HVALA ILIJA

Well known and spread throughout China, Japan and India for thousands of
years, the rich indigo blue print made its way to Europe in the 17th century,
only to become an instant hit and a fashion must. Hvala Ilija decided to delve
into the historic craze and update it for his contemporary customer.
Blue print, originally used in the Far East on higher-end materials such
as silk, was being applied to more easily available and cheaper linens and
cottons in Europe. Ilija’s inclination towards the working class is evident, as
he reinterprets the complex historical connotations of the dyeing technique.
His ability to represent street culture and the way it translates into fashion
through echoing the current youth alongside past practices and trends is
what makes his work a treasure trove of references.
Aiming to transmit information and tradition through his designs, Ilija
also encourages his customers to ‘experience a new way of handling it’.
His use of blue print on denim is highly relevant to his concept, as wearers
‘get something they are used to, but the experience will be new, fresh and
updated’. Playing with a traditional dyeing technique and combining it with
a material most present in our closets today, Ilija stays true to his uber-cool
urban soul with all the rich background and technical mastery behind it.

www.hvalailija.com