small talk about [the5concept] 

J: What is the main concept of [the5concept], what it stands for and what do you wish it will bring to people in the future, how the whole idea was shaped and brought to life?

The word ‘concept’ is crucial to actually understand our [concept]… I don’t want to limit the possibilities of [t5c], like creating the specifics of what it will do, and what will be sold here. The main idea is the constant fluidity and freedom of our present and future development. The world of fashion is constantly changing, so people who want to be a part of it need to ultimately follow its movement. But if I were to describe it in a few keywords… [the5concept] is here to bring the past and the future together, and give a second life to objects of timeless desire. It’s hard for me to use the word “I” when I talk about creating this project because I don’t stand alone in this process. There are people precious to me who helped me and also shaped [t5c] the way it is brought to you today.

J: Describe a crucial moment that shaped your personal style and especially changed the way you perceive ‘fashion’.

It was quickly when I realized I was not satisfied with what the retail stores offer to their clients. I wanted something different, more original, something that only I could have. One day I randomly saw John Galliano’s Dior Columbus bag on the internet. At first, I didn’t know which model it was, it wasn’t available anywhere in the luxury high-end stores, so I started my search, and let me tell you, it was a tough and long process. Finally, I found someone selling it for a reasonable price that I could afford by myself. I immediately went for it. Yet it wasn’t as easy as I thought. There’s been some misunderstanding with the payment process and I almost got myself invited to the court hearing (laugh). But ultimately this long and sometimes not easy process of searching for a specific garment was one of the main aspects of why I fell in love with secondhand fashion. It gives me so much joy and satisfaction to look out for products that are in such limited quantity each of them carries a different story. After I finally find and purchase them, it feels so special to me.

J: What does sustainability in fashion mean to you and how has it contributed to the process of creating [the5concept]?

Since I started being conscious about what and where I buy, I started to see how important it is to me, to care for the world around me and its people. I don’t want to be the reason why people in less fortunate circumstances than me have to work in absurd conditions to produce huge amounts of clothes that will be thrown away after one season. It is important to me to use my privilege to invest in clothes created sustainably and ethically. Even though my choices alone do not have the biggest impact I know that changing the actions and thinking of more and more people, in the end, can contribute to a big global difference. 

J: Can preloved garments win the attention of the modern-day high fashion client, and how do you plan to enforce it within your business?

Even though I strongly hope for a change in the way people buy, there is still a long way to go. There’s still this thinking that secondhand clothes are bad quality, and not well preserved by previous buyers. Which is not entirely true. Most of the designer secondhand shops offer a specifically curated selection of absolutely unique items of the highest quality, which many people just don’t know about. Or they don’t have the time to look for such items. That’s why the5concept was made! To bring the secondhand shopping experience to the next level and assure customers of the quality of the items it will provide. Let’s not forget that rare, vintage pieces are a great investment because their value only increases with time.