Bulgarian Designer Salon Exhibition IVAN ASEN 22:

PEARLY GLOW

Twice a year, designer Neli Mitewa stages unique creations by independent, young Bulgarian fashion designers in Sofia under a specific motto. She is not only the curator of the exclusive exhibition, but also the founder of the conceptual designer platform:
IVAN ASEN 22.

The winter edition of the Bulgarian designer salon IVAN ASEN 22 was inspired by the title ‚Pearly Glow‘, based on the finely shimmering, glamorous creation of nature, the pearl. The event with creations of up-and-coming Bulgarian designers took place in Sofia from December 5 to 22, 2024.

With its gentle lustre and soft, spherical shape, the pearl is a symbol of femininity and perfection. In Greek mythology, pearls represent the tears of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. In past eras, pearls symbolised wealth, prestige and grandeur. Coco Chanel gave them a cult status for class and elegance. The rarity of flawless pearls and their enclosure in the shell that harbours them have also made them a symbol of knowledge, mysticism and esoteric wisdom. The creation of the pearl in the heart of the shell embodies the birth of the spirit in matter and symbolises the union of the earthly and the heavenly.

„The pearl is an exquisite creation of nature, formed when a small grain of sand accidentally falls into the body of the mollusk, which in turn begins to secrete nacre and envelop it. Thanks to its soft spherical shape with its gentle, matte shine, the prescious pearl is an inspiring symbol of femininity and perfection.“

Neli Mitewa, designer and founder of the designer salon IVAN ASEN 22.

Pearls, shells and mother-of-pearl flow into the designers‘ creations as inspiring elements in many different ways. They are expressed in elegant dresses and jewellery as well as in eye-catching, minimalist details in everyday women’s and unisex clothing. Smooth surfaces with a refined silky lustre in all shades from white to ecru and beige are just as much a motif as iridescent shimmer effects in deep and dark mother-of-pearl tones, inspired by the depths of the oceans. Light, delicate pastel tones in mother-of-pearl with pink-blue nuances are complemented by subtle gold, silver, green and even black colors. The shine of the pearl is reflected in shimmering fabrics, silk satin, bluish-pink reflections and layered transparencies. The vintage luxury of Hollywood divas of yesteryear is recreated in new interpretations of flowing dresses with dramatic backs. The shell inspires three-dimensional shapes and transparent pleated fabrics.

The accessories include clutches and bags with geometric elements in contrast to soft shapes, as well as shimmering, glittering materials with holographic and mirror effects. The jewelry is dominated by pearls and mother-of-pearl details, which form extravagant, floral or abstract shapes and are combined with other materials.

A team of 38 Bulgarian designers worked on the inspiring theme of the exhibition: designer clothes are developed by Georgi Florov, Rosica Mrsik, Inna Gabrovska, Anelia Antova, Milena Nacheva, Slavina Petrova, Youliana Yankova, Dilyana Cholakova, Stilyana Dzhongova, Teodora Penkova, Kristina Lyubenova, Amest Glndzhyan, Nicole Hagedorn, Danail Kapchin, Militsa Gerdzhikova, Eli Nenkovska, the labels Ham&Eggs, Off Limits, nelmit, YOD by Yana Dvoretska, Diliana Ivanova-YEDA, Lenécra, Dinka Kasabova-DK, Evgeni Petkov-Eugenio and Stylyne. The jewelry on the theme is created by Boryana Dankova, Velislava Bozhinova, Kalina Chankova, Gergana Trukanova, Teodora Nikolova, KENNA Jewelry and KIA FIL. Art Studio Giovanna presented its new offers of designer leather bags. The competition for new names aroused great interest, in which the students of the National Academy of Fine Arts Niya Yordanova, Anastasia Tsulukidze, Bilyana Nikolova, Iva Georgieva, Petya Guncheva and Yoanna Zdravkova qualified for their debut presentation with their creative projects.

Support for the IVAN ASEN 22 Foundation for the realization of the ‚Pearly Glow‘ event is provided by the ‚America for Bulgaria‘ Foundation. The ‚America for Bulgaria‘ Foundation is an independent, non-governmental and non-political American charitable foundation that works in partnership with Bulgarian organizations to strengthen the private sector and democratic institutions in the country. The foundation is a result of the success of the Bulgarian-American Investment Fund (BAIF), established in 1991 by the US Congress with the support of the US Agency for International Development. For more information: www.us4bg.org.

The exhibition was also supported by the event partners, the French dermocosmetic brands Institut Esthederm and Bioderma.

Check out the lookbook:

photos: Elena Spasova
model Maria Dimitrova
makeup: Hristiana Teova
hair: Stanimir Barutchiev-Miro (Kevin.Murphy)
styling & set design: Anelia Antova
interior design: Diliana Ivanova
graphic design: Georgi Florov
social media: Preslava Petkova

Check out past exhibitions by IVAN ASEN 22:

LIKE ICE IN THE SUNSHINE

COSMIC SNOWWHITE

COLOUR AVALANCHE

A ROSE IS A ROSE, IS A ROSE, IS A ROSE