Ukrainian Fashion Revolution in London. Again!
13-02-2014
It’s been one year since Ukrainian designers first showcased their collections during London Fashion Week. The first showcase took place at the Fashion Scout London platform and became a great tradition of cooperation. This time, six Ukrainian designers, Anna K, Lara Quint, Lera Leshchova, Krasilnikova, Paskal and Yasya Minochkina will present their AW14 collections on the Fashion Scout London catwalk at 3 PM on Saturday, February 15th.
Freemasons’ Hall – the main Fashion Scout London venue – will also host an exhibition of the collections at the Presentation space from 11AM till 6PM on Monday, February 17th.
London Showcase at Fashion Scout launched international careers of popular Ukrainian brands such as Anna K, Lera Leshchova, Paskal and Yasya Minochkina. Two more emerging talents – Krasilnikova and Lara Quint – will join the showcase after their brilliant start at Fashion Scout Kiev.
Although protests have been tormenting Ukraine since the government rejected a trade agreement with the EU in November 2013, designers of the Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days (MBKFD) and Fashion Scout Kiev have kept their focus on developing their brands internationally, successfully operating on French, German and Asian markets. Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days collections have been featured by prominent international media, such as Vogue.co.uk, Vogue.it, Glamour.co.uk, L’Officiel Italia, Marie Claire US and many others. The Guest Nation: Ukraine project at Pitti Uomo in January 2014 opened the Italian market for Ukrainian designers, bringing new contacts, new orders and more B2B experience.
Fashion Scout is widely known as an independent platform for discovering new fashion designers. But the platform does not just scout emerging brands to give them a chance to showcase at London Fashion Week, it continues to nurture the talents and lead them to a point where they can “stand on their own.” On average, the company supports a brand for its first 6 seasons to help build a sustainable business and get international exposure. Over the past 14 seasons, Fashion Scout has helped a lot of talented designers, among them – David Koma, Peter Pilotto, Felder Felder and Iris van Herpen.
“Kiev’s showcase became a very important part of Fashion Scout as Ukrainian designers show great progress in terms of international recognition and activity. They show has great quality, organization and creativity. It is interesting to support designers from Ukraine. After the successful launch of Fashion Scout Kiev at Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days, we discovered new talents and we are happy to present them now in London”, – Martyn Roberts comments on the global rise of Ukrainian designers.
Ukrainian designers, after showcasing in London, will present their collections during Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days, held in Kiev from the 27th to the 30th of March 2014. Fashion Scout Kiev, an international platform for designers from the East-European and Central-Asian countries, will also open its doors for the visitors at Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days. Part of the “Kiev Fashion Institute” educational program, international fashion industry professionals will give special lectures and QA sessions to share their experience.
” At the moment Kiev is utterly active, but Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days and our designers have already been in Europe for a long time. Fashion is always one step forward, and we are following the trend. Since the very first season of Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days we have aimed for the world fashion standards, and London showcase is a very good proof to that. Seven seasons were sufficient to make the names of Ukrainian designers recognizable worldwide – they are talked about, they are kept an eye on. Very often I get letters from my friends from the fashion industry who show a great deal of interest in current events in Ukraine and in the work of our designers. . We have put Ukraine on the world’s fashion map.. Fashion Scout project is one more proof to that. I am immensely glad that so many designers are emerging and that each season we discover even more. And we thank Martyn for that.”- says about the upcoming event the creative director of Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days, Style.com ambassador and NowFashion video director Daria Shapovalova.
Anna K
Brand of the youngest Ukrainian designer Anna Kolomoets, student of The Kyiv University of Fine Arts. Anna already showed 4 collections that were mentioned, among others, by Vogue Italy, vogue.co.uk and L’Officiel Italia. The designer embodies girlish fantasies into dresses of silk and chiffon that won her the Design It contest for SS14 season.
Anna K was a part of the Gueast Nation: Ukraine project at Pitti Uomo, where the ‘Fashion Circus’ capsule collection of T-shirts gained a lot of attention from buyers and press. http://anna-k-fashion.com
Krasilnikova
Krasilnikova brand was launched by a young Ukrainian designer Irina Krasilnikova back in 2009. Bridging the romance, elegance, style, and energy, her garments bring forth classic codes translated into ultra-feminine silhouettes. After the show at Fashion Scout Kiev her SS14 collection appeared in Vogue.co.uk, Marie Claire US, Style.com, L’Officiel Italia. Krasilnikova is known for her craftsmanship and attention to detail, as she tries to interpret natural forms and find new ways to accentuate the female figure. Krasilnikova’s clothing has carved out a niche among Ukrainian fashionistas because of the one-of-a-kind appeal of her dresses, skirts, tops and coats. The clothing is recognized for its whimsical panache, with presence of both sophistication and lightheartedness. With AW14 collection Krasilnikova will make her first steps on the international fashion scene.
Lara Quint
Lara Quint is a new brand founded by Lara Tomashchuk, who debuted at Fashion Scout Kiev with her SS14 collection. Lara studied fashion design in Kiev, and after graduation in 2011 interned several times for Russian and Ukrainian brands. She launched her own womenswear brand, focusing on clean cuts and volumes, juxtaposed against a play of prints, textures and forms. An emphasis is put on artisanal handcraft that makes plastic, wood and metal give new sense to the fabrics.
Lera Leshchova
Lera Leshchova is a young Ukrainian designer. Her debut FW 2012 collection was presented at Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days. Designer was one of the winners of the Design It contest in SS14, founded by Fashion Scout Kiev and supported by Vogue Ukraine and Vogue Italia. Lera Leshchova focuses on elegance, highlighting feminine silhouette in each look. Pure, geometric lines and delicately organic draping are distinctive features of Lera Leshchova’s garments. The basis of her collections are always beautiful dresses.
http://mbkievfashiondays.com/en/designers/lera-leshchova/
Paskal
Julie Paskal creates garments with a distinct attention to high-quality fabrics and clean silhouettes. 2 years after its foundation, her brand PASKAL was featured in best fashion magazines, and Julie was recently named as one of the most promising fashion designers in Eastern Europe by Marie Claire (US). Julie Paskal studied architecture before launching her own brand to focus solely on womenswear design. Now, PASKAL is known for its’ minimalistic, clean aesthetics that owe much to the rigours and precision of modern architecture. Beauty derives from garment construction, and PASKAL’s trademark laser-cut techniques and precise tailoring of exceptional quality.
Yasya Minochkina
Yasya Minochkina was born and raised in Ukraine. After having fashion courses in Central Saint Martins and Royal Academy of Fine Art she moved to Moscow and founded her namesake clothing brand. During FW 2012 season of Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days Minochkina presented her first runway collection, and soon afterwards Vogue Italia featured the designer in the magazine’s Vogue Talents special issue. Yasya Minochkina presents an essential yet edgy wardrobe for every day life, anchored in the European spirit of comfortable elegance. Working on her AW14 collection, Yasya Minochkina was thinking about modern feminist girls who balance between their favorite work and family.
http://mbkievfashiondays.com/en/designers/yasya-minochkina/