We are happy to introduce you to three newly graduated fashion designers from Akademie Mode und Design Wiesbaden. Accompanied by the in-store exhibition, opening on the 27th of March, they allow us to read through their hopes and thoughts of fashion and the inspiration they transformed into garments to put themselves out in the world.

by Nola Jänisch & Nikolas Kraft

N&N: We were thinking about clothing as a private space for the wearer. What makes people feel safe, comfortable, and at home? We wanted to explore the role of material and construction in creating that invisible feeling. We liked the idea that our bodies can’t be separated from the surrounding space we live in.

N: It is every space where we physically come and experience something together. Finding joy in the same things is the easiest way to connect, even with strangers.

N&N: Some pieces have a solid barrier to our surroundings and work almost as a protective cover that shapes the body. Others create an enveloping feeling and allow us to take up space and move more fluidly. It is all about the connection between bodies and the environment because there is no barrier. Everything is connected.

N: I always admired his work, and we naturally started discussing ideas and concepts when working on our independent projects in university. We saw a lot of similarities in our likes and dislikes while developing individual aesthetics. In this collection, our solitary design voices are completing each other.

N: I think we are connected by our understanding of what is worth exploring in fashion while having different perspectives on things. This helps us a lot in defining fundamental things and pushing each other's boundaries. It nurtures us in being innovative and coming up with new ideas we might not have if we weren’t working as a team.

N:Right now, we’re both uncertain about the future of fashion as an industry and, therefore, also our future in the fashion realm. We hope that when we create something on a conceptual level, it evokes excitement, curiosity, joy, and feelings of hope for the wearer and spectator.

by Pokisa Usmonova

P: For me, Samarkand is my homeland, the place where I was born and where my childhood passed. Although I grew up in Tashkent, Samarkand has left an unforgettable trace in my heart. Every time I go back there, I am overcome with nostalgia, which you can touch, feel, and smell. People often dream of going back to the past, but they can't. But I can—I can walk the same streets because almost nothing has changed there. I feel like traveling back in time. The connection with the past here is so warm, strong, and emotionally intense, and touching the warm, sun-heated stone and entering the ancient courtyards—all of it gives a sense of belonging.

P: Both value aesthetics and quality: in Uzbekistan through khan-atlas patterns, architecture, and jewelry; in Europe through minimalism and thoughtful design. Fashion, like everywhere else, remains a way of self-expression, just interpreted differently. But the differences are palpable. In Uzbekistan, clothes reflect collective culture and family values, while in Europe, they emphasize individuality. European fashion focuses on comfort and simplicity, while Uzbek fashion focuses on symbolism, patterns, and colors. Western fashion is subject to trends, while in Uzbekistan, traditions are stable.

P: I would like people visiting the beautiful cities of Uzbekistan—Samarkand and Bukhara—to delve not only into the architecture and history but also into the lives of the people who live there. Perhaps nowhere else have I met people of such heartfelt generosity as in Tashkent. It is the people who are Uzbekistan's most valuable heritage—they have an amazing goodwill and willingness to share the last of their wealth with those in need. And I was inspired by the strength of women in Uzbekistan: their role is traditionally considered the protector of the home, family, and children, but I believe that she can go for more! Perhaps this collection has become my internal manifesto, an attempt to express my disagreement with established norms.

P: These fabrics are created by hand, and so much effort and skill are put into them that each thread seems to be alive, carrying the history of generations. And of course, what fascinates me is that there are many magical legends associated with Atlas. Khan-atlas has accompanied me all my life, as if it were woven into my DNA. When I talk about myself, I invariably see myself as an Uzbek woman born in Uzbekistan, and the khan-atlas is an integral part of that culture, and therefore of myself.

P: I hope people will pay attention not just to clothes, but to their meaning—why they choose certain things. I wish to see more attention paid to young, promising designers who create unique images and collections. Nowadays, fashion is often monotonous, repetitive, and sometimes even turns into a form of mass protest. But beyond beauty and self-expression, fashion should remain art!