Jelena Rodić

In Belgrade there is a designer for whom leather and fur are not just materials for bags, but a field of artistic experimentation. Jelena Rodić is both an art historian and a leather accessories designer. This dual foundation is evident in her work: each piece balances craftsmanship with the exploration of visual ideas.

In her accessories, Rodić combines black leather, soft light fur, and metal. The contrasting textures enter into dialogue: leather gives form and structure, fur adds lightness and tactile warmth, and metal unites everything into a complete whole. Her signature detail is a metal ring that closes the composition, functioning both as a practical element and as her artistic signature.

Rodić’s bags and belts recall the fur experiments once explored by surrealist fashion designers Meret Oppenheim and Elsa Schiaparelli. But unlike fast fashion, which feeds on fleeting impressions, her creations are timeless. They bring us back to the most ancient and primal materials — leather and fur — which humans have used for millennia to protect and adorn themselves.

Today, Jelena Rodić runs her own leather design studio in Belgrade. Her work can be seen at applied art exhibitions and purchased at the Belgrade Design Hub on Gračanička 9.