Born to a musician father and a mother with a deep passion for fashion, I grew up in an environment where creativity wasn't just a backdrop, but a way of life, a way of engaging with the world. Early on, I understood that expression could come through languages other than words, through rhythm, attitude, style—this way of saying without explaining.
I've been a collector since childhood. It's as much about instinct as it is about heritage. Searching, digging, recognizing a piece at first glance, sensing its history. Vintage has never been a trend for me, but a quest, a memory, a continuity. With my grandmother, working with textiles was already part of everyday life: sewing, embroidering, making, dressing, like simple and fundamental rituals. In my room, I would sketch clothes before I even imagined it could become a path.
In adolescence, clothing becomes a form of self-expression. My style is constantly changing, asserting itself, evolving. I'm often told that I never have the same look, that everything suits me. It's not about seeking a specific image, but an instinctive way of existing, of embracing multiple identities without ever becoming fixed.
Then hip-hop culture emerged as a foundation. An attitude above all. A freedom. A way of creating without waiting for validation, of repurposing, assembling, working with what's available. As a self-taught artist, I explored other forms: painting, graffiti, photography, piano, always guided by this same visceral need to compose, to tell stories without over-explaining. Clothing, meanwhile, remained a subtle undercurrent, present, evident, patient.
In 2014, buying a sewing machine marked a turning point. A friend taught me the basics, and everything fell into place. It wasn't a change of direction, but the natural continuation of a journey built on freedom, sharing knowledge, and street culture.
Today, I create from existing garments, blending hip-hop heritage, the power of vintage, and contrasts in volume and materials. Unique pieces, designed for those who want to feel aligned, free, and assertive. Clothes that don't seek to smooth over, but to reveal, because they bear traces, tensions, and a history, just like the people who wear them.
I don't create to follow a trend or to please everyone, but for those who move forward at their own pace. My work is an extension of this freedom, a way to remain true to myself and to offer pieces to those who don't conform, to those who prefer to recognize themselves rather than disguise themselves.
Marija Stoja.