COMPANY PROJECT — KIKO KOSTADINOV
Trapped in a dream where neither awakening nor complete immersion is possible, freedom shatters like an unreachable illusion. Portrays those vwho long to escape reality but remain imprisoned, even within their subconscious. Their dreams, which should be a sanctuary, are instead controlled and suppressed, leaving them with no refuge, even in sleep. Their restless emotions manifest in fragmented textures and deconstructed silhouettes, as if shards of a nightmare are consuming reality itself. Memories, blurred and disjointed, reconstruct themselves into uncertain forms. The rigid structure of uniforms symbolizes order and control, yet beneath them, distorted shapes hint at a subconscious rebellion. The rejection of symmetry, the unexpected fractures—these elements dissolve the boundary between dream and reality, leaving the figures stranded in between, belonging to neither. A muted color palette enhances the unease, evoking the instability of existing between the real and the surreal. Ethereal, weightless fabrics create an illusion of fleeting escape, yet even that illusion crumbles into pieces. The dream begins to unravel, morphing into an inescapable reality. Perhaps this dream is not merely a fantasy but a cruel reflection of reality itself. The more they struggle to break free, the deeper they become entangled in the nightmare of their existence. As the lingering afterimages refuse to fade, one must ask: Where does the dream end, and where does reality begin?
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The project <Birthday> reflects the memory of birthdays in childhood. Since we are growing up, we naturally forget the memories from childhood. But a birthday is one thing that only can remain on the same date with similar feelings as we had in childhood. From this idea, this project is showing the birthday memory from now on as a mature perspective. My mom always made clothes on my birthday by quilting. From this memory, I incorporated quilting techniques into my shirt. By using ribbon and gathering, it is giving the playful and kitsch feelings which represent the concept of birthday. Overall, this shirt is showing the representation between a girl and a woman which represents me as 22 years old.
This project explores the 1920s through the lens of military tailoring and greatcoats, reflecting on how World War I shaped a generation. Many of those who served as soldiers or nurses were incredibly young, and the war left lasting emotional and cultural scars. When it ended, they were faced with the challenge of rebuilding their lives while carrying the weight of their memories. The Roaring Twenties emerged as a response to this loss and trauma. It was a decade defined by a desire for freedom, celebration, and reinvention. Fashion mirrored this transformation as the rigid, structured silhouettes of the 1910s softened into looser, more fluid forms. Androgynous shapes and lighter garments symbolized a break from the past and a longing for a new beginning. Drawing inspiration from WWI military greatcoats, Red Cross nurse uniforms, and 1920s womenswear, the collection reflects the tension between memory and renewal. It suggests that while the past never fully disappears, it continues to shape the identities, choices, and expressions of the present.
Information
Celia Ko
Fashion Designer | Womenswear
celiako@newschool.edu
Instagram: @ho0221
Education
PARSONS PARIS, The New School
B.A. in Fashion Design | 2022 – 2026
BRANKSOME HALL ASIA
IB Diploma | 2018 – 2022
Celia Ko
Fashion Designer | Womenswear
celiako@newschool.edu
Instagram: @ho0221
Education
PARSONS PARIS, The New School
B.A. in Fashion Design | 2022 – 2026
BRANKSOME HALL ASIA
IB Diploma | 2018 – 2022