For years she has been actively and dedicatedly creating and is credited for the flawless creations of many women. Fashion designer Irina Tosheva is recognizable for her unique and impressive creations, and as she says, that is her channel of creative expression.

Toseva is constantly part of projects aimed at improving social inclusion and providing better opportunities for vulnerable groups.

We are talking to Irina about her new collection.

What is the title of the new collection and how many models does it contain?

- The new fashion collection is called "Zina" after the eponymous historical fictional character of the warrior princess, who fights evil. It consists of seven fashion looks and seven pieces of jewelry.

What is the focus of your latest creations, which models dominate?

- She was inspired by the monument "Woman fighter" by academician Boro Mitrikeski, which honors the women participants in the People's Liberation Struggle, among whom there are seven national heroines named after the clothes.

THIS TIME I HAVE ACHIEVED TO CURRENT AFFAIRS THE QUILT AND LIVING INTO A FASHIONABLE CONTEXT, AS A CRAFT IN EXTINCTION. THAT'S WHY I COOPERATED WITH THE LAST TRADITIONAL QUILT IN THE OLD SKOPJE BAZAAR.

The models are complemented by the jewelry of the designer Kotev Ksenija, who creates modern accessories inspired by the traditional filigree technique. The seven designs made of 925 silver are enriched with an impressive selection of semi-precious stones, created by nature, skillfully related to the meaning of the seven energy centers in the body - the chakras.

What is the message you want to send with this collection? Which women is it intended for?

- The whole process of making, cooperation with a traditional quilt maker and modern jewelry designer, shooting the editorial at another neglected and forgotten location, such as the swimming pool and the park in Saraj, is a loud message of cultural sustainability. It means preserving cultural beliefs, cultural practices and crafts, preserving heritage, trying to answer the question of whether or not a given culture will exist in the context of the future, which requires us to save our environment now.

I used environmentally friendly materials with certificates that guarantee the composition and ethical production, scrap materials from local factories, we worked with digitally made cuts, striving for a transparent chain of production without waste, which contributes to the development of the circular economy in our country.

The clothes are intended for all women heroines that are found in them and are already available on the website and in the studio. The collection is part of the supported projects of local interest in the culture of the City of Skopje, for 2021.

PHOTO | Timeless elegance of our first lady for the official visit to Greece

We also saw our first lady Elizabeta Gjorgievska in your top creation. How does it feel to work with her, will we see her carry your work again?

- Mrs. Elizabeta Gjorgievska is wonderful and inspiring in every way and it was a special honor and joy for me when I was contacted. At her request, we decided on timeless classics, but with my own design stamp. The creation was played with various buttons in the form of medallions and patterned details inside the sleeves. We paid great attention to the choice of material, because the comfort and convenience of such events is especially important. We will surely cooperate again soon.

"Mini Irina Tosheva" is the first brand focused on making clothes for pets. Tell us more about it. Did you get this eco idea from your pet?

- The new sub-label "Mini Irina Tosheva" is a line of clothes and pet accessories. We are still in the process of making prototypes and completing the team and collaborators. Local production is based on sustainability and solving the problem of textile waste, as the main resource in manufacturing. Marginalized people and people with low living incomes will participate in the process of making and transporting the products.

As a shopper I often had trouble finding the right clothes for my Mini. I almost always had to modify things further, the origin was mostly unknown, the materials were not always suitable and of poor quality. During the pandemic I adopted another pet and I often say that I consider their company to be the most deserving that helped me maintain "common sense". This subtitle is my thank you to them.

LOOK AT THE OTHER PART OF THE "ZINA" COLLECTION BY IRINA TOSHEVA:

Part of Irina Tosheva's new collection entitled "Zina" / Photo: Private archive