ZIYP: Martina and Morana, when atelier Boudoir is first mentioned, often the first thing that comes to mind is your distinctive handwriting design. But the whole story began in the 80s with your grandmother. It is known that Zagreb's crafts are a part of Croatian cultural heritage, and you're a part of that too. Can you tell us how it all began?
Martina and Morana: Our grandmother, Đurđica Čičko, was a known figure of Zagreb when it came to design and craft, making hats the old fashioned way. From an early age we were surrounded by hats, our grandmother created glamorous collections of hats for renowned city fashion boutiques, these were disclosed at fashion shows at the Esplanade and the Golden Needle, which in the eighties were at their peak. Our grandmother pretty much dazzled us with the fashion world and although still young, by the age of 7 we started going to her fashion studio and slowly began to learn, and absorb everything around us. This entire experience wasn’t just comprised of skills in craft; we learnt the basics in aesthetics but also in how to deal with customers.

ZIYP: Tell us about today's Boudoir. You are one of the few designers who at the same time hold a status as artists.
Martina and Morana: In the 15 years that we’ve been working here, Boudoir has advanced indeed. We try to move forward with every new collection and surpass even ourselves. Often within our artistic creations we incorporate elements that may not be so commercial, but that the audience ultimately recognises. The presentation of our collections is also a story in itself; we try to evoke, showcase our collections in a way that is completely different from the reality of everyday life and in typically clichéd fashion ways. As a rule, we work with an extraordinary photographer named Mladen Šarić, who in the best way possible; knows how to evoke everything we wish to express through our creations.

ZIYP: On the other hand, we believe that even those who perhaps are not so interested in fashion would find it quite appealing to hear that you are part of the virtual world,‘Second Life’. What is happening in this parallel world for you now?
Martina and Morana: Second Life is our virtual art platform on which we can create whatever our imagination desires, but in which reality generally hampers.

ZIYP: What about the fashion industry in Croatia? How is it developing? Every dress in your boutique is handmade which requires hours of work, precise modelling, cutting, sewing, and is an original Croatian product. Do you think we have a chance of becoming a fashion 'destination', where people come to Zagreb for that exact reason?
Martina and Morana: The fashion industry is still dormant, but there are a few designers who still products industrial collections. We are basically manufactures, but in saying that we also have daily regulars which we continuously produce in Croatia. Zagreb really has plenty of fashionable address, and a lot to offer people of different tastes. We believe that our city is slowly beginning to come to life on Europe’s fashion map.

ZIYP: You have started your own sporting collection named ‘Fiskultura’, which is available on line. In conclusion, can you tell us how you actually wear your sports collection?
Martina and Morana: We are very happy that we have launched a commercial line; our work is now much more available whilst at the same time it was a challenge to create and explore anew market. Our daily pieces are very easy to combine with any basic wardrobe, just as jeans, any general t-shirt, classic pants or a blouse...