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Summary Russian Fashion Week opened with an anniversary show for Russia's fashion designer Slava Zaitsev.
Fashion week enters its 24th year in Russia and opened in Moscow on Wednesday (March 21) with a celebration of one of Russias most renowned designers, Slava Zaitsev.The veteran 74-year-old designer has been in the business of fashion for half a century and began his career under communism. His fashion house has been around for 30 years and is still going strong.His new collection, Associations, kick-started the 5-day fashion festival which will be showcasing the autumn/winter collections of Russias top designers.Zaitsev dominated haute couture in the Soviet Union and became the first Russian fashion designer to launch an international career after the collapse of the USSR. He became known for his traditional Russian motifs and fabrics.He grew up in the small town of Ivanovo, renowned for its textile industry. His father was a victim of Stalins crackdown and was sent to a labour camp. His mother was a cleaning lady who, as Zaitsev likes to point out, has never had a fancy dress in her entire life.It is very important for me to have clients who can buy my clothes. What Ive been doing for so many years is just making beautiful clothes, thats all. But this collection I tried to make as close as possible to the people who can buy it, Slava Zaitsev told journalists backstage after his fashion show on Wednesday.Other Russian fashion designers tried to follow in his footsteps in the hope of achieving international fame and recognition but few have achieved it.Fashion followers at this weeks event are also hoping to unearth a new Russian designer to conquer the international fashion scene.With every year we (Russians) are going yet further, raising yet higher both our level and quality of dresses and overall quality of our fashion, said Moscow resident Ellen.Fashion photographer Victor Boyko who works at the worlds biggest fashion weeks in Paris and Milan paid homage to Slava Zaitsev.Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia has been held since 2001 twice a year and has become the biggest fashion event in Eastern Europe. It will run until Sunday (March 25).
