Vika Gazinskaya in her own collection for & Other Stories
Vika Gazinskaya is living proof of the myriad ways one can become a prominent fashion designer. Her swift success is commonly attributed to wearing her own designs to Paris Fashion Week, getting spotted by the grand dame street style blogs, which then filtered down to the buyers. A background in fashion magazines couldn’t have hurt this process. However, Gazinskya’s own label has developed to something far beyond her rise to fame.
Her collections are feminine and sculptural, with a predilection for cute motifs – a clear aesthetic that is one reason why she is an excellent choice for a collaboration with a high street brand such as & Other Stories. In this capsule collaboration, Gazinskaya plays with childlike crayon scribbles and polka dots, in creative and flirty silhouettes that extend to dresses, shirts and delicate wedge heels. You can view the whole lookbook below.
We talked to the Russian designer about her recent nomination for the LVMH prize and bringing aspects of couture to a wider audience.
How did the collaboration with & Other Stories come about? What were your inspirations for the collection?
The stroke line crayon print is my signature, the polka dots are colourful classics, and the dandelions are graphic with a naïve essence, giving a mix of prints and silhouettes that is timeless, playful and fashionable. With this collection I really wanted to give people the opportunity to get my prints at an affordable price.
You’re known for your “demi-couture” approach, how did this affect your approach to working in a more commercial setting?
It shouldn’t matter if it’s a demi-couture line or more democratic collection. It was my aim to create something great and attractive for the & Other Stories customer. It was a good exercise if I want to do a second line in the future. I’ll keep doing my Couturish pieces in old-school methods, expensive fabrics, exclusive prints and very special tailoring/cut. I would adapt those ideas to the second line, but in a more everyday wearing style. I hope that my clients will be buying both lines as they be different, but with the same signature.
Vika Gazinskaya for & Other Stories
You’ve been recently nominated for the LVMH prize, how did you feel about this nomination?
It’s my aim to move on in my work, not to dream. It’s great it happened.
You’re known as a street style icon in your own right. How important is this aspect in your own designs?
I am who I am and never think about any strategy. When I was visiting the fashion weeks in Paris/New York/London for the first time, I was just wearing the same things I was wearing in Moscow during my workdays. Those days, there were hardly any street style photographers, so I didn’t even think about it. When Scott [Schuman, from The Sartorialist] asked me to pose for a picture – I didn’t even know who is he was. My credo: stay true to yourself, be honest in what you do.
Vika Gazinskaya’s capsule collection for & Other Stories is available exclusively in Colette and in & Other Stories from May 15.