BORBALA is an upcycling fashion collective based in Budapest and Târgu-Mureș, transforming waste into bold, experimental clothes. Inspired by Eastern European flea markets, they uncover beauty in discarded materials. Using post-consumer plastic, fabric remnants, and second-hand clothing, they create unique pieces that blend streetwear, tradition, and contemporary craftsmanship. By reworking pre-owned textiles and using techniques like patchwork and textile collage, they form a vibrant, spontaneous aesthetic. Collaboration, workshops, and knowledge-sharing are central to their community-focused approach to sustainable fashion. BORBALA challenges the boundaries between waste and value, old and new, tradition and innovation.
Borbala Ferencz is the founder and designer of BORBALA. Originally from Târgu-Mureș, Romania, she pursued her studies in Cluj-Napoca (RO), Pécs (HU), Turku (FI), and Eindhoven (NL).
Her work has been showcased internationally, from San Francisco to Kyiv. She has participated in various fashion and design platforms including the Arts of Fashion Competition (USA), Lisboa Fashion Week (PT), Lodz Young Fashion (PL), IYDC (UA), Dutch Design Week (NL), and exhibitions at Kunsthalle Lingen (DE) and Kunsthalle Budapest (HU).
Her collections have also appeared at, BCEFW (HU), Milan Fashion Week (IT), Helsinki Fashion Week (FI), Feeric Fashion Week (RO), Romanian Creative Week (RO).
She is an active member of the Precious Plastic network and the Trash Club community, aligning her creative practice with sustainable and community-driven values.
