Who's at the Manege: the main trends of the VII Moscow Fashion Week
The capital has once again become one of the world's main venues for designers. The Manege Central Exhibition Hall hosts the VII Moscow Fashion Week, which brought together participants from Russia, India, China, the USA, Turkey and Spain. At the same time, a business program, the BRICS+ Fashion Summit, was launched at the Zaryadye Concert Hall. The main topics and current trends are described in the Izvestia article.
From the local market to the global one
As Nicole M. Bess, founder and CEO of Noir Fashion Week from the USA, rightly noted during the session "Fashion Week as a modern economic platform", which brought together foreign participants of the BRICS+ Fashion Summit on September 29, such events become a springboard for young designers. Moscow Fashion Week is not a separate show, but a business platform where dialogue opens up new opportunities.
Therefore, foreign participants talked about how to support their own designers who rely on national cultural identity, not limited to the domestic market.
Session "Fashion Week as a modern economic platform"
— Each Fashion Week has its own local market. I think we need to think about a specific marketplace, a new distribution method for our brands and designers. Ind Joudar, General Director of the Fashion Week in Morocco, suggested during the session how to organize this process so as not to detach oneself from one's own identity.
Meanwhile, domestic production is showing growth of 12.5% in light industry in 2025.
— According to the current development strategy, which was last updated in 2020, we planned to reach a 50% market share with our domestic brands by 2035. We have already managed to cover about 45%. Therefore, in the new strategy, which we plan to approve by the end of the year, we will raise the bar to at least 60%," said Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, during the plenary session "Support for local Brands. Creating infrastructure for development."
Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Among the priority areas of work, Alikhanov highlighted support for the production of synthetic materials, which should reduce the dependence of the Russian industry on imports. The government also relies on the support of the sewing industry and designers.
— According to our estimates, about 40-45 brands will appear on the market this year. About half of them will be Russian, mostly niche ones. These are technological clothing, brands associated with traditional elements of the peoples of Russia, or regional brands," said Alikhanov.
This is happening against the background of growing consumer confidence in Russian manufacturers.
— I have been working in the fashion industry for 25 years, and it seems to me that over these years we have made an important revolution - we have stopped convincing consumers to choose domestic brands. Buying them is no longer considered something to be ashamed of. Now he is happy to make this choice himself, not for patriotic reasons or because there are not enough foreign brands on the market," said Russian designer Alena Akhmadullina.
She stressed that Russian designers should develop not only in the domestic market, but also in the international market. The approach is consistent with what was previously proposed by foreign colleagues. According to Akhmadullina, building a successful case requires a unique identity based on the Russian cultural code and government support.
On the podium — cultural codes
The designers presented the results of their work at the shows of the VII Moscow Fashion Week. Many people have turned to the cultural code. One of the shows, "Russian Fairy Tales", became a kind of performance, where both a Black Swan and a model with a hut on his head appeared.
Atelier brands Irina Vorobyeva and Slava Zaitsev have reinterpreted kokoshniks and traditional Russian costume. The collection for the latter was designed by guest designer Nikolai Krasnikov. He introduced the Dèdicace au Crèateur couture line, "Dedication to the Creator," which addresses the maestro's legacy. These are 40 images made of natural silk, damask brocade, Vologda and Yelets lace, decorated with beads, pearls and feathers of exotic birds.
The collection of the Russian brand Masterpeace reflected an Asian aesthetic. The models wear jackets with a brightly emphasized shoulder line, corset tops and dresses. The outfits were decorated with contrasting fur details — collars, cuffs and capes. The palette was also varied, from fuchsia to strict black.
There were references to classic subjects as part of the capital's Fashion Week. Tatiana Kotova, a brand from Chelyabinsk, brought to Moscow the collection "I am writing to you...", referring to a letter from Tatiana Onegin. Hence the silhouettes inspired by the images of 19th century nobles.
BITTE_RUHE presented corsets made of quilted fabric, tracksuits made of sequins, models with voluminous sleeves. Designer Ksenia Kudryashova seemed to be trying to combine sporty aesthetics, sexuality, retro and a sense of nostalgia.
This is not the first time that the guests of Moscow Fashion Week have seen the Spanish brand Miguel Llopis, led by designer Miguel Llopis. This time he focused on classic color combinations — white, black, red and gold. The images combined pleats, sequins and different textures.
The Black Crown Label from the UK brought to Moscow 70 outfits based on the works of the Iraqi musician Nasir Shammah: long dresses resembling kimonos and products with flying theatrical hemlines.
There are two more days of fashion extravaganza ahead. The program includes Nairobi Fashion Week presents: KikoRomeo from Kenya, Solangel and Ruban from Moscow. IgorGulyaev will close the Moscow Fashion Week.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
