Heritage Reimagined: Romanian Design Comes to New York

A Night to Anticipate

On October 17, 2025, the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York will open its doors to a night that promises to be both historic and deeply personal: the official launch of Ce Fain!, a platform dedicated to bringing the best of Romanian contemporary design to the world.

The evening, titled "Heritage Reimagined: Discover Modern Romanian Design," is more than just an event. It’s a celebration of identity, craftsmanship, and the shared human story that objects can carry when they are made with heritage and heart. Guests will be welcomed into a space where tradition and innovation blend seamlessly, creating a unique cultural experience.

Ce Fain! — A Bridge of Heritage and Innovation

Founded by Raluca Bucur and Andreea Rebaltescu, Ce Fain! was born from a desire to create a bridge between Romania’s rich artistic roots and the global design scene. Both founders share a deep connection to their heritage and a vision to showcase it in ways that feel alive, relevant, and resonant to today’s audience.

The launch in New York is more than symbolic. It’s a statement that Romanian creativity deserves a place on the global stage. With each designer handpicked for their artistry and authenticity, Ce Fain! curates a story about Romania that is as modern as it is timeless.

The Romanian Cultural Institute: A Stage for Connection

For decades, the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in New York has served as a cultural bridge, connecting Romanian voices with international audiences. Hosting Ce Fain!’s launch within its walls is a natural partnership — one that highlights the Institute’s mission of giving tradition a modern voice and strengthening cultural ties.

The Institute becomes not just a venue, but a stage where stories of makers, traditions, and bold reimaginings can come to life before an audience eager to discover something new.

Meet the Designers

What awaits inside this launch is a journey through textures, shapes, and stories. Each designer brings a unique lens to the idea of Romanian heritage, interpreting it through their own craft. Together, they form a mosaic of creativity that speaks to both the past and the future.

Little Forest (Roxana Pădure)
Whimsical yet profound, Little Forest garments tell stories of childhood, memory, and belonging. With roots in Bucharest, Roxana’s creations feel like poetic whispers of the forests and dreams that shaped her youth, reimagined into wearable art.

Senin (Ruxandra Căpușan)
Senin is softness, calm, and ancestral threads woven into modern design. Inspired by traditional weavings and cultural geometry, each piece evokes a sense of serenity while staying rooted in timeless Romanian identity.

Onirik (Katie Vasilescu)
Dreamlike and ethereal, Onirik designs are what it feels like to step into imagination itself. Flowing silhouettes, layered textures, and a strong sense of narrative make every garment an invitation to wear a story.

Catrinel Studio (Catrinel Săbăciag)
Architectural yet organic, Catrinel Studio sits at the crossroads of art and wearability. Catrinel reimagines clothing as sculpture, balancing form and freedom, creating pieces that spark conversation while embracing individuality.

Zestal
Born from the Romanian ethos of reinvention, Zestal is both playful and sophisticated. Their designs challenge expectations, blending traditional cues with bold modern sensibility — each piece a manifesto of cultural pride reinterpreted.

Arc Studio (Claudia Nemes)
Minimal, bold, and strikingly contemporary, Arc Studio creates wearable art with architectural precision. Every piece feels like a line drawn with intention, paying homage to the elegance of simplicity.

Hyperborean Folklore (Iraida Florea)
Hyperborean Folklore is jewelry infused with ancient wisdom. Inspired by sacred geometry and Romanian folk embroidery, Iraida Florea’s creations are talismans that connect wearers to ancestral stories, carrying both beauty and spiritual resonance.

Wagner Arte (Ana Wagner)
A legacy brand in Romanian design, Wagner Arte redefines porcelain. Their collections transform a classic medium into bold, expressive works that blend heritage craftsmanship with avant-garde imagination.

Rae Atelier (Raluca Bucur)
Delicate yet confident, Rae Atelier crafts garments that embody both intimacy and strength. With each stitch, they explore the space between tradition and individuality, creating fashion that feels personal and universal at once.

Puer Designs (Cătălina Graure)
A modern reinterpretation of Romanian motifs, Puer Designs embraces raw form and experimental aesthetics. Each creation speaks of curiosity, material exploration, and the courage to push boundaries while honoring roots.

UAU Studio (Vanessa Singenzia)
UAU Studio transforms clay into emotion. Founded by Vanessa Singenzia, this collectible design studio creates ceramics that blur the line between utility and sculpture. Each limited-edition piece carries the presence of the maker’s hand, celebrating imperfection, slowness, and authenticity.

Tag Creative (Andreia Gliga)
Tag Creative reimagines Romanian folk motifs in ceramic form. Founded by artist Andreia Gliga, the studio shapes timeless, minimal pieces that feel both traditional and contemporary. Each object is meant to be displayed, gifted, and cherished — a modern heirloom grounded in heritage.

Together, these designers present a kaleidoscope of Romanian creativity — a fusion of old and new, function and form, memory and modernity.

Why Attend

Guests at Heritage Reimagined will not only see beautiful objects; they will experience a conversation between past and present.

• Discover visionary Romanian brands making their mark on the global design scene.
  
• Connect with creators, curators, and cultural leaders at the intersection of heritage and innovation.
  
• Celebrate the Romanian Cultural Institute’s role as a bridge between Romania and the world, giving tradition a modern voice.
  

This is not just a launch; it is a cultural moment.

RSVP & Join Us

Ce Fain!’s official launch in New York is an invitation to witness heritage reimagined, to celebrate artistry born in Romania, and to take part in a story that is still being written.

October 17, 2025, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Romanian Cultural Institute, 200 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016, USA

Spaces are limited. RSVP at the link provided and join us for a night where history meets innovation, and design tells the story of identity, resilience, and beauty.