Model: Katya Stuart
Anca Balinisteanu
Part I
by Rodney Wayne Branche, Publisher
Copa Style Magazine
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Copa: Where are you from?
Anca: I was born and raised in Romania, beautiful and most interesting country in Eastern Europe, a place where fashion is and always was held in high regard! Copa: Have you always had an interest in Fashion?
Anca: I wanted to be a math teacher in elementary school – my then teacher begged me not to, then I wanted to be a doctor – my chemistry wasn’t up to exam level, and my mother, an accountant, begged me to not go into finances. Back in those days, a fashion college was the only option left for a girl, and luckily, somewhere during all the process of searching for myself, I already started to try my hand at sewing. My mother’s dressmaker ruined my outfit for 8th grade graduation – big event in a teenager’s life, and that sealed my career choice – nobody but me was going to ruin my outfits from then on. Copa: What other schools have you attended?
Anca: During my elementary school, I attended some free arts clubs, making my first flamenco dress. During high school I started to actually make money, knitting mostly, and sewing party outfits for my classmates. By the time I went to a textile engineering college, in Romania, I already had a clientele, and was spending my weekends commuting with my sewing machine between Iasi (a historical city and home of my college) and the clientele back in my hometown. 
Katherine Costello Photography
Copa: What is your view on fashion shows and how effective are they in your business, locally and abroad?
Anca: I believe my very first fashion show was a contest back in Romania, in 1993, when I swear, I was ready to never do it again; the whole process was difficult and no fun at all. When I started in 2016 here, in US, I was more mature and ready to take on a challenge, and a challenge it was! Since then, I decided that I love the shows, the models, the outfits, the audience…In these times when retail is moving on line, the fashion shows are one way to connect with your customers, to help them see and know the designer, and understand where the clothes come from, what ideas and personality stands behind what you try to sell. One decision I made regarding the fashion shows: starting this year, I will only show a collection relevant to the upcoming season, not for next year. It will stop confusing the audience as to what trends and colors are on NOW. Copa: Please tell our readers about your latest show and collection.
Anca: I think I touched the subject in answer #5, but here I go again: my last collection is based on my holiday trip to Florida. Left at Christmas and came back first week in January, caught the “historical cold” and decided that I love Summer and I want the whole world to know it! The collection is for this Summer 2018, not for next year or two years after, by which time everybody including myself forgets what it was about, and it’s called #LoveSummer (I will print the t-shirts later), and was showcased at Crystal Couture, on February 2nd, a taste only (there is a limited number of outfits allowed by organizers). |
Anca Balinisteanu
Copa: When did you develop your true skills in design and the art of developing patterns and construction of your garments?
Anca: I can say that the skills ran in the family. My grandmother, a refugee after the WWII, ran south from a part of Romania that remains to these days under Russian occupation, and was sewing a shirt for a loaf of bread….and making a great job of it! I still have a garment sewn by her and all seams and embroidery, done by hand, couldn’t be reproduced by a machine today. I feel humble when I look at it, because I believe my skills are high, and yet, I can’t do what she did. After college, I came to USA, and started my career from scratch, but I kept up with the progress in the industry: I got an MBA in US, went to Milan for more design and pattern making courses, just to brush up, and I’m taking a course or seminar at every opportunity. There is always something new to learn, and fashion is ever-changing, both from technological and social behavior point of view. Copa: Would you say that your creations reflect your personality in some way?
Anca: I believe that every piece of fashion ever made reflects the creator’s view of the world and personal character J, so, yes, my collections come from my own experiences. The first one I showcased, at DCFW, in 2016, was inspired by Eastern European traditional costumes. During the research process I learned that most countries from that area had same motives, colors, details, despite the combination of Latin, Slavic and Muslim influences that differentiates their respective historical development. Another collection was based on James Bond girls, a favorite series of movies that I watched back to back for research purposes, and had few surprises there as well. Every collection is an adventure and it’s based on a personal interest, but even more, I found that I like order: clear lines, fitted garments, classic elegance, careful made details, and most of all, I love COLORS! Which I embraced completely in my next collection, first showing at Crystal Couture Show and Sales, on Feb 2nd. It will be the brightest and most colorful I ever made and I’m very proud of it! 
Katherine Costello Photography
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Copa: What does the future hold for Anca?
Anca: The future is definitely in Fashion, the only job I love and did since high school, some 3 decades ago (sounds better then 30 years J). I always wanted to help women feel beautiful and confident, and I truly believe that clothes do that! The image we see in the mirror has a direct effect on the way we behave when we leave the house: we will stand out or hide in the crowd accordingly…
The changes in the industry will reflect, of course, in my work: the new generation focused on renting the wardrobe vs. custom orders and retail is making a huge impact on all of us, the cost of manufacturing will be more and more influenced by politics and social changes. The fashion shows will become, in my opinion, a show of skills, but the product in the stores will be practical, simplified, versatile.
We live interesting times for sure, and fashion is deeply involved and affected by all of it!
Anca: The future is definitely in Fashion, the only job I love and did since high school, some 3 decades ago (sounds better then 30 years J). I always wanted to help women feel beautiful and confident, and I truly believe that clothes do that! The image we see in the mirror has a direct effect on the way we behave when we leave the house: we will stand out or hide in the crowd accordingly…
The changes in the industry will reflect, of course, in my work: the new generation focused on renting the wardrobe vs. custom orders and retail is making a huge impact on all of us, the cost of manufacturing will be more and more influenced by politics and social changes. The fashion shows will become, in my opinion, a show of skills, but the product in the stores will be practical, simplified, versatile.
We live interesting times for sure, and fashion is deeply involved and affected by all of it!
Katherine Costello Photography
Next week in Part II we'll show you more of Anca's World of Fashion
~Copa
