

What has been the biggest challenge so far?
The biggest challenge so far was definitely finding the right path or rather to realize what I’m meant to do in life. Finding the spark every designer should have. I knew I was interested in fashion but never really went in that direction because I wanted to do something else. Seeing that the path I chose initially wasn’t the right one for me was the biggest challenge. We sometimes blind ourselves, thinking that what we want is always what we also need to do. What I know now is that we need to take time to try things out, to think about the things that are important to us and the impact we want to have on the world.

What would you consider as a breakthrough point for you?
As a young designer I don’t think I have had a breakthrough yet, nor do I think I will ever have one. The point of my work is to make people feel. To touch the heart or mind of someone and change their emotions. To feel is very important and feelings are what make us who we are. That is why I think that I will never have a breakthrough point as it is not as important that everyone knows me or what I do, but that at least one human being feels something because of my art.

What are your plans for the future?
I don’t like to think too far ahead into the future. My plan, for now, is to finish my bachelor’s degree and then continuing on to the MA program. As far as my projects are concerned I’m working on a costume design project for a smaller theatre production and am constantly thinking about how to expand my world and what the next step will be.

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Credits:
Photo: Marijo Županov
Model: Gregor Kokal Golčer
Designs/creative direction/edit: Gašpar Marinič