The sea is one of the sources of inspiration for the artist Ana Kraš.
Ella Bonbon lamps, made with recycled textile, quickly became objects of desire, her photographs from Copenhagen Fashion Week made her name known, she soon collaborated with media and artists, fashion houses, she has been a model in Japan, she has designed a remarkable collection of swimsuits... and she has even been called it-girl!
Ana Kraš has done it all, or almost, since the days when she was studying furniture design in Applied Arts at the University of Belgrade, her hometown. and, after winning a contest, she exhibited a piece at the Salone del Mobile in Milan showing the world that she had a lot to convey.
She has lived in Los Angeles and New York and has made her own way as an illustrator, audiovisual artist and editor, and, although we imagine that she knows many hotels in the world, it is curious, when we ask her about her favorite – “Interesting question, difficult” – she decides not to comment. As a child, Ana spent a lot of time drawing in the stationery store that her parents owned. She though she suffered the consequences of the war During her childhood, which conditioned her creative beginnings due to the lack of workshops, materials and educators, she never gave up her efforts to continue training and expressing herself.
With such a multifaceted profile, how does she define her own work and herself? "I work on some different things, yes, but I don't feel like they're all that different jobs, really," she tells us. “I have been curious about many subjects since forever. I suppose she would describe me as curious. There is no single job that I am particularly proud of,” she adds. "If that there are times when a little inner pride is born, like when I solve a problem that pushes me towards something that is not easy, part of any project in which it is immersed”.
Her sources of inspiration, she says emphatically, are people. “The people, in general. Their ways of thinking and their skills, how they make things work." Through her social networks, many of her are inspired by her, although Ana feels grateful to have grown up without these communication platforms. “I think it's very difficult to network in a healthy way at a young age. For me they are just the fun side of life, I don't take them seriously They don't seem relevant to me at all."
Ana Kraš in Woolrich's fall winter campaign.
Together with the artist Lucien Smith, Ana is the image of Woolrich's fall-winter campaign, No Barriers, which talks about how we reach our own limits. We want to know, of course, what was the most exciting adventure of hers. “Hmm… let me think. When I was 16 I went to Japan and explored it on my own. I traveled a lot, I traveled mountains and coasts. It was the time before mobile phones, so it was quite adventurous to travel with a paper map.”
The multidisciplinary creator defines her experience with this firm as very pleasant. “I love everyone I met working on this campaign. I love outdoor clothing, I am quite active and I like extreme weather conditions. Riding a bike in the rain. I value a good jacket and Woolrich makes very good high-tech garments, but at the same time classic and simple. All its details, like the hidden waterproof zipper closures, They are really attractive."
TRAVELER, OF COURSE, AND MEDITERRANEAN
After these complicated months, Ana dreams of Thailand, although she seems like one of those nomads who would be happy anywhere on the globe. “My favorite destination is the Mediterranean Sea, because I love swimming and diving more than anything else, and the Mediterranean waters are my favorite”, she tells us. “I grew up spending a lot of time in the Adriatic coast, Montenegro and Croatia, and I feel at home there. I am also happy in Greece and Italy. I need the minimum, a bed to sleep, a scooter, a swimsuit and a towel, local figs and tomatoes, to have the most beautiful and meaningful moment. I wish I could spend five months a year like this.”
However, she admits that she is very bad at planning her adventures, which she regrets. “All my trips are last minute and improvised, and each time I promise myself that the next time I will prepare it in advance, but it has never happened, to this day. I travel quite light and am very spontaneous. I like to see new places without having an agenda to see things, just like I was living there, letting domestic life wash over me. I would never queue to see a museum.”
Ana Kraš, adventurous little hood in the new Woolrich campaign.
Between train or ship, she stays with the latter, although she doesn't like to sleep on board. “I prefer ferries and boats, I am passionate about seeing people enjoy the ferry, with their hair in the air, blown by the wind. The train is also nice, seeing how the landscape changes. The craziest train ride I've ever done was from Belgrade to Bar (Montenegro), through mountains and canyons. The track goes through the cliff, it's crazy that this is legal. It's like an extreme sport, the views are beautiful and terrifying."
She also seduces him on the road. “I love cars, especially tall cars and trucks. And I love to fly. I enter a special and unique state of mind, I let myself go, it relaxes me. I even love turbulence, I know it's weird, I used to talk to my therapist about it...”. In her suitcase we will always find ... a simple sweatpants with a cotton fleece lining. "With him I feel like on a cloud."
Belgrade, hometown of Ana Kraš.
LITTLE GUIDE TO BELGRADE: FISHING, MONUMENTS AND A SCOOTER
“I love Vuk (Vuka Karadžića, 12), it may be my favorite restaurant in Belgrade. It's a simple and elegant old school place, I love their daily menus. The waiters are the same team since I was a child, dressed in black pants and white shirts, just like in the 80s. I also love Tri Točka (Zemunski kej, Borča), a place on the Danube that you reach by small boat. Fish soup and smudj (river fish) and salad are my go-to options.”
“I am also attracted to buildings, monuments, squares and fountains. The best thing is to rent a scooter and walk around, Belgrade is not lived by visiting specific places, but with the sensations that its streets transmit , seeing how everything comes together. At dusk, as it is not well lit, it is discovered his temperamental and romantic character”.
Sqirl is one of his favorite restaurants in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES: HEALTHY FOOD AND SECRET LAKES
“I have been conquered by the simple and healthy cuisine of this city. Sqirl is my favorite restaurant, especially their bowls and french toast. I also love Kitchen Mouse and Pho Cafe in Silverlake, which is my go-to vegan pho. And I can't live without the delicious mashed potatoes and martinis at Musso & Frank in Hollywood. Malibu Seafood I recommend it to take the food and take it in Point Dume, a classic plan that I do every time I'm in the city. But I enjoy, above all, driving and finding secret lakes. The hills above Malibu and all the mountainous areas with those big epic views of Los Angeles are a must."
Dimes, one of Ana Kraš's favorite restaurants in New York.
**NEW YORK: DAY AND NIGHT**
In the city that never sleeps, Ana has a favorite dish: Dimes green pozole. "And don't miss Gemma's pappardelle either, at The Bowery Hotel. It's definitely a good option too order an acai bowl to go from Hawa and bike to the East River to eat it while enjoying the (cheesy) view of the New York bridge. Day or night, it's always so pretty."