Livia Talosi, the founder and CEO of Cukovy, when it comes to fashion, always keeps in mind two important concepts: functionality and contemporary comfort. But with the latest collection of Cuckovy, she also wanted these values to be represented in every fashion piece: sustainability, durability, and playfulness.
Here on Vanity Teen, we are really thankful that she wanted to share with us about Cukovy, present the FW21/22 Collection of the brand, and talk about how the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) joined forces with the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) to bring us the BUDAPEST SELECT COLLECTIVE SHOW 2021.
Let us get read this conversation with Livia Talosi and get to know better how Cukovy, since its beginnings in 2014, has been using her ideas to make the fashion industry more sustainable and empower women at the same time.
Livia Talosi – CUKOVY | Exclusive Interview
VT: From where I stand, Cukovy evokes an urban attraction that focuses on the female figure as a form of beauty and power; is that part of the message of your brand?
LT: We design for metropolitan women who are really able to show and enjoy their feminine power, regardless of their age. These women inspire us on a day-to-day basis to overcome the difficulties we face in life and work, and in womanhood. So, it was only natural to create such a strong persona who celebrates her power but is also conscious, sensitive, yet with a cheeky personality.
VT: What are your thoughts about diversity and representation in the fashion world?
LT: I’m a Latina myself, so it’s inspiring to see the small changes towards a more diverse industry. Thus, it’s quite important for us to design for the everyday woman, no matter the size and color.
VT: How do you manage luxury, functionality, and comfort in your collections?
LT: These are essential pillars of our brand. I believe we are a perfect combination of these three; so, if anyone is looking for luxurious yet functional and comfortable puffers, check us out.
VT: Could you tell us more about the exchangeable elements that make your puffers being part of a playful fashion experience?
LT: With changeable parts, you have the opportunity to find the perfect combination for the occasion and deliver a breathtaking look. With a little tweak, you can always be perfectly you.
Budapest Select and Milano Fashion Week
VT: What is your relationship with the HFDA and the Budapest Select?
LT: It’s our third season in the international mentor program, and we are working closely with them. So, by now, we know each other quite well. It has given us great opportunities, such as the Budapest Select show in Milan Fashion Week.
VT: What can you tell us about the commitment of Cukovy to supporting Hungarian handcraft artists and suppliers?
LT: Since the textile industry in Hungary is only starting to get back on track, it is really important to work with local factories. There are many factories that produce garments for brands like Stella McCartney, Marine Serre, and Dries van Noten. If they are good enough for these luxury brands, they are good enough for us.
Many crafts are dying out because everyone wants to be a fashion designer, even though it would be more necessary to educate skilled pattern cutters and technicians.
VT: Let us talk about your collection for the COLLECTIVE FASHION SHOW – FW21/22, what do you like the most about it?
LT: It is a great opportunity for us, from a small country in Eastern Europe, to get such exposure in the Milan Fashion Week.
New world, new approaches to fashion
VT: In your latest collection, you have not ignored the fact we all have been experiencing a global pandemic. Could you tell us more about it?
LT: It was quite inevitable not to get inspired by our new world order.
In November, when I was designing the collection, I was in a pessimistic mood. So, making this collection was an escape to an alternate universe where there was no global pandemic. You can also see this in the collection. Dark and long silhouettes shift into brighter and more optimistic looks.
VT: Which advice would you give to all those teenagers who are thinking about starting a career in fashion-related activities?
LT: Be resilient, passionate, and hard-working; also, be ready to work 24/7 … this is not a job, this is a lifestyle.
VT: Anything else you would like to share with Vanity Teen?
LT: C’est la vie!
Before we go
Once more, we are delighted to witness the magnificent work the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) have been doing with the BUDAPEST SELECT COLLECTIVE SHOW 2021. It is like a fashion gift during these challenging current times.
This conversation with Livia Talosi from Cukovy has left us a significant message I hope we can treasure: we are responsible for taking care of this planet, and we should do our best to do so. Correspondingly, despite adversities, we can get inspired to arise no matter what, but we have to work hard to achieve our goals, and if fashion is what moves you, be ready to live it out.