Mucinas Rooted colletion May 2025

When Hair Met Haute Couture – A Story of Creativity, Collaboration, and Connection

It all started with a vision. And a little spark of creative chaos.

We met through pure artistry, really. Our paths first crossed during the Cabaret Latvia – La Vida production. She—Ilze—was the mastermind behind the costumes. That year, the show’s stylist decided to take a different approach to hair. Normally, every performer’s hair was curled to death (and I mean death) for the glam look. But this time? They wanted something kinder to the locks, and that's how she found me—the wig guru (a deeper dive into that story deserves its own chapter!).

And there she was. Ilze.

A true creative force. Expressive, curious, intense in the best way. We instantly clicked. As we chatted, I listened to how she thought, how her mind danced around ideas. My first question?
“Are you a Pisces?”
She laughed. "Yes. Born on March 7th."
Me? March 10th.
No wonder it felt like cosmic alignment.

At the time, Ilze was finishing her Master’s in Fashion Design. Her final project needed to combine craftsmanship with a compelling narrative—and somehow, my story and my work with hair caught her imagination.

“Liva,” she said, “you have to be part of this.”

Hair Meets Haute Couture

So it began. This wasn't just about wigs anymore. We were about to blend hair into fashion—literally.

We brainstormed everything from:

• Hair flowers that could be sewn onto garments

• Sculptural hair pieces, like a reflection of tree branches on water (think dark, distressed waves, fixed in epoxy)

• And a corset made of hair—which, sadly, didn’t make the final cut (but the concept lives rent-free in my head).

Our creative talks started in January. Ilze had to pitch the idea to her professors. They loved it—especially the flower idea. Ironically, that flower dress was also one of the last pieces to be completed. Isn’t that always the way with creative work?

Despite being in two different countries—me in Norway, her in Latvia—we kept the ideas bouncing. I even flew over a few times to help with prototypes for her to showcase.

And you know what? The results speak for themselves. Just check out the gallery.

The Hairpiece That Stole the Show

Now, let’s talk headgear. Our goal? Messy, chopped, face-framing hair in front, wild and voluminous in the back—while still keeping some length. One piece in particular had to be extremely long. The model who wore it was 194 cm tall, so anything short would’ve just looked like a sad little ponytail. We made it epic.

Finding My Rhythm Again

Since shifting my career focus, I’ve taken on a few projects to figure out what really makes my heart beat faster—movies, TV, styling for productions... But it’s the music and fashion avant-garde that gives me that electric feeling.

And this project with Ilze? It made me cry—in a good way. I looked at the work, and thought:
“That’s your vision, Liva. That’s your craft. You nailed it.”

This collaboration isn’t just a highlight—it’s a beginning. Ilze’s vision, her wit, her leadership—it’s all something to watch, admire, and learn from. She’s truly destined for the world stage.

If you're curious, her studio is called Mucina Studio, based in Riga, Latvia. Go check her out. You’ll see what I mean. 💫