Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Russia: Diversity on the Runway and Culture

Covering Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia 2018 and playing tourist in Moscow left me breathless. I gained a new perspective on the country I hail from and the great people who still call it home. Moscow, Russia’s capital, and hosts of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week created a fantastic experience for all the visitors and locals alike.

Moscow has seen a lot of positive changes in the last years. New infrastructure and a growing economy make this city a worldly place of opportunity. The new level of diversity presented on the runway and within society are notable and make Moscow a destination location worth visiting and immersing into.

Runway diversity

MBFW Russia draws designers from around the world. Some of the international talents that stood out the most are South Africa’s Rich Mnisi and Uzbekistan native Nilufar Abduvalieva of MURSAK. Their collections tell their unique stories while positioning themselves as noteworthy, global designers. As designer Rich Mnisi said when asked why he chose to show in Moscow, “Moscow is a major cosmopolitan city with a huge sense for fashion, and we feel like it is a great market to expose ourselves to.”

Model walks for Rich Mnisi, Photo Courtesy MBFW Russia

Model walks for Mursak, Photo Courtesy MBFW Russia

Beautiful Russian women make for a great traditional selection of models for the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Yet it is very pleasing to see diversity represented on the runway in so many ways. Models of age and ethnic diversity roamed the runway in many major shows this week.

Model of KETIONE, Photo Courtesy MBFW Russia

Moscow boasts a growing modeling agency named Oldushka that provides the local fashion world with women and men of age. As the founder, Igor Gavar says, “appearing as themselves is an instrument to fight stereotypes.”

Model walks for Atelier, Photo Courtesy of MBFW Russia

MBFW Russia is one of the first to host designers with collections for those with disabilities. Every year in October there are a few collections presented for people with physical disabilities. This initiative is called Bez Graniz “Fashion Without Borders” and is introduced to raise awareness for the disabled people. Bezgraniz Couture offers a course on designing clothes for people with disabilities as part of a fashion curriculum at the British Higher School of Art and Design in Moscow.

Bezgraniz Couture, October 23, 2017, Photo by Oleg Nikishin

Cultural diversity 

Russia has grown to be a multicultural place of opportunity. People are very hospitable and welcoming to the tourists and fellow citizens. The quality of service has taken a huge leap forward. Most importantly, the infrastructure is built to fit the needs of all individuals including the handicapped. These changes prove Russia’s capital is a must-see destination.

While I visited many exciting cultural icons, The Museum of Impressionism is a place one must visit.  This world class museum is built on the former Bolshevik chocolate factory, “Krasniy Oktyabr’. They retained the original shape of the building creating a modern museum of art. The Museum offers everyone, including blind, deaf and other special needs visitors an equal experience while on premise. Their current exhibit, The Wives, shows portraits of the greatest Russian artists’ muses.

Museum Of Impressionism, Photo by Denis Asekov

Moscow makes it easy to navigate the city with modern infrastructure like touch screen bus stops, multi language street signs and wheel chair accessible transportation making its vast cultural assets accessible to all.

Look beyond fashion week and plan a trip to Russia and immerse yourself in the hospitality and the cultural assets of this country. Watch this space for more on MBFW Russia, its fabulous designers, its delectable cuisine and new venues.

Thank you for reading and keep styling,

Olia