Despite always having a creative side, Marko Plavšić grew up wanting to become an athlete. It wasn’t until he tried dyeing and painting an old pair of jeans at 17 that he realised he wanted to be a fashion designer. Soon after, he enrolled in a Bachelor of Fashion at Flinder’s University.
“This was where I began to establish my creative practice, which was further honed when I relocated to RMIT University in Melbourne to complete my honours degree,” Marko says. Shortly after the move, he began work on his graduate collection, titled Morphett.
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“This collection interrogates my perception of my hometown experiences,” he explains, speaking of his childhood shaped by traditional values and conservative expectations.” Comprising of four looks, it challenges notions of masculinity, modesty and self-expression, while exploring contrasting themes of restriction and expression.
Marko’s collection is one of many student works that will be on display at the National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne as part of PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival on March 4. Held at the Royal Exhibition Building, the runway will feature 13 graduate designers hand-picked from Australia’s leading fashion institutions. It’s always an exciting glimpse into the future of Australian fashion and Fashion Journal is proud to be a long-time media partner of the event.
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Fashion Journal: Hi Marko! Tell us a bit about how you got started in fashion. Did you always want to be a designer?
Marko: Truthfully, I didn’t initially dream of being a designer. My childhood revolved around various sports and I’d always wanted to be an athlete. I always had a creative interest but I struggled to find the right outlet.
As I grew older, my desire to find my creative voice grew, which resulted in my passion for sports fizzling out. At 17, I experimented with design by dyeing and painting a pair of jeans I’d stopped wearing. It gave me an epiphany and I quickly realised I wanted to be a fashion designer.
I became immersed (borderline obsessed) in design and shortly after enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in fashion, co-delivered by Tafe SA and Flinder’s University in Adelaide. This was where I began to establish my creative practice, which I honed further after relocating to RMIT University in Melbourne to complete my honours degree.
Tell me about the collection you’re showing for the National Graduate Showcase. What was your inspiration?
Morphett intersects with themes of expression and restriction. It’s a personal study of the act of becoming and of evolution. Born from a childhood shaped by traditional values and conservative expectations, this collection interrogates my perception of my hometown experiences – from disdain to gratitude and anger to appreciation.
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What has the process of creating your collection been like?
Both the design and construction process have been rigorous, exciting and incredibly difficult. Countless hours were spent working on these details which became quite gruelling at different points throughout the year.
One key challenge was the mental strain caused by creating various ruffles for the collection. Each ruffle was cut, frayed and hand-sewn individually – a process that took roughly 45 minutes to an hour per ruffle and used up more than 20 meters of wool in total. It was certainly a commitment. Currently, there are four looks within this collection, however, this number is likely to grow as I continue designing and making over the coming months.
How would you describe Morphett to someone who’s never seen it before?
Fashion exists in a constant state of duality, where structure meets chaos and tradition meets rebellion. Morphett promotes the idea that restrictions can directly encourage personal expression and freedom.
It challenges conventional notions of masculinity, modesty and self-expression by combining large, expansive and elongated silhouettes with raw, unfinished and decayed materials. This collection reflects my own personal liberation from restrictions while highlighting my subconscious desire for imposed rules to guide my practice.
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What are you most proud of in your work so far?
My first collection, Dichotomy, and my current, Morphett, each hold their own significance and I’m proud of both of them. Working on them helped evolve my practice into one that is firm and passionate, and will guide the rest of my life as a designer.
What do you wish you knew when you started on your collection?
Nothing. I’ve learned so much about who I am and what my practice is, to the point where I genuinely wouldn’t change anything. There was a purpose behind the hardships I encountered last year, and without those difficulties, I may not be where I am now or know what I now know.
If anything, I wish I’d taken more photos of the process. I got so caught up in making it that I forgot to document the different stages.
Who is exciting you the most in local fashion right now?
I genuinely feel the most exciting thing in Melbourne’s fashion scene is the sheer number of independent events and collaborations across the city. Special mention to the Doll and Ground Zero runway shows, they were amazing. Groups such as the Emerging Artists Collective and its commitment to providing a platform for young designers are also amazing.
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What about the local fashion industry needs to change?
I feel like there’s a great sense of community and support in the Melbourne fashion industry, which is invigorating. While it might be idealistic, I’d love to see more manufacturing make its way back to Australia, not only to boost our economy but to provide emerging graduates with more jobs in production.
Who are your dream collaborators?
I’ve worked with so many people this year who could fall into this category. I’d love to work with photographers Dan Crivelli and Mathew Stott one day. I admire their work tremendously. I’m also eager to collaborate with my partner and fellow designer, Tasmin Martin, on some projects in the upcoming year. We have some things in the works so keep an eye out.
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Where do you hope to be in the next five years?
For the next few years, I’m focusing on understanding business, gaining industry experience and honing my craftsmanship skills before eventually launching my own label.
How can we see more of your work?
You can explore more of my work on Instagram, where I share behind-the-scenes insights, process videos, and my designs. For inquiries or collaborations, feel free to reach out directly through Instagram for a closer look at my collection.
Get your tickets to the NGS Showcase at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival here.
This article Structure, chaos and rebellion: Inside Marko Plavšić’s graduate collection appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-02-20 07:50:00
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