Individuality and Inspiration in the Collections of Graduates in Fashion Design
28 April 2025
Students majoring in Fashion Design at Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” presented their graduation collections.The presented works are original concepts and possess a creative approach to fashion as a form of expression and cultural interpretation. Among them, the projects of Yana Stoyanova and Natalie Varadinova stood out.
Yana Stoyanova, one of the university’s brilliant students, defended her project with the 'Saudade' collection – a visual narrative inspired by nostalgia, memories and the relationship between personality and photography. Her models were distinguished by deep emotionality, a combination of archival motifs and contemporary silhouettes that reveal the way in which memory, shapes identity. The conceptual collection 'Saudade' carries the deeply emotional charge of the Portuguese word, which describes the sadness and longing for memories, places and feelings that are no longer part of the present, but remain alive in consciousness. Yana’s project explores the relationship between emotions, sensuality, memory and identity. Her work clearly shows the influence of her participation in the Erasmus programme in Poland. It was there that she was introduced to the technique of cyanotype - a photographic process with a characteristic blue print, which organically intertwined with her diploma thesis. Yana presented two of her works, one of which was her wedding dress, and the other - an emotional re-creation of life.
Natalie Varadinova defended her diploma project with the collection 'Awakening of Nature', inspired by the book "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Her project explores the symbolism of nature as a path to healing and transformation, using soft fabrics, plant ornaments and pastel tones to recreate the atmosphere of rebirth and inner awakening.
The diploma projects showed the power of fashion to tell personal stories and inspire through ideas, visual images and emotions.
