In the medieval city center of Škofje Loka, specifically at Spodnji trg 40, in the former premises of the Šešir factory, the modern textile center Kreativnice has been operating since 2018. In it, four textile designers, who also work in other creative fields, combined their creative powers. They are Lili Pajntar, Nina Vastl Štefe, Anja Musek and Silva Horvat. These extremely creative ladies are each excellent in their own field, but when they join forces, their creative potential is even stronger.
Their creative workspace Kreativnica, which they arranged with a lot of imagination and effort, as well as respect for the past, so that, once you enter, you will not run out of views and interest in many details. Their products, as well as photographs and objects that evoke memories of other times and a once very successful hat factory, fascinate.
All four members of Kreativnica are textile designers who express their creative potential in various textile techniques. From wool felting, weaving on looms, embroidery, sewing and textile dyeing with natural dyes to textile printing. In the textile center, which is also an exhibition sales studio, female designers, who otherwise work independently, connect and exchange experiences and views. They also have in common respect for the past and tradition, which they connect with the present and look to the future with a vision.
They have collaborated and held many exhibitions together. One of the last took place in June 2020 as part of the accompanying program of the Museum of Architecture and Design exhibition, MADE IN: Stories of craft and design in the premises of the Center for Creativity in Maribor. One of the last high-profile projects was created within the framework of BIEN2021, the Biennale of textile arts Kranj, which took place between May and August 2021. Two large textile installations "FOREST" and "REKA" were created, which address the importance of community, integration, the importance of preserving the natural environment and sustainable functioning of the community. They also presented their textile installation Gozd at the Pisana Loka festival (Škofja Loka 2021).
Currently, "Svoj Gozd" is exhibited in the atrium of the Skabernet house, at Mestne trg 10 in Ljubljana. There is also a Parada lifestyle store, which offers many products from excellent local designers and craftsmen, including selected products from Škofjeloški Kreativnice.
As a fabric designer , Silva Horvat was employed for 15 years at the former decorative fabric factory Dekorativna in Ljubljana. Since 1985, she has worked as a freelance artist, who is now retired, but is still actively engaged in original tapestry and textile design. She weaves her products on a loom, and uses domestic wool to create them.
Anja Musek is a landscape architect by education, but for the past eight years she has been exclusively devoted to wool felting. Anja creates in her Amuse studio in Škofja Loka, where, in addition to unique designs, she also teaches wet felting techniques. Her products include felt soaps, unique scarves and brooches, as well as unique fashion clothes.
Lili Pajntar also started her creative journey in the textile industry. For a good 20 years, she worked as a designer and project manager at the Odeja factory in Škofjelo, where she received several professional awards for her original collections and comprehensive fair performances. She has been self-employed since 2013 and devotes herself to product and textile design for individuals and companies in her Lila studio in Škofja Loka. She is interested in old textile processing and dyeing techniques, which she also uses for her uniquely designed textile products.
Nina Vastl Štefe is an architect who is mainly interested in designing small objects (family homes). In addition to architecture, she devotes much of her attention to her brand Moj dom , under which textile products for the home are made from natural materials. These are simple, design-refined products (decorative cushions, bedspreads, bedding, etc.), which she dyes with vegetable dyes and sews and prints by hand. Nina prefers natural materials such as linen, wool, raw silk, nettle, hemp and ramie. He finds his artistic inspiration almost exclusively in nature.
The textile installation Forests was created in 2021 in the modern textile center Kreativnica. It was created by Nina Vastl Štefe, Anja Musek, Lili Pajntar, Silva Horvat and Ladka Peneš. To create this textile installation, which measures 450 centimeters in length and 250 centimeters in height, they used natural materials such as linen, spun and combed wool and cotton.
GOZD carries the importance of the individual and his role in the community. Just as a single tree plays an important role in communication, coexistence and the formation of forest networks and ecosystems, the individual plays an important role within the community in which he lives. Open communication, mutual support, friendship, exchange, compassion and solidarity, sustainable orientation and responsible action are not self-evident, but crucial for survival. The FOREST urges us to look, observe, perceive and act actively. Just as a forest connects individual trees into a community, GOZD connects five female authors and five creative worlds. The mosaic interweaving of various natural materials, textile techniques of weaving, felting, quilting, printing, dyeing with plants, spinning and crocheting in a joint art installation connects various creative women who work in the Contemporary Textile Center Kreativnica. The process of joint creation arose from the need to create one's own space, the search for synergies between authors and the exchange of creative practices. The textile installation wants to convey the story of sustainability, a responsible attitude towards the natural and social environment and the use of natural materials. Through the months-long process of creation, a new, fresh, spring-like FOREST was created, which, throughout its life, other visits and travels, will encounter the touches of visitors, various weather influences, natural and artificial light, and other influences from the environment, which will change it. With this, GOZD will develop its story, tell about its history and previous outposts, its experiences and enrich itself with them. Just as each of us changes, grows and ages, gaining experiences along the way that make us alive.
*The article was originally published on the TV Ambienti website
*Photos by Denys Shadro and Parada Lifestyle archive