When Roksanda Ilincic articulates her design techniques, her tone has a romance and elegance – words often used to describe her collections. The Serbian-born womenswear designer first arrived in London in 1999. Previously, while studying for a degree in architecture and applied arts at the University of Belgrade, the avid magazine bibliophile would follow developments in the world’s fashion capitals, especially London.
“Magazines like The Face and I-d were my little bibles, I would read every single article several times,” she tells us. “And I started to notice that it was not a coincidence that all of the incredible designers came from Central Saint Martins; and it became my mission to study there.”
At the time, the course was run by the late Professor Louise Wilson and, as for many of her peers, Louise was a huge influence on Roksanda. “She encouraged all types of freedom – free thinking, a free spirit and free
