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Best of Ljubljana Fashion Week, 15th Edition

Best of Ljubljana Fashion Week, 15th Edition

Ljubljana Fashion Week returned from October 7-11, 2024, at Center Rog in the very center of Slovenia’s capital. This year held special significance as LJFW celebrated its 15th edition, showcasing a record-breaking 46 designers, with both emerging talents and established names presenting their latest collections.

TheRealLuxury’s MAG team had the privilege and honor of attending the final show of the week, where we witnessed the creativity and innovation first-hand and also had the opportunity to chat with fellow visitors. Let’s explore this year’s standout designers, their contributions from each day and highlight the most promising collections.

DAY 1

Day 1 of LJFW kicked off with a stunning opening show by Kiss the Future, setting the tone for an exciting week ahead, and followed by JKH Identity, whose collection drew deeply from Slovenia’s rich cultural heritage, mythology, and architecture.

Bolot, a non-seasonal, slow fashion label that blends girlish playfulness with adult extravagance presented their latest collection Bow Your Way, which features high-quality pieces with bows that add a flirtatious touch. Mass then brought a retro revival to the runway, showcasing a footwear collection highlighting the resurgence of Mary Jane shoes, retro sneakers, and chic ankle boots. The day wrapped up with collections from Almira Sadar, Sarivalenci, Petja Zorec, the Belgrade Fashion Week Design Collective, and Ludus.

Ludus

The standout collection of the first day of LJFW 2024 came from Ludus, a sustainable agender label based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Known for its use of 100% natural fabrics like cotton, silk, flax, wool, and cupro, Ludus has built its reputation on creating genderless fashion that’s as thoughtful as it is boundary-pushing.

Photo: Jure Makovec

In honor of its 15th anniversary, Ludus introduced Permanent Black III, a special collection that revisits the brand’s most celebrated designs from its history. This collection featured reimagined versions of its top-selling items, all in carefully curated shades of black. These pieces embody the unique aesthetic sensibilities, poetic vision, and political beliefs that have characterized Ludus throughout the years. Designer Dragan Hristov, a graduate of the Brera Fine Arts Academy, delivered his signature minimalist, monochrome silhouettes, channeling the melancholia and emotional depth that have become signature of his work.

DAY 2

Day 2 of the event began in the morning with a roundtable on sustainability, fashion, and gender, featuring experts like designers Dragan Hristov and Maja Šimunović where they discussed the rise of gender-neutral fashion and its sustainable production through ethical materials and fair trade. The conversation explored whether global social conflicts are pushing fashion towards uniformity or if individuality still thrives, and whether sustainable fashion can be scaled for mass production.

Following the discussion, HISHKA Studio unveiled a gender-inclusive kidswear collection made from entirely from upcycled garments.  

The fashion shows in the evening featured an array of gender creativity mixed with sustainability, from Things I Miss to Ana Jelinčič and Katja Magister’s nostalgic ESSENCE collection. Other highlights included Renata Bedene’s luxurious Aurora Infinite collection, Jona Bednjanec’s Knit-à-Porter, and OsèRosè’s Baroque Fusion, which combined historical elegance with a modern twist.

Brencha

Our favorite collection from the second day of LJFW 2024 was Brencha, a brand that perfectly captures cozy elegance with an effortless blend of timeless sophistication and everyday wearability. Known for its unique mix of historical influence, minimalist design, and urban flair, Brencha creates pieces that feel both understated and impactful.

Photo: Jure Makovec

At this year’s LJFW, Brencha unveiled The Daydreamers, a collection that moves seamlessly from morning to evening, reflecting the hazy line between reality and daydreams. What really made the collection stand out was its mix of vintage charm with modern cuts, and invites you to explore the interplay of the past and present, wrapped in the subtle influence of daydreams, while also staying true to sustainable practices. The collection used deadstock materials, giving it a conscious edge without sacrificing style. For us, it was the perfect blend of craftsmanship, sustainability, and creativity, making Brencha the highlight of Day 2.

DAY 3

Student talent took center stage on Day 3, with runway shows from the Faculty of Design Ljubljana and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering Ljubljana. Their collections emphasized sustainability, employing eco-friendly materials and innovative textile techniques to marry conceptual design with practical application. 

The day also featured established designers like Tanja Uvera, whose knitwear collection featured subcultural influences in collaboration with her daughter. Tanja Zorn’s TOUCH collection whose tactile, layered designs embraced comfort and freedom, while Barbara Vrbančič’s Metamorphosis collection transformed second-hand floral materials into imaginative, nature-inspired creations. Other highlights included the DÉMODÉ collection by Made in Anselma, entirely crafted from old discarded curtains, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to ethical and gender-neutral fashion.

Tanja Zorn

Our favorite collection from the third day of LJFW 2024 was Tanja Zorn’s latest work. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Zorn has carved a niche for herself in the Slovenian fashion scene.

Photo: Jure Makovec

Her latest collection, TOUCH, stood out for its emphasis on tactile experience and its playful use of transparency and texture. It felt like an invitation to explore fashion beyond just sight; it was all about how the clothes felt, how they moved, and the layers they revealed. The pieces conveyed a sense of comfort and freedom for both the body and self-expression.

DAY 4

Day 4 of Ljubljana Fashion Week showcased a diverse range of collections centered around sustainability, craftsmanship, and personal expression. Patricia Pie’s collection, Heartstrings of Passion, led by designer Barbara Franjić, was a celebration of love and creativity, with every handcrafted piece reflecting the designer’s journey through life and style. 

Lucija Sila Kejžar’s collection, BIRTAH, reinterpreted Balkan folklore with a timeless black-and-white palette, while Simona Kogovšek’s line introduced shimmering, wrinkle-free fashion ideal for travel and formal occasions. Becha brought artistic flair with CHROMATICA, a vibrant, hand-painted collection blending sleek lines with bold patterns, featuring luxurious faux fur coats and a reinvented little black dress. The day concluded with DRAŽ’s Thread of History, a collection that wove traditional Slovenian heritage into knitwear, tying the past to the present in a powerful narrative of texture and tradition.

See Also

ÆMONA

Our favorite collection from Day 4 of Ljubljana Fashion Week was ÆMONA’S Argentum. This Slovenian brand, founded by Anika Opara, perfectly marries digital innovation with the time-honored art of garment-making. Each collection from ÆMONA dives deep into themes often inspired by psychology and wordplay, allowing wearers to connect with their garments on a personal level. The brand debuted at Ljubljana Fashion Week in 2023 and soon followed with a runway show in Milan, which helped introduce the collection to a broader audience. ÆMONA takes pride in its commitment to quality, producing garments in small batches with the help of local seamstresses. Each piece is crafted from high-quality materials, frequently enhanced with original in-house textile prints. The result is a collection that feels both exclusive and deeply connected to its Slovenian roots.

Photo: Jure Makovec

The Argentum collection encapsulates the idea that “every cloud has a silver lining.” This theme resonates throughout the collection, which represents hope and resilience, shining brightly even in challenging times. In fashion, a “lining” is often the unnoticed inner layer that provides structure and comfort and in Argentum, the hidden linings symbolize the importance of quality and craftsmanship. Each piece incorporates silver elements that speak to the transformative journey we all undergo, much like how silver is polished and refined. Through Argentum, ÆMONA offers a collection that elegantly intertwines these dual meanings. 

DAY 5

Ljubljana Fashion Week’s closing day did not disappoint. It delivered a vibrant mix of designers that presented collections that pushed creative boundaries while exploring personal and cultural narratives. Tanja Vidic, a Slovenian knitwear designer, presented her first independent collection in collaboration with Mandegar. Neza Dapcevic of Neki unveiled a deeply personal unisex collection inspired by her journey from ballet to hip hop and upcycled from old denim and ballet shoes. 

The day also featured bold explorations of identity and subculture. Matic Veler’s collaboration with ASKO explored the intersection of fashion and technology through laser-cut designs inspired by brutalist architecture and Mononostalgik’s minimalist, upcycled pieces. The event concluded with Maja Štamol, whose handcrafted collection celebrated her two decades in the fashion industry. 

Tanja Vidic x Mandegar

Day five of Ljubljana Fashion Week brought us an unforgettable moment with Tanja Vidic’s latest collection. Known for her experimental approach, Tanja is all about pushing the limits of traditional knitwear. Her pieces play with materials and textures, creating a dialogue between the garment and the body. Each design reveals a little more of the wearer, showcasing the beauty of how clothing can interact with the person inside it. Tanja has made quite a name for herself on the international stage. Her work has been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone, where Cardi B rocked one of her signature designs. Additionally, she recently collaborated with Rick Owens for his Spring/Summer 2025 collection, catching the attention of fashion enthusiasts.

Photo: Jure Makovec

Collection 01 is Tanja’s first independent line since graduating, and it’s a bold exploration of her design identity. This collection also features a collaboration with Mandegar, known for its stunning handcrafted metal accessories. The combination of Tanja’s innovative knitwear with Mandegar’s striking metallic elements creates a fresh and dynamic visual. What’s exciting about Collection 01 is how it reflects Tanja’s evolution as a designer. She’s not just rehashing her past work; she’s experimenting, questioning, and redefining what knitwear can be.

Ljubljana Fashion Week 2024 served as a dynamic tribute to fashion, creativity, and sustainability, with every day bringing something new, ranging from insightful dialogues to groundbreaking designs that challenged conventional boundaries of style while embracing ethical practices. The event proved once again that LJFW is a platform for showcasing talent and also for starting important conversations around the future of fashion. We can’t help but already look forward with excitement to what next year’s LJFW will bring!

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