Ilona Vacarciuc

I am a Fashion Design student graduating this year with a focus on womenswear and storytelling through garments. My practice combines conceptual thinking with technical development, from research and illustration to pattern cutting and garment construction. I work confidently across both physical and digital design, using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and CLO3D to create technical drawings, visual presentations and 3D garment simulations.

Alongside my studies, I have gained experience in visual merchandising, planning and installing window displays and retail layouts. This has strengthened my understanding of brand identity, presentation and working within a fast-paced creative environment.

My final collection explores women’s empowerment and the reclaiming of the body. The project investigates how clothing can challenge expectations around femininity, vulnerability and strength, encouraging a more honest and self-defined representation of the female form.

Through research, I examined the relationship between the body and clothing as both protection and expression. This led to silhouettes that balance structure and softness, concealment and exposure, reflecting the complexity of how women experience and present their bodies. The final outcome is a series of garments designed for editorial and photoshoot contexts while remaining grounded in contemporary womenswear. The project represents my interest in combining conceptual narratives with wearable design, and marks the beginning of my transition from student to emerging designer.