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Barack Obama: Balkan Fashion Icon
November 17, 2008 8:35 AM
By DRAGANA JOVANOVIC, Producer, ABC News Belgrade
Suits and gloves were not uppermost on Barack Obama's agenda as he campaigned under the slogans of "Change" and "Yes we can," but in the Balkans the U.S. president-elect is inspiring sartorial excitement on a scale not seen since the election of John F. Kennedy ushered in the "Camelot" White House.
Evica Milovanov-Penezic, a Belgrade-based designer of fine gloves and accessories, first gained international attention when Kate Middleton wore a pair of her gloves at Prince William's "Passing-Out" parade at Sandhurst Military Academy in 2006. Now she has dedicated her 2009 menswear collection to Obama.
"My gloves are designed for relaxed men who do not need to flex muscle to show they have power," she said at her cozy atelier in Nusiceva, a fashionable street of the city, where customers can choose from a range of fine hand-sewn leather gloves. "I like people like Obama who want to change the status quo," said 31-year-old economist Bane Ilic as he tried on an elegant pair of blue sheepskin driving gloves.
In neighboring Bosnia and Croatia, a line of single-breasted suits branded Borac Obama are flying off the rails.
Ahmed Curcic is one of the managers of the prestigious clothing concern coincidentally named Borac from the central Bosnian town of Travnik. Curcic said, "We were struggling for a while to find something new but now Obama is a new inspiration. It was not for the selling power, it was because he can carry the suit well and he has such a positive smile, something you need to see when all other news are just indexes falling."
"In [the] Obama line we changed everything we wanted to change from our previous collections. He also wants to change everything in the world and fashion is all about change."
Was the Bush collection ever a possibility? "No! No! All our ranges begin with O so neither Bush nor Osama are an option."
November 17, 2008 in Dragana Jovanovic | Permalink | User Comments (9)
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"He's the biggest celebrity in the world".
Posted by: Reilly | Nov 17, 2008 9:16:41 AM
Da bismo mogli!
Posted by: Volim SAD | Nov 17, 2008 12:37:10 PM
He's (Obama)my nigah!
Posted by: Bob | Nov 17, 2008 1:04:15 PM
I love you Mr. President..... and he wears a suit like no other man in this world.
Posted by: Obamaall theway | Nov 17, 2008 2:18:02 PM
Obama isn't the President, he is President-elect.
Posted by: Sam J | Nov 17, 2008 9:50:35 PM
Sam J even an idiot knows that! You like some of the other haters just can't accept what has happened. I'll bet you wear and Obama T-shirt under your regular shirt every day. Closet hater! LOL
Posted by: Anti Sam J | Nov 18, 2008 9:28:36 AM
Barry Obama
Socialist, marxist, racist, liar, incredible speaker, kool-aid distributor, and now... fashion icon.
I love our media's incredible investigative skills!
Posted by: dave | Nov 18, 2008 10:33:16 AM
Just wanted to say hello to all the haters.
If it will make you evil war mongering, hate filled people feel better we lovers of peace and unity will refrain from calling Obama president and stick to President-elect until Jan. 20th. in the spirit of helping those less fortunate than I am.
I am not too proud to pacify the babies on the board, and I will drink kool-aid everyday to stop hateful people like McPalin supporters from running this country ever again. McCain is over it how about you take a cue from the man you wanted to be your leader.
I HEART PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA!!!
Posted by: Ashley | Nov 18, 2008 1:04:05 PM
A lot of haters out there. Most of it can be explained either by jealousy or stupidity - or a combination of the two. I think they're going to miss their idol - stupid Bush.
Posted by: rhbate | Nov 23, 2008 12:01:15 AM
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