images/images1.jpg Download image]]> PERSONAL FACTS:

● Born: 01.10.1977, G.Milanovac, Serbia
● Studies: "Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee" Fashion Design in Berlin
● First breakthrough: Mercedes Benz Fashion Week- Berlin 2009, Collection "Lapot"
● Since 2006 collections under the label SADAK

RECENT ACTIVITIES:

● Latest Collection entitled "I'm a good socialist"
● Gallery Exhibition of collection "I'm a good socialist" at HBC in Berlin
● Video "I am a good socialist" featuring the collection

●Designer collections SADAK
I'm a good socialist - 2009-2010
Lapot - 2008-2009
Klephtis - 2007-2008

● 2009 Finalist in "Designer for Tommorrow" competition presented by Mercedes Benz Fashion Week - Berlin 2009, Collection "Lapot"
● In 2008 participated in the ERKI Moeshow with the collection "Lapot" which was organized by Project Manager, Ester Kannelmäe, in cooperation with and sponsored by Create Europe Fashion Academy Award at the Goethe Institute Estonia, Tallinn
● In 2006 presented SADAK label with collection “Klephtis” in Pasarela Abierta de Murcia in Spain

INSPIRATION:

SADAK is a fashion label created by Serbian-born designer Sasa Kovacevic. SADAK holds a strong ethnographic tie to the traditional attire of Kovacevic's motherland of Serbia. He is generally inspired by the idea of culture and history; he often reinterprets traditional and/or historical clothing and while doing so retains a fashion-forward approach to his creations, which often comprise of tribal elements, local beliefs, and influences of different traditions. SADAK draws connections between fashion, contemporary art and tradition. SADAK's work is also fueled by an interest in activism and revolution. Through his work, Kovacevic brings the voices and experiences of traditionally and historically marginalized cultures to the forefront of contemporary art.

"The clothing is innovative and unique, whilst still incorporating distinctive elements from a variety of preceding periods and ethnic cultures. The various inspirations for the collections are essentially what makes them so superior in character. It’s not only the collection as a whole that comes with a motive, it’s the individual works themselves. Encompassing the vast aesthetic value of the past, SADAK clothing never fails to pursue how those values affect the future." J.F.Kennedy

Both SADAK's mens and womens collections are recognizable for their color scheme, distinct patterns and reinterpretation of traditional costumes which allow each collection to make a characteristic statement. The various colors, textures and patterns used in SADAK's designs call for bold representation of voice. "The materials and intricate design are drawn from the inspiration for the collections and mended to produce a complex yet widely-applauded result. Not only do the colors and materials achieve a successful result, they produce a certain element of edge; it’s an aspect of the clothing, which is truly it’s strongest element." Marissa Moshell

SADAK's current collection, "I'm a good socialist" began with research about Socialism in Former-Yugoslavia, the ideas from which Kovacevic applied to the creation of his own fictional "micro-nation", named "Ex-Land". The constitution of "this new nation" is described entirely through it´s fashion. The “laws” of Ex-Land are communicated through statements and “socialist” symbols created on the clothes. These symbols create an authentic visual language that is present in all lines of the collection and are rooted in Kovacevic's own culutral experiences. The signs, symbols, and statements in this collection (some of which are represented in their original forms and some of which are altered to create alienated, or hybridized forms) are used to create a contemporary “Nationhood”.

While SADAK's latest collection "I'm a good socialist" focuses more on history as a main point of reference, the two preceding collections "Lapot" and "Klephtis" are inspired more by mythical cultural traditions. Lapot is based on the Serbian tradition of killing the elder family members once they become so old they prove to be a burden to their family. "The collection as a whole seems to embody various characters all with a Middle Ages/Byzantine feel while retaining a fashion-forward approach with glossy, textured fabrics and a tailored finish." Philip Gamble

The entire idea for the collection, "Klephtis", is based on the story of the Klephtic (Greek - kleftis, kleftes) rebellions. The Klephts were nationalistic bandits and war-like mountain folk who lived in the Greek countryside and fought against the occupation of Greece when the country was a part of the Ottoman Empire. Most Klephts participated, in some capacity, in the Greek War of Independence. In order to derive a new perspective from this particular ethnic story, Kovacevic researched the political situation in the region at the time and searched for the corresponding designs of the traditional Greek costumes from the early nineteenth century. He developed a modern version of “urban klephts” rebels (who strive to maintain an awareness of history and roots while forming there own identity) by using geometrical patterns inspired by the original costumes and combining them with new fabrics. Furthermore, Kovacevic employed the mask as the primary accessory in the collection, an element that is meant to convey the first sign of rebellion. The face is a powerful weapon of communication among people and it is therefore consciously hidden in this collection in order to convey the concept of resistance.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Kovacevic, besides the collections, works regularly on dance/theater projects
● Designing costumes for theater, contemporary dance productions and film; designing scenography for film and stage.
● 2009 “Mimesis” Costume Design for Dance film by Choreographer- Justin F. Kennedy, Dock 11 Theater, Berlin
● 2009 “Politics of Extasy” Costume Design for Dance Performances by Meg Stuart and Jeremy Wade. Theater Hebbel am Ufer, Berlin
● 2009 “Anarchiv#1: I am not a Zombie”, Costume and Stage Design for Performance by Deufer+Plischke
● Between 2007-2009 Costume design for various dance productions by Choreographer Tomi Paasonen

EXHIBITIONS
Sasa Kovacevic/SADAK

● HBC Gallery Berlin, Germany
Participation-Exhibit- "I'm a good socialist" 2010
● Showroom Mile Palazzo Italia, Berlin , Germany
Participation-Exhibit- "Lapot" 2009

COLLABORATIONS:

Choreographers: Justin F. Kennedy, Tomi Paasonen, Meg Stuart, Jeremy Wade, Francesca Pellanda
Dancers: Ami Garmon, Jared Gradinger, Hermann Heisig, Adam Linder, Stephanie Maher, Nicola Mascia, Anja Müller, Maria F. Scaroni, Anja Sielaff, Meg Stuart, Jeremy Wade, Frank James Willens, Matan Zamir,Helga Wretman, Simo Kellokumpu ,Challenge Gumbodete, Justin F. Kennedy, Dmitry Paranyushkin, Mishell Baard
Musicians: Alexandra von Bolz'n, Brendan Dougherty
Lighting Designers: Asier Solana
Dramaturgists: Deufer+Plischke, Eike Wittrock
Film Artists: Felipe Frozza
Project Managers: Christian Berges,Barbara Greiner, Ester Kannelmäe
Photographers: Daniel Bollinger,Marija Ivosevic, Mario Leko,James G. Atkinson, Roman Kutzowitz
Make-Up Artists: Kenny Campbell (KCTV Magazine),Shirin K.A, Mishell Baard]]> Download text]]> images/images2.jpg Download image]]> images/images3.jpg Download image]]> images/images4.jpg Download image]]> images/images5.jpg Download image]]> images/images6.jpg Download image]]> images/images7.jpg Download image]]> images/images8.jpg Download image]]>