‘Art And Consumerism’ - graduation project Painting 2008; 130×100cm, oil on printed canvas.

I actually can’t believe it’s finally over: I’m not a student anymore. I graduated today, meaning that I’m one step closer towards being a grown-up. I graduated Painting at the Art University of Timisoara, Romania, so I can actually call myself an artist from now on. My project was entitled ‘Art And Consumerism‘ and showed the process of creating a palpable, 3D, consumable object - ‘the handbag‘ - using the same painted canvas which symbolizes the ‘art work‘. My written project contained references to collaborations between contemporary artist and luxury fashion brands such as: Richard Prince and Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton, James Jean for Prada, Richard Phillips for Jimmy Choo, Jeff Koons for Stella McCartney, and many more influences that art had/has all-around the fashion world.

The second painting represents the human touch, somebody who tried to tear the canvas apart to create something literally useful, not just eye pleasing. Also, the symbols of handbags which can be seen painted on the first canvas, appear to have almost fallen off the canvas in the second piece of the project. It’s those symbols which help the actual transformation from a symbolic ‘art piece’ to a palpable, consumable, useful product: ‘the handbag’.

At the opening of the graduate exhibition with my handbag-art-piece installation in the back.

Top photos: two of my best friends who helped organizing the exhibit: Smaranda and Isabela; bottom: my classmates - I am so curious how many of them will work as actual painters for a living in 10 years from now. I guess I’ll have to wait a while for that.

I am quite lucky to have very supportive parents and I needed a few years to really understand how important they were and still are for me. They came just for the exhibition opening and to see me, so I couldn’t not post them. Pretty funny that there is also a Romanian flag in the back (the gallery is actually in an army building).

Precious moments don’t happen everyday; I am just appreciating and sharing.

Attending a lot of graduate fashion shows, art openings and photo exhibitions is exhausting but a whole lot of fun. Will post about the graduate fashion collections, from the shows that I hosted, as soon as I’ll have some spare time. Until then, here is another invite: this time to Sebastian Tataru’s photo exhibition called ‘Supple’ (’willowy, svelte’, I am not quite sure which word translates the Romanian word ‘Mladios’ best). If you are in Timisoara the next week make sure to go to Van Graph KFE and enjoy these beautiful photographs. Congratulations to Seba and hopefully, after tomorrow, there will be congratulations for me to (tomorrow is my graduate exam, so wish me luck :).

Various fashion invitations.

There is so much more to this fashion industry than one can imagine. Besides the process of designing, buying the fabric, cutting the pattern, sewing, ironing, finishing the garment, photographing it, there is the whole process of putting together a fashion show. I did not have the opportunity to have my own, real, big fashion show just yet, however, this year I will host the graduation show of the 3rd year fashion students from the University I studied at (Fine Arts University, Timisoara, Romania). I am quite excited about that (it will take place on the 30th June and 1st July at the ‘No Name’ nightclub, here in Timisoara); I will surely post pics of the collections, of my outfits and maybe videos too. Until then, I thought a lot about invitations and store display windows, store design and found all these great pics on the Fashion Spot. Enjoy!

Ron Arad designed Y’s Store in Tokyo (2003).

Lanvin ss ‘08 collection display. [photo credit: thefashionspot.com]

Now I can’t wait for my own fashion show to take place (who knows, maybe one day…), my own invites, and dare I dream: …my own store!?!

New painted suede leather handbags available for purchase!

Due to the high demand of the painted leather handbags I’ve put on the website a month ago (here, available for purchase), I am now glad to present you even more designs. Some of them are quirky, fun, some have a decorative African feeling, all of them are fab and wearable on the long term. The suede leather is mostly dark, black, but I’m glad to see the range widened: purple and dark red/wine-colored leather was used for some of the handbags. These lovely Unik Art handbags are painted by my classmate Bianca, painting student, with special textile colors that won’t go out at washing.

The prices are, as always, incredibly low for such quality leather, hand-made pieces, , in the ranges of 40 - 69 Euro + 15 Euro shipping tax for the orders outside Romania. Paypal is an available paying option, as is Moneygramm or Western Union. For orders contact me at diana[at]sofashon.com or dianabobar[at]yahoo.com.

DO click to read the full post and take a look at all the new designs available for purchase through So Fash’on.  

I know better how hard it is to produce something by hand as I sew all my clothing designs myself (but you already know that, so I’ll stop bragging about it). That is why I very much appreciate all other things handmade. In this case, the lovely Unik Art handbags. They are made out of a high quality type of leather, cut, sewn and hand-painted by a few individuals with a lot of passion for their work. Why give into the big-mass retail stores that produce “fast-food” fashion in China? I’d rather go for quality, hand-made products that are eco-friendly, natural and ethically correct produced.  That’s exactly what these suede leather handbags are! The decorative paintings are created by my friend and classmate Bianca Baila; one more reason to like the Unik Art handbags.

I fully support creativity and passion and hopefully you will too. That’s why now you have a chance to get your own, unique handbag, (internet) exclusively through So Fash’on. The prices are incredibly low for such quality leather, hand-made pieces, , in the ranges of  40 - 60 Euro +  15 Euro shipping tax for the orders outside Romania. Paypal is an available paying option, as it Moneygramm or Western Union. For orders contact me at diana[at]sofashon.com or dianabobar[at]yahoo.com.

The low prices may be hard to understand for such leather pieces, in nowadays money-hungry world, but there are still people who work and strive for more than just financial appreciation.

Click to read the full post and take a look at detailed photos of the decorative paintings on the handbags.  If these handbags will sell,  I’ll make sure to get more designs available for purchase.