Raul Matiș, UAD Fashion 2025: “I chose fashion because I can play with all the elements of transformation and metamorphosis”

The details. A lot of details, handcrafted and very very precise put together in a beautiful cape, that closed actually the runway for the 2025 UAD Fashion graduates and master collections. So I had to try it, to photograph it, to see how it feels, and to talk to Raul Matiș, UAD Fashion 2025 young designer, about inspiration, traditions and (no) trends.

#FashionBlogger #FashionTrend #RomanianDesigner #English

We can find Raul Matiș designs on… Instagram @matishsubculture, as well as on the website matish.ro.
More about UAD Fashion 2025 collections – here. 

How would you define your collection? Why this name, why this story? 

I would like to start by mentioning that my dissertation collection does not have a specific title. As an artist, I have developed several creative directions that I aim to further explore under my personal brand.
This dissertation collection focuses primarily on the aesthetic and cultural research of the Țara Călatei region and represents the third project in the PERSONA series. Through this project, I aim to research and reinterpret elements specific to my native area, while also incorporating personal interests as a foundation for identity exploration. Țara Călatei is an incredibly rich region in terms of multiculturalism, with each ethnic community having its own distinct aesthetic. Together, they form a unique and cohesive cultural landscape. The collection is centered around five significant life events and outlines the rites of passage in a woman’s life within traditional society, viewed through the lens of cultural evolution in Țara Călatei. These stages include garments that represent youth, marriage as a rite of passage, the role of motherhood, widowhood, and finally, the concept of spirit. In this way, the collection tells the story of womanhood through the symbolic journey of life’s transformative rituals.

The hardest part in the process of making the collection was…

The most challenging, yet also the most beautiful stage in developing a collection is the “refinement” process. This includes the finalization of the moodboards and the written support material, when I need to step in and filter all the elements previously selected during the research phase.It also involves a second round of refinement at the end of the project, when I already have a clear foundation, but I return to the studio to optimize the technical aspects and the accessorizing of the garments. find this stage difficult because it requires decisive choices that ultimately define the visual identity of the final collection. At the same time, it is also a deeply rewarding process.

Name 5 elements that were on your daily mood-board during the collection making… 

 Art, folklore, deep Romania, events from punk subculture, and surrealist elements — either individually, combined, or hybridized.

Your first love story with the fashion world was…

I don’t have a specific defining moment, but I can refer to theatrical art, performance art, and the concepts of architecture and interior design — all of which, in some way, guided me toward the idea of creating characters and structuring personalities. That’s why I chose fashion as a cumulative field, where I can play with all these elements of transformation and metamorphosis.

The most important lesson that you have learnt in school years at UAD   Fashion was…

UAD is an artistic ecosystem. Now, after completing my studies, I can look at it objectively and feel truly grateful for all the courses — both practical and theoretical. What I consider most important is the tandem between art and design, which, after graduation, I clearly recognize in my own creative approach. It is especially reflected in the development of my personal moodboard — a visual and conceptual foundation that guides the references and direction of my collections.

The piece that will always be in your future collections will be…

I have many pieces that I enjoy working on, so I don’t have one specific favorite in mind.

The trend that you hate (now and ever) is…

I see the whole idea of trends as somewhat outdated. That being said, I’m not particularly fond of minimalism in art, especially in fashion. I believe that any product which can be easily visually replicated by the fast fashion industry becomes more toxic than convenient. That’s why I will always appreciate an interesting fabric, a “visual accident”, or an unconventional shape over something flat and empty.

What is next for you?

I will continue to experiment and explore various ideas within my personal brand, MATISH.

Name 3 fashion things that define you… 

I gravitate toward objects that speak through punk, folkloric, or surrealist aesthetics, bold, layered, and emotionally charged.

Music: experimental
Movie: surrealist meets basic. SURREALIST MEETS BASIC 
City: Cadiz.
Food: traditional
Painting: Basquiat.
Object design: Ana Lupaș intallation.  
School: UAD
Colour: green, maybe purple, especially in complementary contrast
Fabric: denim
Fashion: as manifest. 

Photography: David Kato davidkato__
Video: Andra Roman @aandraroman
Make-up Ioana Mălai @im.beauti10
Hairstyle: Mira @mira.elenaa
Thank you, Radisson Blue Cluj!