As the “Big Four” international fashion weeks wrap up its latest shows at the end of September, the spotlight shifts to Moscow where MBFW Russia is held. In a very high energy and exciting week, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia continues to position itself at the forefront of innovation, creativity, and support for its young designers.
On October 17th, the 37th season debuted and highlighted several exciting firsts in fashion at Moscow’s Manege, the beautiful facility where the fashion week is held each season. The much-anticipated week was full of surprises and new directions, making it the most innovative of Fashions Weeks in Russia and among the global fashion world.
This season, the week kicked off at the Futurum Moscow and Futurum Accelerator, a platform for young talents that is organized by the Russian Fashion Council to provide opportunity and funding for young designers with big ideas. Techno beats and creativity dominated the runway as 21 young brands showcased their collections. For many, it was their first show, while some graduating students, like Volchok and Otocycon have been utilizing this opportunity for a few seasons. Edgy street style wear, architectural shapes and extraordinary presentations were at the forefront of the first evening of Fashion Week Russia.
Secondly, Fashion Week offered a Pop-Up Shop in the at the Manage where thousands of visitors and buyers passed each day. “We saw the Pop-Up idea as a platform for young brands and designers with smaller collections to get exposure and get noticed during MBFW Russia, and meet with the many passionate supporters of Russian fashion, “explained Mr. Alexander Shumsky, President of the Russian Fashion Council.
“This Pop-Up Shop concept is definitely an opportunity for small brands like mine, Otocycon or my husband’s, brand Volchok to dip our feet into the real world and get exposure and support we otherwise would not be able to pull off,” said Lesya Volchok-Rusakovich a young creative during a brief interview at the Pop-Up Shop.
This approach is a true opportunity for up and coming young designers to showcase their talent, with the potential to become the next Gosha Rubchinsky, the seminal designer that put Russia on the world fashion map several years ago.
Finally, the biggest and most exciting surprise of the week was the innovation and diversity seen on the runway during the I-Inclusive Fashion Show by Ksenia Bezuglova. Ksenia was recruited to design clothes for people with disabilities. These clothes are designed in collaboration with the research facility LLC “Motorica”, “Exoatlet”, Moscow Technological Institute and Sensor-Tech led by Sergey Kornauhov. The smart clothing empowered these individuals to overcome disabilities. For example, a woman was wearing a bodysuit that allowed her nerveless arm to move fingers and gives her the ability to play instruments. This was without a doubt the most touching and inspiring show of the week.
These are a few initiatives that set Russia apart from the traditional Fashion Weeks and positions Russia as a leader in innovation and support for their young design talent. In its Fashion Weeks, we are seeing how Russia is supporting and encouraging its young designers to look to the future of fashion as a visionary and responsible force to make positive change in people’s lives.