From MBFW Russia With Love

This season FashNerd.com is reporting LIVE from MBFW Russia, here are the highlights from day one.

When I received an invitation to attend MBFW Russia I was hesitant, I wondered what technology would they have that would tempt me? I did not have to wonder for too long, because I quickly learnt that they are all about the merger of fashion and technology and the wonderful things that come under it’s umbrella like sustainability and retail tech.

Unable to attend last season, we instead wrote about their venture into the technology space. Embracing progression and promising great ideas within the fashion tech space, they came up with Fashion Futurum which runs alongside Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia. Fashion Futurum – is a visionary project of the Russian Fashion Council started in 2016 with the support of the Department of Culture of Moscow, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives of the Skolkovo Foundation and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation

Last season the organisers of the event invited influencers in education, fashion and venture investments to evaluate participating startups competing to win either an opportunity to join a business acceleration program in Milan’s Fashion Technology Accelerator or take part in major startup event, Slush Helsinki in Finland.

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This time round the two day event will be held from 16th of March to 17th March 2017 and it will take place at the Central Exhibition Hall “Manege” . Fashion Futurum promises to be an important part of Russia’s flourishing fashion week. I personally think that innovative event is a great starting point for designers and makers in Russia interested in the fashion technology movement. I look forward to taking you with me as my plus one to this season’s talks and workshops. So make sure you watch this space.

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA – MARCH 14. A model walks the runway at YASYA MINOCHKINA fashion show during day 3 of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Russia. FW17/18 at Manege on March 14, 2017 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Oleg Nikishin/Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia)

Putting technology to one side, I was also invited to attend some of the runway shows, and my favourite of the day was  Yasya Minochkina. Inspired by the likes of Helmut Newton and Vivienne Westwood, Yasya, AW17/18 womenswear collection celebrated women’s brilliance and sexuality. She looked to the likes of Beyonce and Rihanna for inspiration. The end result was that she created garments that embody the empowerment and confidence of women. The mood was all about bare shoulder jackets, see-through details, robe dresses, double breasted capes, sheer pants and cozy wool sweaters.

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The collection boasted fabrics created with the combined efforts from craftmen and modern technologies. The finished fabric gave her garments the folds and cuts that made her looks stand out. Redefining luxury, the key materials were heavy sequinned silk, gold jacquard, mesh with peacock leather embroidery and lurex checked cotton.

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA – MARCH 14: YASYA MINOCHKINA on the catwalk during day 3 of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Russia. FW17/18 (Photo by Oleg Nikishin/Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia)

As I exited the show, I was left wanting more. So far, so good. Roll on day 2.

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Founding Editor in Chief at FashNerd.com | editor@fashnerd.com | Website

Founding editor-in-chief of FashNerd.com, Muchaneta is currently one of the leading influencers writing about the merger of fashion with technology and wearable technology. She has also given talks at Premiere Vision, Munich Fabric Start and Pure London, to name a few. Besides working as a fashion innovation consultant for various fashion companies like LVMH Atelier, Muchaneta has also contributed to Vogue Business, is a senior contributor at The Interline and an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion, UAL.