Exclusive of the National Centre RUSSIA: designer Sergey Sysoev on the "Fashion" exposition at the Department Store of the National Centre

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The "Fashion" exposition of young designers at the Department Store of the National Centre RUSSIA introduces visitors to domestic artists who create pieces on par with their Western European colleagues. One of Russia’s key designers, Candidate of Art History Sergey Sysoev, whose Autumn-Winter 2024/25 works are presented at the Department Store, spoke about this in an interview with the National Centre RUSSIA. The exposition also features works by his students from the SERGEY SYSOEV Fashion School at the Kosygin Russian State University. The displayed pieces demonstrate how architecture interacts with fashion and is reinterpreted in fashion designers' collections.

"I am very glad that this exposition is being held specifically at the National Centre RUSSIA, allowing us to showcase the works of both emerging and established fashion designers so that the country can recognize its heroes. We have many artists who create unique pieces, and their works carry deep meaning," emphasizes Sergey Sysoev.

In the pieces presented at the exposition, the designer incorporates architectural elements of VDNH. Stucco moldings, ceramic panels, and bronze sculptures become prints and decorative elements of the collections. 

"I have dreamed of such an experiment for a long time — where an exposition space could showcase how the art of architecture influences the art of fashion. I have often turned to architecture, incorporating key, iconic elements of different periods into my work. Many times, these have become photo prints," says Sergey Sysoev.

The works of the designer’s students reflect artistic strategies in which science, architecture, and design intertwine in unconventional forms. While mastering the fundamentals of their profession, students at the school have the opportunity to present the results of their work at major expositions and on fashion runways.

"My students followed my lead and found inspiration. Some turned to the architecture of the new Zaryadye complex, while others were drawn to the history of high-rise buildings, which may look similar but are filled with fascinating life," shares the fashion artist. 

Young designer Yevgenia Makarova incorporated elements of Zaryadye Park into her dress. Lev Khlebnikov recreated the aesthetics of 1990s panel houses in his signature prints. Alexandra Popadko found inspiration in Stalinist architecture, Alisa Getalova in brutalism, Ksenia Dukhanova in space exploration, and Diana Koltashova in the carved wooden manor of blacksmith Sergei Kirillov.

"One of the most unique works by my students, I would say, is the work of Diana Kashtanova. It tells the story of a blacksmith — a simple man, a craftsman — who spent his entire life building the same house. A house he inherited and transformed over time. Today, this wooden cottage looks like a gingerbread house, adorned with a variety of colors, intricate carvings, and metalwork. A man who dedicated his life to constructing his own home has, in fact, created a true work of art," shares Sergey Sysoev.

The designer is convinced that this is exactly how fashion and architecture intertwine. A viewer unfamiliar with architectural masterpieces or design solutions can discover them through fashion shows, gaining a deeper connection to the history of their country from different perspectives.