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One of Anna Novakov's textile designs from her Fall 2021 Sample Book.

Describe your design process.
I don’t have this warehousing of stuff. I wanted a very lean business plan and that worked out well with just doing the bespoke fabrics. I take yarn and ribbons, and photograph them and put them into photoshop until I create a pattern. I work off what the client brief is – for example a woman in New York who makes handbags – we went back and forth until we got something she really liked.
It’s a very collaborative process between myself and the client. I never get bored and it’s always a different product at the end.

What was it like taking the course online?
I didn’t get the feeling that I was doing a remote class, it was more of a hybrid. You’d have the computer on and you’d be working in the studio. You’d get immediate feedback: You could show her as you were going through the process. It was an exceptional format.

What were your classmates like?
There were people at different levels. We were getting a sense of comradery in the class. People college aged and people with their own lines – some already had clients. There was a broad range of backgrounds, ages, which I thought was a great way to connect the class. We could have these connections no matter where we were globally.

What was your favorite project?
The capsule collection – three looks that included garments and accessories. We used a new type of 3D software. I was more concerned with the garments. I made purses and shoes and other things. There was a sense of experimentation with it. By the end you had three viable products that went together.
I really learned about cohesion and how things should fit together.

How has living in different parts of the world affected your designs?
I was born in Serbia and moved to California as a child. I finished graduate school in New York. I had always wanted to live in New Mexico and that opportunity opened up and I took it. I wanted to have this alternating geographical existence – Sante Fe and New York City half and half.
But you really feel the energy of New York… being in a place that has so many creative people and ambitious people. I have an affinity to New Yorkers as people, I enjoy their outlook on life. Developing a business is easier in New York. I’ve made more connections in interior design than any place else. It’s a hive for so many businesses that I’m interested in connecting with.

The bright and vivid colors of New Mexico inspired many of Anna Novakov's designs.

How would you describe your aesthetic?
Bauhaus, modernist industrial design, home décor. Ethnographical things from Serbia. Colorful, vibrant. I have a tendency to be attracted to bright patterns. I work very hands-on to begin with.

Why do you think SIS is well suited to adults already established in their careers?
The structure is very flexible. You can be at various points of your career and you can find it very valuable. The openness to various background was very good. No one felt like the class was aiming low or aiming high – it was hitting the right notes.

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