Jessica Durco, the designer: a collection like an immersive walk down memory lane

I just loooved the knittings and the crocheted pieces from Jessica Durco collection presented at Romanian Fashion Week 2026 in Iași. And when I saw the first pieces I remembered that I had the perfect memory of her white beautiful oversized capes with knitting details from her master collection in 2024 at UAD Fashion. It was quite a lovely morning shooting some pieces from RCW collection and listening Jessica Durco about her love for crocheting and talking about the future plans. “I chose the fabrics that took me back in time, the textiles that reminded me of that slow living, the laughters, the contentment and all the warm fuzzy feelings, it truly was an immersive walk down memory lane and an uplifting experience.”

You can find Jessica Durco on Instagram – @jessica.durco.
About her master collection at UAD Fashion – here. 
About all the fashion collections I saw at @romaniancreativeweek – RCW 2026 – here.

My first crush ever in the fashion world was… Oscar de la Renta, spring 2013.

My moodboard for my RCW 2026 collection included… florals and botanical elements, old pictures, study of shadows and light, metallic accents, contrasting textures, chromatic harmonies and a continuous research in regards to the contemporary woman.

The special story of this collection is about… evolution, growing up and the influences that form us. It’s quite an intimate and introspective project, I took inspiration from my childhood pictures and the specific warmth that they brought. I chose the fabrics that took me back in time, the textiles that reminded me of that slow living, the laughters, the contentment and all the warm fuzzy feelings, it truly was an immersive walk down memory lane and an uplifting experience.

The details I want people to remember from this collection are… the crochet and knitted pieces and the warmth they bring, the subtle sophistication enhanced through the carefully selected fabrics and especially the heartfelt appreciation that every inch of fabric reflects in the way it wraps and drapes around the female body.

My first fashion sketch (ever) was… probably back in kindergarten, it must have been a pink mini skirt with at least one ruffle along the trim and a spaghetti strap top, at that point in time I was taking full inspiration for my Barbie dolls. However my first serious fashion sketch was an oil on glass painting, around the age of eight, with a similar outfit but this time it was made after the cover of a fashion magazine.

Old school items that will always inspire me are… the 50’s silhouettes, a modular pattern, button ups, and voluminous sleeves.

If my fashion mood board would be a city… it would be London.

I wish I had invented… crocheting.

The most extravagant thing I wish to design is… a red carpet look for a big gala.

The next project will include…. hopefully an extended ready-to-wear capsule collection.

Photography: Alexandru Saru – @alexandru.saru.