SOSNOVSKA by Anna Sosnovskaya

Recently I published an article on an up-and-coming Ukrainian designer by the name of Anna Sosnovskaya, who just sent me the following press release about her 2010 autumn/winter collection:

Idealization of the image, visualization of life, image and fashion in the modern time space unite a man and fashion. Proportion of this connection is a peculiar feature of the brand SOSNOVSKA, which creates the perfect image for the perfect man.

Standardization of views, as a sample of a man’s taste and style, is the ideology of the brand.

Architecture and geometry, moderation and charisma, proportion and constructivism of SOSNOVSKA collections are filled with looking into the future and reflection of a modern man’s real life.

- Designer SOSNOVSKA Anna Sosnovskaya

View the entire collection here.

Photos & text Copyright SOSNOVSKA.

Valeria Kovalskaya at Russian Fashion Week

Recently I have been posting on Ukrainian designers that presented striking menswear collections last week at the Lviv Fashion Week in Lviv, Ukraine.

Now I would like to travel more than 500 miles northeast, and about a month back in time, to Russian Fashion Week, which celebrated its 20th Jubilee April 1-6 at the World Trade Center in Moscow.

During the festive event, Ukrainian fashion designer of Kiev, Valeria Kovalskaya, presented a spectacular collection, which was rocked by the sounds of punk and grunge.

The color palette spanned the soft tones of grey, blue, beige, terracotta, cream, and chocolate on a plethora of fabrics, including cashmere, suede, and leather.

Valeria specializes in costumes for musical and dance productions.

Photos Courtesy and Copyright Russian Fashion Week.

Family Fashion by Mariana Gromish at Lviv Fashion Week

Launched for the first time in March 2009, the most recent edition of Lviv Fashion Week was held May 20-23 in Lviv, Ukraine, with 3-4 thousands guests per day. Special guest was Russian couturier Vyacheslav Zaitsev.

During the event Modna Kraina presented a new project, “Fashionable Country,” which seeks to promote Ukraine via the internet as a viable modern and fashionable country.

This edition of Lviv Fashion Week also showcased several Ukrainian menswear designers, including Olesya Telizhenko and Mariana Gromish.

Laying special emphasis on the family, Mariana Gromish featured a collection of all-natural fabrics in black and white for young parents.



Photo & slideshow Courtesy and Copyright Lviv Fashion Week.

“Wild Space” in the Ukraine by Olesya Telizhenko

Olesya Telizhenko was born 1984 into an artistic family in Cherkasy, Ukraine.

A graduate of the National Academy of Arts, Olesya since become known as an “ethno-modern designer,” which is evidenced by her most recent collection that she presented at Lviv Fashion Week (20-23 May).

“Wild Space” is a collection that boldly mixes natural materials and textures—all decorated with hand-stitched embroidery.

Each garment rides us across the sun-scorched grass of the Cossack Steppe, from the grey morning fog to the starry black nights.

Chocolate, grey, blue, and black undergird the color palette.

This 2010 autumn/winter collection draws particular attention to the Ukrainian male.

Photo & slideshow Copyright Olesya Telizhenko

Longing for Long

Have you been searching for a super-length tee but with a skinny fit?

Bored with busy, complicated designs, longing for a something a bit more unique?

Well, it will not be long before you have your wish!

Long was created in 2002 by two young British designers, Gareth Emmett and Rhys Dawney.

From North and East London, the bold yet simple designs can now be found all throughout the UK, being featured in assorted magazines across Europe.

If things continue going they way they are, it will not be long before Long is in your area, too!



Photo & slide show Copyright Long.

Anna Sosnovskaya: Menswear, Swimwear & Social Responsibility in Ukraine

Slightly larger than France, Ukraine borders upon many countries: Poland, Hungary, and the Slovak Republic to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; Belarus to the north; and Russia to the east, with the Black Sea to the south. Ironically, Ukraine means ‘borderland’.

Traditionally, Ukrainian dress has a long history of sophistication, as garments were artistically embellished with fine embroidery and worn for different occasions and festivities, marking age, gender, and social status.

What is refreshing about the Ukraine fashion scene today is the emphasis that both designers and fashion events place upon social responsibility. One striking example is menswear designer Anna Sosnovskaya.

Anna is said to have been born with an innate seed of natural talent, which had already begun to bud at the age of 7 as was evidenced by her childhood sketches and designs. Rooted and grounded in consecutive years of hard work, Anna spouted onto the international scene, winning local and foreign competitions for her collections.

Today, Anna plays an active role in a social project organized by the Anti-AIDS foundation, Fashion Aid, in which she and other Ukrainian designers auction their color-themed creations, donating the proceeds to individuals living with AIDS.

Anna has also participated in Toys of Hope. Organized by the foundation Save My Life, Toys of Hope collects funds for apparatus that can diagnose early stages of cancer in little children. As you may know, the Chernobyl disaster of 1986 has been linked to thousands of cases of thyroid cancer, which, if detected early, can be treated.

Anna defines her style as "neoclassic" and "casual" with hints of influences from modern art and science. She creatively coins it minimum maksimalizm.

Anna Sosnovskaya 2009 s/s Swim- & Underwear Collection



Anna Sosnovskaya 2009 s/s Menswear Collection



Slideshows Copyright Anna Sosnovskaya
Photo top center by Yakudza, Copyleft at Wikipedia.

Ukraine’s Falling Empire is All But Fallen!

Kiev, also written as Kyiv (Київ), is the capital of Ukraine, which, during medieval times was known as Kievan Rus'—said to be the largest and most powerful state in Europe.

In 1922, Ukraine was absorbed by the USSR, becoming a republic of the Soviet Union for nearly 70 years. But as the national anthem states, Ukraine's glory has not perished, nor her freedom. In 1991, Ukraine gained her independence.

Despite a long recession that ensued, Ukraine has bounced back to life, providing a springboard for new fashion, emerging designers, and innovative menswear brands like Falling Empire.

Although Falling Empire is the artistic creation of designer Tatyana Andreychenko, the label is the brainchild of Ruslan Minzhinsky, general producer of Music Motors in Kiev.

Ruslan had always nurtured a preference for the styles of the Soviet era, but in a renewed vane of USSR-glamour, which is so often depicted in the video clips produced by his studio.

Two years ago, Ruslan got an idea—Falling Empire—not an old rehash of Brezhnev’s wardrobe but rather a revitalized version of the era’s spirit to be presented in a collection of authentic designs.

Tatyana, who for years had designed the artists’ costumes for the video clips at Music Motors, breathed life into the vision.

Free from the boring rules, authoritative views, and worldly conventionalities of the Soviet regime, Falling Empire has converted what was common to all into a mark of excellence, worthy of the contemporary man’s wardrobe.

Have a look for yourself and see that Ukraine's Falling Empire is all but fallen! I love the kiss marks on the models!

Photo top center by AnnihilatorMell, Public Domain at Wikipedia.
Slide show 2009 a/w collection Copryright Falling Empire.