mirjana sekicki (b.1988)
While pursuing a PhD degree, I discovered a side of me which rejected to be confined to the exactness of the scientific method, but yearned to experiment spontaneously. It was then that I fell in love with silk, a medium that became my storytelling canvas.
Silk remembers each drop of paint that touches it. The material being too precious to be discarded, one must find a way to embrace each unintentional mark. This made silk both my mentor and the perfect sparing partner in overcoming perfectionism.
My silk can be hung on walls, but I invite you to put it in motion by wearing it as an item of clothing, and create new memories with it on your journey. Let it embody a sense of everyday luxury meant to be experienced.
Why studio Vera?
The name VERA holds a twofold meaning for me: both symbolic and personal.
Vera means FAITH in Serbian, my mother tongue. It is also the root for TRUST: poverenje.
Vera is my grandmother.
Born in 1935 in Kosovo, she is one of ten siblings who scattered across the country in search of better lives. Becoming a nurse and a doula, she devoted herself to serving others. Though living within the confines of tradition, her spirit remains unbound. Unshakeably steady, her love quietly transforms whatever it touches.
She taught me to crochet, knit, embroider, cook, and most importantly, showed me the joy of creating something from nothing. During war time, she would make chocolate from scratch for me at home. She would regularly unravel old sweaters to make a new one. Even now, in her 90s, next to tending to her garden and the house, she always has a crochet project she is working on to welcome me with a gift the next time we meet.
Since 2012, I’ve moved seven times, intentionally letting go of most possessions with each move. But, my collection of Vera’s handmade pieces has steadily grown. We live far away from each other, and my eyes get teary with every thought of her. But our connection transcends distance and those tears are filled with pride for having her as my guru and muse.
In my dictionary, VERA stands for BELIEF in yourself and the TRUST in life.
This feeling is not loud and imposing. Just like my grandmother, it is humble, resilient, and steady. It grows in silence and solitude, yet what it produces radiates love, draws you close, touches and transforms.