Article author:
Reuters
Moscow — Under a glamorous look, Russia's high fashion industry faces an uncertain future.
A number of Western designer brands have left Russia as part of a backlash against Moscow's decision to send troops to Ukraine, focusing on domestic competitors.
However, at the annual Moscow Fashion Week, which presents the work of Russian designers, industry experts said it was not easy to seize the opportunity.
"All our fabrics and accessories are imported, so we need to develop fabric production," said fashion stylist Julia Loverichenko, who attended last week's event. "Unfortunately, our designers are suffering from this for the time being."
Even Russian couturers are special for dressing wealthy customers. We rely heavily on Italy to provide the material.
And while China, Bangladesh, Belarus and Turkey all continue to provide Russia with mass market garments and materials, Italy makes trade for luxury purposes very difficult in the European Union. Participating in sanctions.
Olga Sinitsina, whose hats and accessories are designed by the brand SCORA, has just started its business from the shock of a pandemic when Russian military operations began, the ruble plummeted and import prices soared. She said she did. The
ruble then bounced back, "but logistics are ten times more expensive," she said, adding that she had no choice but to raise prices.
"It is important to understand that everything shown here is not made from Russian raw materials," she said. "Of course, this affects the cost ... but the choice here is either you do it or you cry and do nothing. I choose to do it."
For designer Albina Acroix, known for her fairy-tale-inspired dresses stabbed with beads and gold threads, the heightened constraints have led designers to come up with creative solutions and innovators to promote domestic fashion. Must be poured. Manufacturing base.
"It's a new possibility for Russia as a whole," she said behind the scenes at the brand's runway show. "We create something unique and develop our own fashion industry." (Report by Reuters, edited by Kevin Liffey and William Maclean)
