About the Founder

I was born in Toronto to a Slovenian family, but I grew up in Slovenia. My childhood was a unique friction: I lived a “fairytale” version of Slovenian culture curated by my mother’s Canadian mindset, while the world outside was different. Culture wasn’t just a hobby in our house; it was the air we breathed.

Even though my creativity was encouraged, I had to fight for my path. My mother dreamed of a “classic” education for me; I chose the rebellion of art school. I knew then what I know now: some stories cannot be told in a classroom—they must be felt, sketched, and sewn.

Early on, I dreamed of working in a renowned fashion company. But a year in Istanbul changed everything. Surrounded by millions of people, I was struck by a crisis of identity: Who am I? How do I stand out in a world where an American or an Italian is recognised instantly, but the Slovenian soul remains a mystery?

I realised that to be global, I first had to be deeply local. I began questioning the “Slovenian moment.” My research started with the brutalist Spomeniks of ex-Yugoslavia—monumental structures that are part of our DNA—and it hasn’t stopped since.

After my BA, I found myself working in my mother’s vintage shop, standing at a crossroads: stay in retail or push into the unknown. I chose the push.

During internships in Stockholm and Antwerp, the truth became clear: My story was too strong to be silenced. I realised I could not spend my life designing for someone else’s vision. I returned to Slovenia for my Master’s, and after winning several awards, I received an invitation to sell my student collection in a collective shop. That was the beginning of JKH Identity.

I have always argued one thing: I design clothes to be worn, not to hang in a museum. I spent five years balancing multiple creative jobs while spending my free hours in the quiet halls of the Ethnographic Museum library, digging through archives and designing collections to sell in the shop I was part of. Finally, I reached a breaking point. To move forward, I had to let go of everything else. I quit my styling jobs, left the collective shop, and built my own world: my webshop and my open-door studio. 

The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of JKH Identity. It is a milestone I once only dreamed of.

My mission is simple: I want to break the myth that everything Slovenian is rural and old. I want every Slovenian to own at least one piece of modern heritage—to know who they are through what they wear. But the magic doesn’t stop at our borders. These stories are universal.

Slovenia is known for its success in sports; I am here to make it known for its symbolism, its myths, and its artistic soul. Welcome to the JKH World.