ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

Catalina Calin is an international Romanian Fashion Designer and Makeup Artist with marvelous records with her unique designs in fashion academics too. Catalina is currently living in Shanghai China and has looked deep into the growth of the fashion industry in China and knows its holds the worlds magic. Below are the excerpts of the interview with talented Romanian Fashion Designer, Catalina Calin with Sleekmodupe.

WHAT IS YOUR LATEST PROJECT AS 2018 HAS JUST BEEN USHERED IN?

My project for this year is the opening of two new courses at Calin Fashion Academy - Eco Fashion Design and Haute Couture Fashion are the two (2) courses that will be ready soon for our students. Both courses are a step ahead from the set of four (4) basic design courses that are available now, being the first steps into the fashion design world. The Eco Fashion Design is fundamental for all the designers around the world, as we are responsible for a better, more sustainable future in fashion, and apparel industry. The education of the consumer plays well a very important role.

YOU HAVE ABOUT MORE THAN 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN EUROPE AND IN ASIA AND YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING AS A FASHION DESIGNER, LECTURER FOR CALIN FASHION ACADEMY  SHANGHAI, LET US IN ON THAT?

Working in design field back in Romania was inspiring, and I’ve learn a lot! Fashion design was everything I dreamed to do since I was a little girl, and everything I got trained for, basically from the 5th grade to the Master Degree. In 2009 I was invited to Beijing as a Fashion Design Lecturer and that three (3) years experience brought me a lot of joy. Sharing my expertise in fashion design and being able to pass on the knowledge was something that I wanted to continue to do, so I opened Calin Fashion Academy in 2014 in Beijing, later in 2015 moving it to Shanghai.

WHAT WAS GROWING UP LIKE IN ROMANIA AND BEIJING?

This would be a very long story. I grew up in Craiova, a small city few hours from the capital. My family was always supportive and encourages me to take the arts and fashion design path from an early age. My sister, younger than me, is also a visual artist and mural painter. I remember my grandmother’s precious doll that I used to play with when I was 5 or 6 years old, it had a Japanese kimono, earrings and a sward, and I used to call it the Chinese girl. I told my mom that someday I will go to China and speak Chinese. Of course she told me that maybe I meant Japan, as that was a Japanese doll, but I insisted that it will be China. So, yes, be careful what you wish. I remembered this story when I got invited to Beijing; it was a great surprise that my childhood wish was coming true!

YOU JOINED RAFFLES DESIGN INSTITUTE, BEIJING IN 2009 AS A FASHION DESIGNER, LECTURER AND HOLDS A MASTERS AND A B.A HONS IN FASHION DESIGN ALL OBTAINED AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ARTS BUCHAREST, ROMANIA, WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE?

Both, the learning experience in my country and the working experience in China were great!

THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTEST YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ARE 'THE SMALL MONTIMARTE OF BITOLA, MACEDONIA 1996, WHEN YOU WON THE GOLD PALETTE YOUNY DESIGNER CONTEST AT MAMAIA IN 2004, WHERE YOU WON THE FIRST PRIZE, YOUNG DESIGNER GALA BUCHAREST 2004, WHERE YOU WON THE SECOND PRIZE AND THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEST’ORIBE, JAPAN.

Yes, all this contests were important for me, but the most amazing one was Oribe, with the subject Modol Girl. I was one of the finalists and I got invited one week to Japan to participate in the final show, it was a fabulous experience!

WHAT IS THE PRESENT GROWTH OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY IN CHINA, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAL OF THE GROWTH IN AFRICA AND NIGERIA MY HOME COUNTRY IN PARTICULAR?

The Fashion industry is growing in China, the Chinese customer is more informed and more demanding regarding the quality and design, so is the new generation of the young fashion designers. Didn’t think about where or when would be the future experience, but most certainly would love to know more about all different cultures around the world.  

ARE YOU SINGLE, SEARCHING OR MARRIED?

I am married. I met my husband in Beijing; he is a Colombian Architect and Interior Designer. 

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR MOTIVATION FROM AND WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE YOUR DESIGNS REACHED?

Each successful class is a motivation for me, to go on, to improve, and to share more! My designs reached Romania, China, Japan, Argentina, Colombia and Germany. 

WHAT WAS YOUR CHALLENGE AS AN ASIAN DESIGNER IN THE REAL WORLD?

I am an European designer, but I think all the designers face the same challenges after finishing their studies and getting their first job. Everything is more related to the technical and organisational skills than the creative and artistic ones, (basically the opposite of you are trained to do in the university) especially when talking about the fast fashion brands. 

WHAT IS YOUR FINAL WORD? 

Always follow your dreams!