Marija Petraityte was born and raised in Lithuania. For the past few years, she has been gaining her craftsmanship expertise in fashion. She has earned a sustainable fashion design AP degree from Copenhagen Design and Technology School, Denmark, and a Fashion Design BA from Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania. In fashion, she enjoys exploring garment construction, forms, and textures. She mainly focuses on pattern making, experimenting, constructing prototypes, and sewing. Usually, she sees clothing as wearable sculptures – she uses garment cut lines to create natural visual fluidity. Her main inspirations come from her self-analyzation and nature forms, and she aims to create wearable but eye-catching clothing.
Sassy & Co magazine recently caught up with Marija to discuss her journey in the fashion industry, and here’s what went down:
How did you get into the fashion industry?
Since childhood, I have been interested in various creative hobbies such as drawing, embroidery, singing, and writing mini-stories or songs. Creativity made me happy; I knew I wanted to be in the arts field as a kid. When I got into art school as a teenager, I was sure I wanted to be in fashion because I saw fashion as a very versatile area. It could be created for different approaches – from ready-to-wear clothing to fashion shows/ theater or be included with other performing arts. I saw that it was my way in life.
What do you like most about being a designer?
This profession is adaptable to many subjects; in general, a designer is a creator, and this gives so much joy in daily life.
Downside to being a fashion designer?
I see that the downside is that the fashion design field is very much affected by fast fashion companies, and people don’t cherish garments anymore. In this case, people forgot the value of clothing, quality, and individuality. The whole fashion span is swift, so emerging designers usually overwork themselves.
What has been the most memorable experience of being in the fashion industry so far?
My graduation collection DISTANCE FROM A POINT production is the most memorable experience for now. As a recently graduated designer, I still breathe art school memories and experiences.
Who have been the most interesting people you’ve met so far?
Everyone in the fashion field is fascinating in their own way. Usually, in this field, people are very dreamy and not afraid to tell their stories or create their visions – and these types of people are the most interesting.
What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned while in the fashion industry. This can be about the industry or about yourself.
To be brave and risky sometimes, and trust in your decisions. Bravery in fashion is essential, even though I am still learning to be brave. I believe that it is necessary to have a constant conversation within yourself about what are your strong sides and what are your weaknesses. I see self-reflection and analysis as a key to becoming a successful designer.
Is your family supportive of you being a fashion designer?
Luckily, yes. My family is supportive of my decision to become a fashion designer.
If you could go back in a time machine to when you were just starting, what would you do differently?
I would change nothing. Maybe I would’ve started sewing and learned to construct garments sooner. But in general, I believe it is not necessary to turn back; it is better to focus on the future.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Once, I heard a sentence, ‘Forgive everything to others that you can forgive to yourself – it is not really fashion-related advice, but life is like a web – everything is connected.
But if you focus on fashion, I think it is essential not to stand in your own way and don’t be afraid to be wrong.
What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it.
As a recent fashion graduate, I imagine creating many exciting pieces. I aim to find a way to harmonize fashion business and creativity to build interesting and fresh wearable avant-garde fashion labels in Europe.
DISTANCE FROM A POINT
My primary inspiration behind this collection is myself. In the fashion world, there is so much inspiration around us, so I wanted in this collection to listen to my voice and figure out my creative features. To do that, I restricted myself to only analyze and use my creative work as inspiration between 2018-2022. I’ve created my own tool/method for self-analysis of creative work. In short, I gather all my primary information, such as sketches, photos of garments, etc., then I analyse this information – search for creative frequency and define the design features. The research shows that designs are dominated by the interaction of flexible lines and shapes, the garment is seen as a living object, and transformations are used, such as details of the garment which can be removed or modified. Keywords: organics, structure, transformation. These features reflect in a collection DISTANCE FROM A POINT. The whole study is combined with symbols – spiral, tunnel, and vortex shapes. They represent self-exploring paths, evolution and growth of the spirit. Experiments are carried out with these forms in the creative process, the results of which are integrated directly into the constructions and cuts of the garments.