The «Roba» Label was founded by Branka Scepanovic and Maja Simunovic (left the brand in August 2010) in Zagreb (Croatia) 2007 with a very selfish intention, to make clothes that would fit them perfectly. Along the way the selfish intention became appealing to other people. They use ultra soft leather to show off their obscenely brilliant tailoring. Behind every collection there is a story that comes from a mix of the mundane and the performative arts. Art made in the time of mechanical reproduction is a perfectly suitable way to tag their work. They claim: “We never understood why people go to nudist camps!”.

Where’d you guys come up with the name ROBA? Does it mean anything immediately to you and the people you’re trying to design for and sell to?

M: Roba in Croatian means goods,stuff, but also mean clothes.When choosing the name we were thinking about something which has a wide meaning , so by each collection, or how it would suit us, change the subtitle. So the first small Roba collection was called Test Version,as we wanted to see how it would go, and then the second and third were called For Real, which ment that we will go into real production, with more serious quantities. For the future we are planning to make De Luxe collection, as we are really bored with time of crises and cheap low quality stuff.

B: It is somehow confusing people, because of the wide meaning of the word… And it is same or similar in other languages, so people react differently. In spanish is ropa, or in italian, the same roba but at the moment among young people ‘roba’ means drugs. So you can play with meanings of the word and it works in other languages too…isn’t that nice and funny!?

How many of there are you, anyway?

B: We started as a duo, Maja and Branka, but I’m single in the brand now…

Anyway there is a lot of people involved in making Roba, without them it would not be possible,really great papermakers, and great friends who make all the photos and graphic design work…

How did you get started as designer?

I graduated biology but making clothes was always a hobby..so during university I did several courses, and learn how to saw, and produced clothes for myself, than also for friends…and after some time start selling…and than changed my mind about biology..never went to university to collect my diploma, didn’t need it any longer.

Onto your designs: do you have a defined design philosophy?

M: Ideas and inspiration simply come from time we live in, places we travel, people we know or meet on our journeys. For us it is important that  our clothes is perfectly tailored and sewn,  that leather and fabrics we use are high quality stuff.  So we are trying to create high quality product for those who want something more from the clothes they wear

B: I always start from myself…what I want to wear, than how I see my friends, than how I see other people I like… But high quality is an imperative. Croatian textile industry was great ones and you still have people who know how to do a great work…so it is nice when you can make your ideas true.