Stylist Ana Nikačević has selected the 10 best pieces by regional designers of 2025.
by Tina LončarDecember 16, 2025
News
As the year draws to a close, it is clear that on the fashion front it has been an exceptionally eventful one, at times so much so that it was almost impossible to keep track of which designer left their role as creative director, where they moved next, who replaced them, and for how long it would all last. Some appointments, like Dario Vitale’s at Versace, resulted in just a single collection, while others, such as Matthieu Blazy’s at Chanel, already feel as though they have been in place for years. Fashion Weeks followed one debut collection after another, with audiences eagerly anticipating what these new visions would look like.
In the region, things were noticeably calmer, but that did not mean there was a lack of excitement. New names began to take shape on the scene, established designers further solidified their positions, and recent collections brought forward a number of standout pieces that went on to appear in fashion editorials, on red carpets, and on stage. To take a closer look at the fashion year behind us, we spoke with stylist Ana Nikačević, who shared the ten pieces by regional designers that, in her view, stood out the most in 2025. We bring them to you below.
Croatia
Marija Kulušić
Description of the piece: Black tailcoat with unexpected puffed hems
Why she chose it: “Marija Kulušić never fails to fascinate me with her ability to give classic garments an entirely new identity. She has a masterful sense of volume and form, creating silhouettes that feel fragile and gentle, yet at the same time bold, confident, and structurally strong. The puffed detail at the lower part of the tailcoat is particularly intriguing to me. It is an unexpected, almost theatrical element that pushes a classic form toward something different and distinctly contemporary. Her signature is further defined by a unique relationship with materials. Kulušić works with carefully selected fabrics, shaping them through organic and experimental textile processes that give them new dimension and character. Through her design, she builds a recognizable visual language that is both soft and powerful, rooted in tradition yet unmistakably modern.”
Marija Kulušić, photo: Denis Butorac
KLISAB
Description of the piece: Mid-length blue coat from the Fall/Winter 2025 collection
Why she chose it: “KLISAB is a design duo known for precise tailoring, unisex silhouettes, and a masterful approach to patchwork, which has become an integral part of their signature language. This time, however, I chose a coat that won me over with its powerful form and striking, saturated color, a piece that feels both classic and distinctly contemporary. What always sets KLISAB apart is their ability to turn a garment into a complete expression of identity. Every design is considered down to the smallest detail, with silhouettes further shaped through elements such as dramatic collars, gloves, belts, badges, or bags. With KLISAB, you are not choosing just a coat, but the character you want to present, or even become. It is precisely this consistency in building a strong, highly individual design language that makes this coat a perfect example of KLISAB’s aesthetic and structural strength.”
Related: We took a closer look at all the statement pieces from KLISAB’s new collection
KLISAB FW25, photo: Matej Jurčević
PROJECT/LAYERS
Description of the piece: A look composed of a sheer top, trousers with extremely elongated legs, and a fur detail from the Fall/Winter 2025 collection
Why she chose it: “I chose Project/Layers because, although it is a young brand, it shows remarkable consistency in its aesthetic language. Designer Filip Paljak’s visual world often carries a dark, moody atmosphere, and through processes of construction and deconstruction he creates apocalyptic, almost dystopian silhouettes. What particularly draws me in is the way his pieces appear to emerge directly on the body, as if the form bends, twists, and adapts to the female figure, emphasizing its strength, confidence, and subtle sensuality. While at first glance the designs may seem minimalist or restrained, they reveal carefully considered details and a high level of technical refinement. Every cut, opening, layer, or fragment of material is intentional. The result is a design that is at once dramatic, clean, and distinctly contemporary, an aesthetic that does not simply dress the female silhouette, but shapes it, highlighting its power and presence.”
PROJECT/LAYERS FW25, photo: Vana Katančić
Srbija
Sanda Simona
Description of the piece: Black floor-length backless dress with cut-out details
Why she chose it: “Sanda Simona has built a highly recognizable aesthetic in which minimalism, eros, and conceptual provocation merge into a singular visual language. At first glance, her pieces appear simple, yet they carry a clear intention: to explore the relationship between the body, the gaze, and identity. Her creations are always bold, but subtly controlled. There is a constant, precise tension between skin and fabric, with garments that simultaneously reveal and conceal, embracing the figure without ever constraining it. This dress embodies that balance perfectly: closed enough to remain sophisticated, yet open enough to trace the lines of the body and emphasize the quiet, self-aware sensuality that is Sanda’s signature.”
Nikolina Bulatović
Description of the piece: A light, long white dress with lace details
Why she chose it: “In her latest collection, Nikolina Bulatović explores tenderness, fluidity, and fragility through a layered interplay of silk and lace. The layering of different textures creates a sense of emotional depth, as if various inner states are revealed and overlapped through the fabric. The transparency and softness of the materials further enhance this feeling of ethereality, while the silhouette remains delicate, romantic, and almost trembling. I am particularly drawn to the blindfold detail, which introduces a note of restraint, as if the model is hiding behind her own emotional vulnerability. Within this combination of softness, layering, and subtle intimacy lies the poetic strength of her design.”
Nikolina Bulatović, photo: Đorđe Tomić
BiH
Marko Feher
Description of the piece: A long, sculptural white dress from No Comment’s latest collection
Why she chose it: “His work is an example of fashion that moves beyond pure aesthetics and enters the realm of social commentary. Feher consistently uses clothing as a medium to question norms and identity, an approach I consider essential within contemporary fashion discourse. In his designs, we recognize sculptural forms, clean lines, and almost architectural silhouettes that are at once wearable and conceptually strong. I am particularly drawn to design that manages to be both minimalist and monumentally expressive, and it is precisely within this tension that Feher affirms his authenticity and relevance on the fashion scene. This dress embodies his sculptural aesthetic, transforming the body into an almost architectural form. The upper volume feels surreal, pushing the boundaries of the silhouette as if expanding beyond its own contours, while the material, through its structure and density, further amplifies this effect. The result is a piece that is both minimalist and monumentally dramatic.”
Marko Feher, photo: Edvin Kalić
Elysian
Description of the piece: Olive-green trench coat with pronounced sleeves
Why she chose it: “Although Elysian is a master of evening elegance, this time I was particularly drawn to a trench coat that explores a different kind of beauty, one rooted in a powerful, masculine silhouette with a touch of retro sophistication. I sense a subtle echo of the eighties, a time when clothing carried a clear gesture, attitude, and presence. The oval, sculptural sleeves add dramatic volume, almost as if they envelop the body, while the precisely defined waist introduces structure and discipline to the movement. Together, these elements create a silhouette that is at once strong, elegant, and poetically graphic. The tailoring gives it a feeling of support, the form stands firm yet moves with ease. To me, it is a perfect embodiment of Elysian’s aesthetic: a fusion of construction, emotion, and refined nostalgia that never remains in the past, but is translated into a contemporary expression.”
Elysian, photo: Mina Moshi
Slovenija
Matic Veler
Description of the piece: Long black dress with a striking 3D detail
Why she chose it: “What always fascinates me about Matic Veler is his ability to turn technological precision, from laser cutting to complex textural techniques, into something ethereal, almost alive. This look embodies that perfectly: the form feels mystical and fragile, yet powerful, as if we are witnessing a moment of transformation. The upper part of the silhouette reminds me of a chrysalis at the point of becoming a butterfly, creating an organic structure that seems to pulse with movement even when the body is completely still. This effect brings a quiet, internal drama executed with exceptional elegance. It is precisely this balance between fashion construction and wearable poetry that makes Veler’s work so distinctive and instantly recognizable.”
Matic Veler, photo: Jure Makovec
Sarivalenci
Description of the piece: Crinoline-shaped coat created through patchwork
Why she chose it: “What I have always loved about Sarivalenci is her playful conceptual approach and her courage to turn excess into an aesthetic, and unconventional materials into a narrative. This leather look captures that perfectly. The patchwork coat feels like a crinoline infused with movement. It is a piece that quite literally invites play, encouraging you to spin around your own axis and feel the silhouette opening and closing around the body. Constructed in various shades of brown, it reads like a fashion map: layered, tactile, and visually rich. The silhouette reflects Sara’s effortless authenticity, as if suggesting that nothing is ever ‘too much’ when the vision is clear. This is her signature: creations that draw you into another world, where fashion is not just clothing, but a small performance, a visual collage you want to explore up close.”
AEMONA
Description of the piece: Form-fitting blue dress with cut-out details
Why she chose it: “What I particularly like about Aemone is the way they work with draping and folds, allowing the fabric to boldly embrace the body while still leaving room for subtle openings and slits. These small cuts introduce a sense of daring, while the draping preserves elegance and fluidity. This dress illustrates that balance perfectly: structurally precise yet visually soft, with movement that follows the body and reveals just enough. It is the Aemone signature I appreciate most: simple, sensual, and thoughtfully considered.”
AEMONA, photo: Jure Makovec
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