Ravensbourne Fashion student lands major campaigns whilst studying

BA (Hons) Fashion student Lorena Pipenco is making a name for herself in the Fashion industry. Her vivid, ethereal designs have captured the imagination of major Fashion publications and have already been featured on the cover of magazines. Lorena has achieved much of this success alongside completing her degree.

Industry professionals discovered Lorena’s incredible designs on her Instagram account and were quickly impressed. Lorena’s debut collection ‘MOSTENIRE’ was designed as part of her final major project at Ravensbourne. The collection landed her features in multiple influential fashion magazines, including magazine cover shoots.

Her work was featured on the cover and spread for Shuba Magazine, alongside designs by Swiss designer Anastasia Bull. Lorena designed a custom outfit for Ukrainian model and influencer Rebecca Mateydes, who wore the look for a photoshoot with FLANELLE magazine.

Building on this press exposure, she has since gone on to be featured in FLANELLE for a second time, as well as in the magazines PAP, MALVIE, MOEVIR and on the cover of the August Fashion issue of PUMP.

Now studying for a master’s degree at Parsons School of Design in New York, it is only a matter of time before this rising star and her distinctive designs make even further waves in the fashion world.

Inspired by her Romanian heritage, Lorena’s work pays particular attention to textiles and embroidery, combining traditional lace and appliqué with latex to create a bold, signature look. Another key inspiration are the works and entrepreneurialism of her maternal grandmother, who worked as a seamstress in Romania.

“In the little spare time [my grandmother] had, she made beautiful handmade scarfs from the scraps she would find around the workplace,” Lorena told the Ravensbourne news team. “It was the selling of these pieces that afforded my mother the one-way ticket to England where she would create our family.

“This story opened my curiosity to explore traditional Romanian garments, obsessing over the intricate embroidery techniques and unique tapestries. From this intense and thorough research – design, silhouette, fabrication and even stitch type has been utilised to create a celebration of Romanian culture.”

Lorena adapted these traditional techniques, adding her own modern twist. Many of her designs incorporate latex to add a distinctive edge. “In the fashion industry, we must constantly find ways of adjusting, especially in these current circumstances,” she said.

“We need to find ways to just make things work. I feel my work has been noticed more now than ever. I was proud that my work was featured, because my collection represented my heritage and culture, the story behind my family.

“I have now managed to get a master’s place in New York for fashion design for two years. All my credits for this achievement go to Ravensbourne. This uni has helped me grow and mature within my work, and also discover the love that I have for textiles. They have helped me learn to take critique and translate my ideas in a way that is creative but also refined.”

We’re thrilled that Lorena’s time at Ravensbourne has given her a strong foundation to develop an already impressive career. We can’t wait to see what’s next for such an exciting and unique designer.

You can follow Lorena’s journey on her Instagram account @pipencolorena.