In recent years, members of a new generation of Slovenian designers are gaining recognition for their creative work both in Slovenia and beyond. One such designer, Arijana Gadžijev, has developed a recognizable style with her use of motifs from nature and folk culture.
Gadžijev, who got her last name from her Dagestani grandfather, grew up in a house on the edge of a forest and has been attracted to nature ever since. Details from the natural world feature prominently in her designs.
Her passion for art began when she was still a child. Her father – an internationally recognized surgeon and a painter himself – taught her to draw. Even though she realized that a career in the arts is a difficult one, Gadžijev was determined to make a living by doing what she loved to do. She began by designing clothing but then decided to branch into home décor. She used the same artistic approach for both: various motifs from the natural world combined with folk elements such as traditional Slovenian lace.
Gadžijev received her Master’s degree in Ljubljana, but has always had a cosmopolitan approach to art. She briefly studied in Denmark and then spent time in various parts of France, where she was inspired by that country’s villages and natural landscapes. She also spent a year living in Paris.
Recently, her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Slovenia and beyond. She has also illustrated a book of Siberian folk tales and a postage stamp. Her work was recognized with awards at various international competitions, some as far away as China.
Gadžijev is currently participating in a pop-up project titled Made in Slovenia. At a time when the Slovenian textile industry is reeling from Asian competition, she is working closely with several Slovenian clothing makers to bring new life to the field. With the use of Gadžijev’s creative designs, the team behind the project hopes to remind the public that Slovenia’s own clothes making tradition can be combined with new approaches – and attract international attention in the process.
