The designers of the fashion label Chopova Lowena are obsessed with Bulgarian culture. Each of their collections takes inspiration from some aspect of the country’s traditional dress. And their greatest claim to fame—the brand’s instantly recognizable statement skirts—are made of locally sourced deadstock fabrics that employ the country’s off-kilter colors and prints, which the designers loop into chunky leather waistbands with metal carabiners and a single dangling vintage charm.

Emma Chopova was born in the United States to Bulgarian parents while Laura Lowena hails from Britain—yet both designers have a penchant for Bulgaria’s national costumes. Chopova says she first fell in love with them during her time studying at Central Saint Martins, where she also met Lowena. “When I moved to England, I started going to Bulgaria a lot more,” Chopova says. “I started collecting the actual costumes. Fast forward and Laura and I spent the summer there together in 2016.”

During their summer vacation, the duo went to a festival where everyone had to dress in traditional costume. There was no electricity or modern technology allowed—guests were even prevented from taking photos on mobile phones. “Throughout that whole trip, we did research and were looking at fabric, and then that's where the skirts came from. That was the start of us collecting recycled fabrics,” explains Chopova.

While the pair initially had to scour auction sites to find fabrics for their one-of-the-kind pieces, they are now so well-known in Bulgaria (especially after moving their production to the country) that locals reach out to them to offer materials, some of which are more than a century old. Chopova says the recycling of local fabrics has helped some locals appreciate their inherent beauty. “They didn't really realize how special they are.”

As the designers spent time working in Bulgaria, they got to know the country inside and out.

“It's a really interesting position geographically because it's connected to Europe and also it's connected to Turkey and the Middle East in a way through the Black Sea,” explains Lowena. The brand, which already makes punk-inspired metal necklaces, is also hoping to collaborate with Bulgaria’s gold filigree artists for jewelry in the near future. Here, the designers share some of their favorite places to visit in Bulgaria, from a traditional dress festival to a quaint town with rolling hills.