The young Slovene fashion designer graduated at High School for Design. She's now enrolled on a master’s study programme at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering in Ljubljana. Recently, she applied for a casting call for the Small Boutique Fashion Week (SBFW) as part of the New York Fashion Week, where she was nominated to present her Autumn/Winter 2014/15 collection entitled Eclectic Mind on 8 February in the Big Apple.
The collection in question was created on the basis of a follow-up of her undergraduate thesis, research of astrological signs and natural elements in relation to the seventies. It is made of diverse and above all high-quality materials as it combines old clothes and new textile. The collections aims to make people feel and see that old clothes can be very special and useful.
“I design clothes by upgrading the existing ones, adding new materials to them. The result of doing so is freshness with vintage and modern design. I always want to make something fresh, so to design clothes I combine various styles, prints and materials. My clothes always speak for themselves. Each piece of clothing contributes its tiny piece of the past and my input, and in the end it’s ready to acquire your piece,” says Karmen Koren.
From Od Fashion TV to Macy's
We were interested in the feedback on her presentation in New York: “The responds were amazing. Right after the end of the fashion show I met journalists for interviews. I talked with a journalist from Fashion TV, who is also a celebrity fashion stylist. She was enthusiastic about my clothes, so we arranged that I send her selected pieces of clothes which she will use for her fashion styling. Besides, a lady approached me who wanted to present my works in the Editorial. The fashion show organizer informed me that a representative of Macy’s showed interest for my works, with whom I’m still negotiating.”
Plans for an online shop
From her colleagues abroad, she mostly admires lla Jean, Jean Charles De Castelbajac and Balmain, and in Slovenia Mateja Benedetti and Sanja Grcić. What about Slovenia’s Fashion Week, are there any plans for holding such an event in Slovenia? “I'd be glad to respond to each such an invitation and opportunity offered,” says the young designer, who would love to try herself as a creative leader of a large fashion house.

“Each challenge brings new opportunities and knowledge,” she says convincingly, while thinking about her own brand. However, she adds that she has quite some plans for the future which are not only related to design. “I leave it to surprise; I'll see which direction I'll take.” Soon, her best-laid homepage will be enriched by an online shop which will, as Koren hopes, contribute to recognisability and selling of her clothes.
Addicted to speed
Since we’ve heard that she is a real addict to speed, we asked Karmen Koren how her addiction affects her style. “I speak, write, read and walk fast,” she says, laughing. “Everything really happens quickly. I want to entirely spend the day I have. The speed affects my style with regard to quick thinking and designing. For example, 18 pieces of the collections Eclectic Mind were designed in 10 days.”
Take a look at the Eclectic Mind collection.