Russian Fashion Week | Unprecendented Chance for Fashionistas to buy online

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Leaders of the fashion industry have flocked to the Russian capital this week, with over 70 designers from Russia, Britain, Japan and many other countries showcasing their 2014 spring-summer collections at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. And for the first time, fashionistas worldwide have a unique chance to snap up the outfits online, hot off the catwalk. VoR's Daria Chernyshova reports from the scene.

The most significant event in the Russian fashion industry – the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Moscow - has kicked off with over 70 designers from all over the world presenting their 2014 spring-summer collections on the catwalks at Moscow’s Manezh Exhibition Hall.

And even though Russian Fashion Week still sounds like an oxymoron to many, it is in fact a well-established event that's been held in Moscow since 2001.

Fashion Week gives western designers a chance to break into the Russian fashion market.

It also provides an opportunity for Russian designers to gain more recognition abroad as buyers and fashion gurus come here to see the crème of the Russian fashion market.

Photo: MBFWR

And this season consumers have a unique chance to snap up Russian designer outfits online, as they move straight from the catwalk onto eBay.

Fashionistas all around the world can watch fashion shows online and order the models on eBay – an opportunity that’s never been provided by Milan, Paris or any other fashion capital of the world.

This retail project not only provides easy access to Russian designers, but also the chance to get the edge with clothing that will only appear in stores next in spring - and at very affordable prices.

Alexander Shumsky, the president of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, tells us about the new scheme.

SB SHUMSKY in Russian

Participants of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Russia are going on eBay. This is a big event as internet retail is our future, we all understand that. This is a unique option which has never been explored by anyone. We are the first. I’m glad that Russian designers open new opportunities, and I’m sure this new project will translate into a big story.

Fashion Week started with the Day of Industrial Collections, demonstrating co-operation between well-known designers and major industrial companies within the concept 'Made in Russia.'

And over the week, every day offers a wide assortment of fashion shows and designers.

But Moscow is a place of exploring opportunities and has already made this fashion week the show.

Meanwhile, the Miss Universe contest will be held in Moscow at the beginning of November. Contestants from the competition modelled creations by British designer Tony Ward on the catwalk in Manezh and Olivia Culpo – the current Miss Universe – opened  the show.
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/uk/news/2013_10_28/Russian-Fashion-Week-unprecendented-chance-for-fashionistas-to-buy-online-6920/

Photo: Tony Ward fashion show, MBFWR

Tony Ward has been on the Russian Fashion circuit for 8 years already and says the market is flourishing.

"I’ve been in the Russian Fashion market for eight years now, I work with the Russian clients – bridal and couture.. It’s an amazing market, very exciting, huge one, and runs from Russia to Azerbaijan, to Turkmenistan. We can have a wider exposure. Britain is different. When you sell in Russia, you sell to a Russian client, when you sell in Great Britain, of a hundred per cent, 70 to 80 will be to Arabs and Americans. Here you are dealing with the real people of the country."

And Russians do like fashion.

It is probably in their DNA, as many designers, models and fashion industry connoisseurs notice Russian women are not only beautiful, but also have a profound sense of style.

Photo: MBFWR

Olivia Culpo, Miss Universe, is in the Russian capital for the fourth time.

"One of the things that I noticed is that women are beautiful," she says. "I think that European women have a different classic style that’s been around for years, that people in America don’t have. I think it’s more sophisticated here. I think we need to take a little bit of Russian fashion over to the US."

As a part of European fashion traditions, Russia has its unique style that’s been inspiring the artists and designers for years and as Russian fashion is on the rise, the notion of Russian style is now not only about fur, winter coats, and bulky hats, but a mixture of traditional western fashion with Russian zest.

(Voice of Russia)

Story By: 

Voice of Russia, Daria Chernyshova

Saturday Fashion News Roundup! Nigeria’s Tiffany Amber Takes Fashion Retail To Another Level

Tiffany Amber, creatively directed by Folake Coker- a 15 year brand developed in Nigeria has embarked upon its global expansion plans with three new retail outlets launching in the second quarter of this year. The Spring/Summer 2013 Collection of Tiffany Amber will now be sold at Italy’s Leading Department Store – La Rinascente from April 2013.

Folake Coker

In addition to Europe, Tiffany Amber is also concentrating its expansion efforts on the brand’s home Continent of Africa where they are launching an in-store concession in Ghana’s largest and most respected boutique, Viva on 27 April 2013 bringing its ready-to-wear label to the discerning Ghanaian fashionista.

This move to Ghana will be followed by a partnership with leading South African Salon Store, Merchants on Long in Cape Town, a store that specializes in contemporary African design stocking fashion, art and homeware sourced from around the continent.

Story by: Desola Ade-Unuigbe

Does the Size of a Handbag Really Matter?

Sometimes I overhear men ask women different questions with relation to their bags, what they have in them and why the size. Some of these men usually try to take peeks into the women’s bags to see for themselves what they actually contain. Today, I chose to ponder over this infamous question and I asked myself,

"Why do they ask?"

But answering for myself, I think big is good! Asking around, most young women said, the bigger, the better. Others said they preferred them smaller. However, for those who chose bigger over smaller ones, the most common reason was that, they liked to have all that they needed, no matter where they were. They also expressed the thought that their fellow women who like smaller bags are just being lazy. The ladies who like their bags smaller also feel their colleagues with ‘the bigger perspective’ are just ‘show-offs’ and believe there’s no need to bear such a weight on a regular basis.

Looking at the times we are in, I think I agree with Greg Hall [a blogger and an author], who said “The lifestyle you lead will probably define the size of the handbag that you carry.” Considering the modern day woman, there is a very likely list of the average things she might have in her bag. This is the list that I saw a colleague at work use, while he searched a woman’s bag: (1) Make up bag (2) A purse for her money (3) A little notepad for God knows what (4) A journal (5) A purse for cards such as atm cards, ID cards, savings books, etc. (6) Perfume (7) Sanitizers (8) Body lotion for dry weather (9) Hand and nail lotions (10) Facial wipes. This is just the average, since what you carry is proportional to your career. Nevertheless, the question that should be asked, is whether you own the correct handbag size that is right for you. If you choose to surprise today’s teenage woman with a bag, her opinions are the best. Sticking to your own judgement might prove useless, considering you may not know the television channels she watches or the magazines she reads...

In favour of the small – bag – lovers, some like them extremely small, that as small as the mini shoulder bag or even smaller. With such sizes, they can go every from the beach to the restaurant, to the club as well as to church and back. The confusing thing about these undersized bags is that they look great with any outfit, but in spite of everything, these cute yet miniature bags can barely carry a mobile phone let alone hold other feminine accessories or even a wallet.

Some women and men alike, think the size of the bag should correlate with the height of the person carrying the bag. In other words, the more petite women should stick to small bags while the taller women can indulge themselves with as many big bags as they want. Well, I do not know about the size versus the height. In any case, one thing we should digest is the fact that this is all an element of fashion. Therefore, instead of arguing with someone over the size of her bag, consider suggesting other options of bag size rather than forcing opinions on them. Most women celebrate their womanhood in a vast number of ways. To some it’s in the type of makeup and the dresses they put on... and to others, it’s all in the bag. Therefore, they make it a point to have the right size for themselves, and I think you should too!