Profile: Szonja Varga – Real Leather Design Competitions

Szonja Varga

Budapest Metropolitan University

Due to my reserved nature, fashion has always played a central role in my life. Beyond its aesthetic value, it is an important means of self-expression for me, because the communicative power of clothing offers the opportunity to express one’s individuality and build connections. At first, I simply altered clothes and experimented, then I began designing, modeling, and sewing on my own. As I delved deeper into the field, it became clear to me that I wanted to be a fashion designer. I applied to Budapest Metropolitan University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Textile Design with a specialization in fashion design. I represent an alternative style, which is reflected in my monochromatic color palette, textured fabric surfaces, and my sustainable, eco-conscious approach. For me, nature and femininity are interconnected and defining experiences that are reflected in my work just as much as the darker side of my emotional world; that is why I work with feminine silhouettes that emphasize the shape of the female body. Environmental consciousness manifests itself in my design practice in several ways. I strive to work with as many recycled materials as possible and prioritize zero-waste tailoring solutions. I often create convertible or multifunctional designs, which reflect on the problem of overconsumption. As a fashion designer, I feel it is my important mission to raise awareness among as many people as possible about the polluting and unsustainable nature of the fashion and textile industries, and to offer alternatives to prevent these issues.

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SPIKES

Category: Accessories

Competitions: International

Nowadays, sustainability has become particularly crucial in the fashion industry, as the textile and fashion sector is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Fast fashion is largely responsible for this situation. It is based on mass production, where as many clothes as possible are manufactured at low prices using the cheapest possible materials and production methods, while constantly adapting the designs to current trends. These low prices encourage consumers to buy more, and the rapidly changing trends ensure that customers hoard clothing. Alongside mass production, habits of overconsumption emerge, and together, reinforcing one another, they exacerbate environmental pollution. In response to this, I designed a modular system. This system is built from identical elements that can be interlocked due to their shape. Users can build whatever they want from these components, which helps reduce the urge to buy. If they grow tired of the product’s current form, they can simply rebuild it instead of purchasing something new. Due to its formal versatility, this is a multifunctional product: it can be used to create anything from jewelry-like accessories to belts, bags, and even garments. As a result, it replaces several items that people would otherwise buy separately, thereby reducing the sheer volume of purchased goods. To achieve a self-supporting structure, I worked with calf leather, as it provides the necessary rigidity. It was important to me to work with real leather because, as a natural material, it is more biodegradable than synthetic leather made from plastic. Furthermore, leather is a byproduct of the meat industry, so if we did not utilize the resulting hides, they would go to waste. Therefore I believe that using real leather is more sustainable the using synthetic leathers. When designing my project, I drew inspiration from the works of 1970s Hungarian artists, like Lantos Ferenc, Hopp-Halász Károly and Ficzek Ferenc, who disrupted the flat and repetitive aesthetic of the era’s socialist architecture using colorful, geometrically patterned modular decorative elements. They believed that art belongs to everyone, so by placing their works in public spaces, anyone could experience their magic. Similarly, through my work, I invite consumers into a collaborative creative process. I provide them with the foundation, from which they can create whatever they desire according to their own creativity.