Designer Finalists (2008)

Flip Karadzik & Rowena Jozic

babu et moi is a design company whose goals are to present its artistic vision by introducing an innovative style of clothing and art - a style that is young, eccentric, full of energy and somewhat theatrical. We view fashion design primarily as an art and want to bring something new and unique to the fashion world. Our main interests are streetwear and performance wear.

babu et moi's principal designer, Rowena Jozic, has been immersed in art her entire life. She studied painting and drawing in Florence, Italy and fashion design at TEKO design academy in Denmark.

Inspiration comes to us from music, travel, dreams, films, people, visions of future and the soul of every-day life.

It is our belief that the brand’s direction must be dictated by artistic vision, rather than market requirementa, sales projections and catering to the fetishes of age and trend based target groups. A person should identify with a style not because the style is 'in' but, much like other pieces of visual art, because the person is moved by the artistry of the artist, in this case the designer. We want to present a style that is timeless, unique, original and is not influenced by recipes for trends of the consumer oriented masses.

Interpretation of Theme

For us, Between the Lines is the story of the unsaid, the meaning that radiates without having to be told in words. It is the essence of being alive, the way all living things communicate with each other; that is the ones no so hung up and reliant on language and logic. News anchors and TV personalities may not talk about such things, yet people know they exist. We experience such communication every day of our life, no matter how much someone may try to float above it all or pretend it is not there.

Our society is shaped in many ways and on many fronts. Powerful businesses try to shape the way we function, the way we go about doing things, the way we think. The incentive is always to give us something cheaper, something easier, something that takes up less of our time. Our lust for comfort is causing us to turn a blind eye to what is being said between the lines. We see ourselves loosing the humane side of our beings, the wonderful, unpredictable, eruptions of inspiration and joy that come to us when we relax our senses and thinking, and let inspiration come from within. We are constantly bombarded with messages that have sinister, negative impact on us and we have to navigate and create a way out of everything we want to avoid. But our body will respond to everything it senses, how do we know what to avoid?

We listen to the warnings but pretend we don’t hear them. We come up with elaborate logical models that ensure us that everything is fine, and that we are doing the right thing. Cries for help can be heard between the lines, but just briefly, before they are pushed to the margins and classified as deterrents from our planned path.

I don't want to be constantly stimulated by fear, hate, envy, malediction, as they influence me and get me physically sick. I need my body, my vehicle healthy in order to preserve healthy free spirit, a spirit that can explore and create freely and healthy. Music, nature, yoga, dance, movement, sounds and beats are my path and on that path I move with a style that I created within the channels that I love to explore. The message between the lines is clear: Nurture your soul and protect it.

And there it is… a blue print, an echo, a sound that might take you travelling and bring us closer to reflect, give and take., exchange, enjoy and go on.

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