The physical barriers between East and West came down in the 1990s. Since then Russia has steadily been moving
forward to produce competitive fashion that interests the western world.
In late October 18-25, Moscow held their Russian Fashion Week.
It has grown so
large there was a need for a better fashion show and exhibition venue.
Thus the Russian Fashion Week has moved to Gorky Park - read more below about the
Gorky Park Venue.
Moscow, Russia (October 18, 2006) – this date marks the start of
Russian
Fashion Week (October 18-25). This is the biggest fashion event of its kind in Eastern Europe and one of the most unique in Russia.
This new location will give the show organizers an opportunity to provide a
bigger space and invite more top designers to present their collections to
the Russian and international press. Among the countries represented in the
tents and on the catwalks will be Ukraine, Byelorussia, Peru, Greece, Great
Britain, Italy, the US and of course, Russia.
Opening RFW was a press conference held by Producer General Alexander
Shumsky and official partners Pantene Pro-V and Motorola. 'We have changed
our address which marks a critical shift for us as our old venue exhausted
itself,' states Shumsky.
'The growth that led to Gorky Park makes us the biggest fashion event in
Russia. With so many designers from across the world presenting, every
metre and corner added is most useful.'
The switch to Gorky Park continues a season of change on the international
stage: Milan Fashion Week changed locations in order to improve production
conditions facilities. The location of New York Fashion Week faces an
uncertain future as the venue, Bryant Park, has a commitment that only goes
through the coming season.
The first day kicked off with Alexander Vassiliev who hails from
Ukraine. He was followed by Kusso, Sokolova Bogorodskaya, Anastasia Z, Frankie Morello and a
participant of Milan Fashion Week last September – Max Chernitsov.
A prominent international representative on the first day was the Greece Fashion Week
participant, Angelos Frentzos.
A supporter of young talent, RFW will also feature five representatives of
'Ruskyi Silhouette' – the fashion contest for young designers.
In addition,
International Day will feature American designers presenting in cooperation
with TSUM, including: Laundry by Shelli Segal, Rebecca Taylor, Catherine
Malandrino and Baby Phat, which also showed at New York Olympus Fashion Week
this past September.
Hailed as a success by both participants and organizers and boosted by this
season’s new and improved venue of Gorky Park, American designers made a
splash during the International Day at Russian Fashion Week.
Americans designers Baby Phat, Laundry by Shelli Segal and Rebecca Taylor
drew thousands of international press, buyers, and customers. Helping
to import the American designers to Russia was TSUM, the largest luxury
department store in Moscow, who organized the presentations.
In addition to the huge success of the American presentations, this season’s
switch of venue also proved to be a hit. The tents at Gorky Park
provided more space for the expanding roster of shows, convenient parking,
and upgraded production facilities.
Baby Phat at Russian Fashion Week
Baby Phat brand representatives BJ Coleman and James Campbell enjoyed their
visit to Russia and were thrilled to have participated in Russian Fashion
Week. From the first instant BJ entered Gorky Park, he exclaimed 'Your
tents are like the ones in New York at Olympus Fashion Week! We are so
excited and would never have expected it would be so fantastic!'
Baby Phat’s show opened International Day and definitely added a New York
element to the RFW tents.
James Campbell and BJ Coleman are giving directions to their model Baby Phat
models waiting for the show to start.
~
Laundry by Shelli Segal Catwalk Show at Russian Fashion Week
The show that followed was Laundry by Shelli Segal – a stunning collection
that proved to be one of the most talked about shows of the week.
Charles Pegram, Gianna Bonacorsi and Cynthia Erland Joy, who all represented
the brand, were all also thrilled to have participated.
Rebecca Taylor was the last presentation and rounded out International Day.
Ellen Kinney, Rebecca Taylor Sales Director proclaimed 'Everything is so
well organized. It is much better to be a designer here in Moscow than to be
in New York, since lots of things are much more properly done'.
General Producer Alexander Shumsky was excited that the three brands accepted his
invitation to Russia and was thrilled with the results. 'American designers
brought Bryant Park’s atmosphere to the Russian Fashion Week tent, and added
to the great mix,' he said.
'It is very important to continue international collaborations between RFW
and designers from around the world as we try to expose these designers to
the Russia and International fashion community. This season definitely
elevates RFW to a global platform.'
Pietro
Francesco Gigliotti, Mourizio Modica (Frankie Morello) Natalia Stefanenko,
Sergio Pea (IFD group), Angelika (Frankie Morello) and And Alexander Shumsky
Natalia IFD representative in Moscow.
This season's Russian Fashion Week
hosted over 60 designers from Russia, Byelorussia, Ukraine and Georgia,
so-called, former USSR countries. Tatiana Parfionova – one of the greatest
representatives of Russian designers, showed her collection on October 24.
Julia Dalakian successfully presented her Spring/Summer collection at Milan
Fashion Week and carried over the buzz to Moscow on the same day with
Tatiana.
Jenny Packham Catwalk Show at Russian Fashion Week
The closing day of RFW included great talents like Russian Silhouette
winners, Tamuna Iingorokva from Georgia, Victoria Krasnova from Ukraine,
Yulia Nikolaeva, the public favorites Elena Souproun, Larissa Pogoretskaya
and Jenny Packham.
Jenny presented her spring/summer 2007 collection on Russian Fashion Week
catwalks after Milan Fashion Week. The public's favorite 'James Bond dress'
was also loved by Russian publicity.
One of the main reasons why Jenny Packham comes back to Russian Fashion Week
is presentation of her collection to buyers and journalists from this part
of the World.
Russian Fashion Week Spring/summer 2007 Record Attendance
Russian Fashion Week for the spring/summer 2007 season broke a record in buyers
attendance. Over 100 buyers from around Russia and satellite USSR countries
visited RFW this season. The accreditation got over 1000 journalists
including UK, Hungary, Sweden, France, Netherlands and US representatives.
All these facts make Russian Fashion Week the only fashionable event in
Russia and Western Europe, which is now attractive not only to former USSR
countries but also to World Fashion.
For more information, please, contact
Artefact Communications Agency:
Kseniia Ponomarenko, International PR Manager at Russian Fashion Week
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