Maxim Sharov was born and raised in Zheleznodorozhny, a city located 21 km outside of Moscow, where he now resides. Zheleznodorozhny—which translates as ‘railway’—was founded in 1861 as a settlement that served the train station of Obiralovka. The settlement gained its fame by Leo Tolstoy as the place of death for the main character in Anna Karenina.I had the privilege of interviewing this Russian designer of men's accessories last week. Luckily for me, Russian language and literature was my major in university—even reading Anna Karenina in the original!—so I was able to conduct the interview in Maxim’s native language and feel his passion in designing bags for men.
When growing up in Zheleznodorozhny, what was it that influenced you to become a designer?
What influenced my decision to become a designer was that, for some time in my childhood, I was a punker and, afterwards, a hippy. Then, it came to me to make various accessories that would correspond to the ways of such subcultures.
Where did you go to school?
I completed my studies at the Faculty of Applied Art of the Moscow State Textile University ‘A.N. Kosygin’. Although I entered as a major in shoe wear, in the course of my studies I chose to major as a designer of bags, receiving my degree in the year 2000.
So when did you first start designing bags?
I started designing 18 years ago, when I was only 15 years old.
And what do you find inspires you when you design?
I’m not inspired by the mere purpose of fashion or style but rather by things that are created for practical purposes, such as the elements of workers’ clothes or military ammunition. I like things that can be used for a long time, not looking to the variability of fashion but rather to things that have confirmed their usefulness.
Could you give a percentage for the amount of practicality vs. style?
90% practicality, 10% style.
How do you perceive life, and do you express this perception in your accessories?
I read that things, as well as everything around us, have energy and this energy largely depends on how the things were made and the emotions that were felt in making them. If something is created by one person who conceived the idea, then this thing is energetically more powerful than something that was made in a manufacturing line where one person performs only one operation and then passes it to another.
You’ve made a very strong case for the artisan! So, with what types of materials do you like to work?
Yes, in general, I only work with leather. For this reason, I love to buy leather not only of the best quality but also leather with defects, scratches, holes, and impressions that appear naturally.
I’m always at your disposal to answer more questions with great pleasure. Спасибо!
Slide show Copyright by Maxim Sharov.
