Matcho Suba
Head Couture Collection
Internationally trained Melbourne based Fashion Designer Matcho Suba has recently embraced millinery in his styling portfolio. His fashion styling approach of avant garde aesthetic with a contemporary edge has kept his presence on catwalks in Australia and internationally. Congrats Matcho for embracing this distinctive styling for your clients.
As an established contemporary Fashion Designer, was this transition to millinery a very natural progression?
The creative process of millinery came very natural to me, while working on my garments collections, as headwear/ millinery has always been a strong aspect and part of the final look of each collection. In some particular examples the millinery overtook the clothing.
Your styling has always reflected poignant aspects of your life can you share how you have also embodied this in your millinery collection.
Each Head Couture collection has a strong link to my life, either past or present. My memory bank is a never ending source of inspiration for each millinery collection, for example my love of traditional Eastern European folklore, my love of gold, travels or my views on current affairs. I’m using Head Couture or any of my artistic vessels as a link between my mind & the world around me. It’s a perfect expression of who I am as an artist at that particular moment in time.
What sparked your interest in millinery?
I have always been interested in accessories as part of the final look and which is not a garment. Moving to Australia 12 years ago I was discovering slowly how interested people were in millinery and this gave me an idea to explore this craft more. I’m completely self-taught, always developing my own techniques of creating millinery.
What inspires you?
Anything and everything. As mentioned before, current affairs, travelling, colours of the materials in itself. There’s endless source of inspiration around us. My homeland of Slovakia and its folklore, traditions and cultures have always been my source of inspiration plus interesting people I meet in life and their stories.
Your millinery work includes a delicate detailed touch of ornate beading. What inspired your love of beading?
My love of beading and surface textiles started when I was completing a degree at London College of Fashion, specialising in surface textiles. Texture and manipulation of various materials, changing its original look has always creatively fulfilled me.
What are your favourite beads to work with?
I never design a head couture look before I start creating it, I let material, colour and overall feel take me to the finely shape/ look. I love to work with glass beads, for its weight. Crystals have always been part of my creative journey. I’m a bit of a collector or all things sparkly when I visit antique or vintage stores. Including those special pieces gives each piece its own life and story.
How do you go from an idea to a finished headpiece?
It’s all in my head, I kind of see the final design, but most of the time it turns out completely different, which I love. It’s an unpredictable creative journey, excitement of the unexpected. Sometimes a journey of a head piece takes weeks sometimes hours. I like to work on several projects at the same time, let them inspire each other. Learn from each otter. It’s a very enjoyable process.
What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in this transition to millinery?
My challenge has been staying true to myself and not trying to look like anyone else. Some of my pieces are not your everyday head attire, I like to push boundaries even with my millinery, creating pieces, which stand out from the crowd assuring each piece is original and created only once, to give a client the exclusivity plus a sense of being special.
What are your other passions?
I call myself an artist. Passion for womenswear fashion will always be there. I love to paint, draw and create sculptural vessels as art objects.
Words to live by…
Work hard, do what makes you happy, do not compromise, be a daredevil…
Dream big, if your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.
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