The exclusive interview with the entrepreneur Marijan Divkovic about his fashion startup KINTANA is part of the Superior Magazine # 68 digital issue, which is also available as print and download.
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MARIJAN DIVKOVIC
Marijan, we met at the Skinnovation conference. What is your background, tech or fashion?
As a business and software engineering students, I can clearly say that I have a tech background.
How did it come that you founded Kintana?
It all started when my best university friend was on exchange in Mexico. On one of his travels through the country, he discovered their fascinating textile culture. Indigenous artisans, mainly Mayan descendants, work for weeks or sometimes for months on precious embroideries and dresses. Every piece tells a unique story about their history and the place where it comes from. Hooked by the idea to bring the Latin-Style to Europe, I joined the German-Mexican team of designers and there, I am now responsible for business development and building our online infrastructure.
Please tell us a bit about the fashion label Kintana.
What makes us truly special that we blend traditional artisan design with the latest fashion trends to create exceptional pieces of fashion. In our team, we have talented designers from both worlds who are either experts in indigenous textile art and work together with artisans, or have experience in the luxury runway fashion. If you have asked yourself, what does Kintana stand for: our brand name was inspired by the word Quintana Roo, the Caribbean state in which Cancún and Tulum, popular holiday destinations, are located. Against the common perception, white sandy beaches and turquoise water is not everything Mexico has to offer. Therefore, our mission is to share the real beauty of Mexico by creating products that tell a unique story.
Beside the design the ethical aspect is also important for you?
Producing sustainable fashion under ethical and fair conditions should be a must in the fashion industry. In contrast to Zara & Co., we just have started with a limited collection of only two jackets and therefore we know our producers and suppliers by name. Our aspiration in the future is to continue to build lasting relationships with our manufacturers, suppliers and artisans. We believe that doing business is not about win-or-lose decisions, but about creating mutual value.
What are your plans for Kintana?
At Kintana, we want to create more social impact in indigenous communities in Mexico. In times of low market prices for coffee or other commodities, life is difficult for many people in this communities. At Kintana, we plan to open our sales channels and distribution channels to provide indigenous people with more options to secure a constant income. In our team are sheer endless ideas and I can´t wait to bring them to life.
And your plans for your other profession, the tech business?
Bring forward Kintana.
Is there any project which you really would love to realize in the future?
There are always ideas lying dormant. I guess making impact and helping people as in the project above, is something I would like to continue to realize.
Thank you for the interview.
