Fashion trends have always fascinated me. Not because I feel the need to follow them, but because they tell us something about the moment we live in. They reflect changes in lifestyle, culture, and the way people express themselves. I follow fashion closely, but trends have never been the starting point of my work.
They never have been.
My Goal Was Never to Create What Already Exists
Before creating UniUkiyo, I spent many years designing women’s fashion. Dresses, skirts, coats, and custom-made garments were my everyday work. Even then, I was naturally drawn to designs that felt different. I never wanted to create something that could easily be found in every store or look like another version of what already existed. If I couldn’t bring a new perspective or a new idea, I didn’t feel I was truly designing.
For me, design has always been about creating something original rather than repeating what is already familiar.
That philosophy has stayed with me from the very beginning.
Individuality Has Always Been More Important Than Trends
One of the reasons I became a designer was because I’ve always believed that every person is unique. We all have different personalities, different lifestyles, and different ways of expressing ourselves. What we choose to wear is only one part of that expression, but it can say a great deal about who we are.
Today, fashion often encourages people to look alike. Trends spread quickly, collections change constantly, and it’s easy to feel pressure to own what everyone else is wearing. I understand why that happens. But I also believe there is another way.
Choosing something because it genuinely reflects your personality will always feel more meaningful than choosing it simply because it’s popular.
Designing for People, Not for Seasons
When I designed clothing collections, many of my pieces were considered contemporary, architectural, or even avant-garde. They weren’t created to fit into every wardrobe or every occasion. That was never the goal.
The goal was to create something with its own identity. The same philosophy naturally became part of UniUkiyo.
When I design a bag, I don’t ask myself whether it will become next season’s trend. I ask a different question. Will someone still enjoy carrying it ten years from now?
If the answer is yes, then I know I’m moving in the right direction.
Why UniUkiyo Doesn’t Follow the Crowd
Designing trend-driven products would probably be the easier path. It might even be the more commercial one. But it wouldn’t feel honest. UniUkiyo was never created for mass production or fast fashion. Every bag is handmade in small production runs using carefully selected premium leather and traditional craftsmanship. That slower process allows every detail to receive the attention it deserves.
In today’s world, where so much is produced quickly and in large quantities, I believe there is real value in creating something thoughtfully and with intention.
Timeless Design Is the Best Investment
For me, luxury is not about owning more. It is about owning something that continues to have value year after year. A well-made leather bag should not be defined by one season. It should become part of your everyday life, adapt to different moments, and age beautifully over time.
That is why timeless design has always been more important to me than temporary trends.
The Right Bag Is the One That Feels Like You
One thing I always encourage people to do is to trust their own instincts. Don’t choose a bag because everyone else has it.
Choose it because it feels like you.
Because it fits your lifestyle.
Because you’ll enjoy carrying it long after the trend has disappeared.
Fashion should never replace individuality.
A Personal Note
I genuinely appreciate every client who chooses something different. Every person who decides to step away from the crowd and invest in a piece that reflects their own personality reminds me why I started designing in the first place.
Yes, I follow fashion.
Yes, I pay attention to trends.
They help me understand where the industry is today. But they have never defined my work. The designs I create are guided by vision, craftsmanship, and longevity rather than short-lived trends. My hope is simple.
That someone will wear a UniUkiyo bag ten or twenty years from now and still feel exactly what I wanted them to feel the day it was created:
That they are carrying something original.
Something personal.
Something made to last.
Marina Micanović
Founder, Designer & Creative Director
UniUkiyo
