Ninela Ivanova is a Bulgarian-born designer with an Honours degree in Fashion & Textiles. In 2010 she was selected by course director Nancy Tilbury to be part of the Fashion Futures MA programme at Kingston University London, which offers a unique platform for design innovation. Ninela’s work has flourished during the year she spent at the University. She has developed a concept ‘MOULDED MIND’ - a design based research project into the human-mould interaction, that looks deep into the microbiology of moulds as a source for material exploration, revealing the scientific aspects and experimenting with mould growth on textiles to inform new body shapes, silhouettes, colours, materials and moods.
Along the way Ninela not only opens the subject up for a dialogue, but she is also looking for fungi applications for future fashion scenarios. Her design experimentations concentrate on this human-mould-fashion relationship and the interaction between clothing and the environment, exploring people’s mindset and inbuilt concepts of creation and decay. By playing with these perceptions she is twisting the viewpoint of ugly and turning it into a vision of the new beauty and harmony.
Ninela has established herself as a fashion innovator and researcher, but her work is also beautiful in a traditional sense. Her recent shows include:
· InCrops Sustainable Luxury event, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, London, 1st March 2012 – presentation and exhibition
· Chanel Academy, Fashion & Fragrance Masterclass, London, 18-19th October 2011
· Green Growth Business Bootcamp, coordinated by Capital Enterprise and launched by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Kingston University London, 13th October 2011
· Tent London Design Festival, 22-25th September 2011
· Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion week’s largest independent showcase, 16th September 2011
· Techtextil leading international fair for innovative textiles, Messe Frankfurt, June 2011
· Design from the Mind, Work in Progress Exhibition, FADA, Kingston University, London, 31st January – 7th February 2011
Ninela was nominated for an AHRC bursary and she is now continuing her practice at PhD level where she will be bridging the gap between science, design and materiality.
Career history / Company history:
05.2008 - 12.2009, "Balkan News Corporation" Ltd.; Occupation: Costume Designer and Stylist for the 1st Private National Television;
Job description: taking care of the overal image and appearance of the TV representatives, communicating with providers, picking up colour ant fabric samples,
completing technical packs, spec sheets and attending fits,
individual styling and daily image control;
04.2007 - 05.2008, "К Design" Ltd.; Occupation: Designer;
Job description: developing designs from concept to finished product, including trend forecasting, concept development, design development, illustrations and
technical drawings, sampling, pattern cutting, sewing, fittings, accessories design, portfolio preparation and printing;
09.2007, "Pirintex" Ltd.; Internship in Fashion Industry;
07.2007 - 08.2007, "Ego" magazine; Occupation: Fashion Assistant;
Job description: conceptualizing and developing fashion visuals that can be used for photo
shoots or movie sets, keeping an eye on the constantly changing fashion trends,
putting together creative and unique fashion outfits, hiring, borrowing, or purchasing props,
garments and accessories, assessing the wardrobe style of a certain individual,
setting meetings with PR companies, retailers and manufacturers;
07.2006 - 08.2006, "Vayk" Ltd.; Occupation: Retail Sales Assistant;
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I would very much appreciate your help. I am studying for an MA in Marketing at Kingston Business School under the supervision of Professor Robert East. We are conducting research about Fairtrade goods and ethical fashion clothes, and ask you to complete the enclosed short questionnaire. I am also offering a £50 shopping gift voucher to the lucky prize draw winner!!!!
Could you please complete this questionnaire, following the link
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WIN A £50 GIFT SHOPPING VOUCHER!!!
Dear Ninela!
I would very much appreciate your help. I am studying for an MA in Marketing at Kingston Business School under the supervision of Professor Robert East. We are conducting research about Fairtrade goods and ethical fashion clothes, and ask you to complete the enclosed short questionnaire.
I am also offering a £50 shopping gift voucher to the lucky prize draw winner!!!!
Could you please complete this questionnaire, following the link
http://kingston.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cJaBu5g0xuuEvhG
Thank you very much for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Alma Erzhanova