MATA DUROVIC: A Futuristic Vision of Sustainable Luxury From 2022 CSM BA Show

Featured by Vogue and named by Dazed as one of “5 names to know from the CSM BA class of 2022,” Swarovski scholarship winner Mata Durovic’s final “Pink Matrix” collection was a joyful confection of pastels and innovation.

Describing her work as a “portal travelling collection,” the designer knit together a futuristic vision of sustainable luxury—in the process, making her own bioplastic leather that is degradable, cookable and edible.

She added to the mix a fondness for her grandmother’s imagination, jewellery collection, and frugality. As a child, Durovic and her grandmother played teleport and galaxy travelling. The collection features characters from the “Crystal galaxy,” “Flower crystal galaxy” and “Strawberry galaxy.”

Durovic only used materials found at her grandmother’s home. These included broches, sweets, and recycled yarns. The designer drew inspiration from how her grandmother transformed crystals into portals by charging them in moonlight.

“All my garments are made to become portals after charging in the full moon.” UV digital and 3D printing gave the garments an illusory effect.

Her inspirations may be fantastical, but her grandmother’s realistic approach to recycling influenced Durovic’s drive to innovate sustainable materials.

“She had many practices. One of them was saving starch water after cooking potatoes and watering her plants with it, which is a base for bioplastic material.”

A winner of Swarovski’s scholarship, Durovic combined the jeweller’s crystal waste with bioplastics and donated yarn for a fresh approach to embroidery.

“My ‘Pink Matrix’ portal travelling collection… makes you travel through

my outfits, which can be degradable easily.” All in all, a rare treat!

Mata Durovic’s full statement: