Iana Prokhorova - Hochschule Macromedia Berlin-Hamburg

Memory of a Fear – Hochschule Macromedia Berlin-Hamburg

This collection explores antagonistic figures from Slavic folktales through the lens of childhood perception. Rather than directly copying those characters as they are traditionally depicted, it focuses on how they are remembered by children: distorted, exaggerated, unfamiliar, and emotionally charged. 

Drawing inspiration from childhood fears, memories, and imagination, the collection transforms folkloric figures into contemporary silhouettes. Changed proportions, altered forms, and material experimentation become tools for translating emotional experiences into garments. The result is a series of looks that exist between memory and reality, where familiar characters appear not as they are described in tales, but as they can exist in a child’s imagination. 

I am a fashion designer currently based in Berlin. Before moving to Germany, I studied and worked in Fashion Design in my home country, moved between different countries, and later continued my education at Macromedia University. Living between different cultures and environments made me reflect on the importance of memory as a form of connection between people, that creates a sense of belonging even among those who never met or grown together.  

My work is deeply connected to memory, childhood, and shared generational experiences. I am inspired by stories, objects, rituals and cultural references that shaped me, my community, and entire generations. Through fashion, I explore how personal memories can become collective narratives and how familiar stories can be reinterpreted through contemporary design. 

Craftsmanship plays a central role in my designs. Direct work with materials allows them to guide the process. By combining traditional textile techniques and handcraft with contemporary interpretations, I use material experimentation as a tool for discovering new forms, silhouettes, and visual narratives.