Posts Tagged "Street Fashion"
Polina: Sociology Student, H&M Worker
MOSCOW: Polina, 19, was standing outside a busy shopping mall recently in Moscow, eating Asian fast food as the last snow of the spring swans fell. Polina said she works at H&M while studying sociology. She said she wants to write scientific pieces about everyday people.
Ilya: Escaping Russia’s Regions for Moscow
Ilya, in his early 20s, had just finished work at a clothing retail store near the edge of Moscow and was waiting in the metro around 10 pm for his girlfriend to arrive. He said he came from Belgorod in western Russia near the border with Ukraine. Belgorod is considered to be one of Russia's better regions, in part due to its agriculture base. When asked why he moved to Moscow, Ilya said ''it is impossible to live in the [Russian] regions.'' Ilya explained that he earns double what his mom makes, despite her having a much more important job. Ilya said his mom is responsible for water supply to residents in one of Belgorod's towns. Ilya said his girlfriend also moved from the regions to Moscow.
Damba: Ulan-Ude Street Fashion
ULAN-UDE, EASTERN SIBERIA: Damba was dressed in a t-shirt, thin black-leather jacket and short socks as he walked around Ulan-Ude. The snow started to fall as we chatted and he pulled an umbrella out of his bag. He said he was a foreign language student snd spent one-year in St Petersburg. Despite his looks, he says he isn't interested in fashion.
Igor: Ulyanovsk Journalist, Drummer in Medieval Band
Igor, 28, was walking in the center of Ulyanovsk wearing a winter hat with the portrait of Nestor Makhno, a Ukrainian anarchist who fought the Red and White armies during the Russian Civil War.
A journalist for a local pro-government newspaper, Igor said he also owns a shirt with the portrait of Stepan Razin, a Cossack rebel that fought the Tsarist government.
Anna: New Balance Store Manager
Before 2010, it wasn't common for Russian adults to walk around Moscow in sneakers. If you did see someone in Moscow in sneakers, it was possibly a foreigner. It was highly unlikely to be a Russian woman and it definitely wasn't New Balance they were wearing. Fashion has changed significantly over the past few years in the Russian capital and you will see all sorts of adults wearing sneakers. Anna, in her mid 20s, was wearing yellow New Balance as she took a smoke break outside a Moscow shopping center. Anna said she was a manager at the New Balance store inside the mall, so I asked about footwear trends and type of clients that come in. ''People in Russia now realize that they can wear sneakers and still be fashionable. It is not just teenagers and young adults. We get some grandfathers in their 50s, 60s, or even 70s that wore New Balance many years ago and remember them fondly.''
Anton: Moscow Fashion Industry
Anton was dressed in military style with white sneakers and a black baseball cap as he rode the Moscow metro. He said he worked in the fashion industry and I asked him about his view of Moscow trends and developments. Years ago, ''if you wanted to be fashionable and dress as you liked, you had to earn a lot and order everything from Europe or the US. Now, people can get what they want at stores in Moscow. Even tough street kids are wearing real Adidas.'' ''And there is now an opportunity for Russian brands to develop. We [Russians] now know what we love and what we can create for people.''
Alyona: Rostov Dancer
Alyona was walking back from the grocery store wearing poker-dot stockings, black boots and a New York winter hat. Alyona, who works at a sports betting company, said she loves writing poetry and dancing. Her dance interests range from Russian folk to industrial. Alona said she comes from a creative family. Both her mother and sister sing and dance. ''My mother has a wonderful opera voice and I am very proud of her,'' she said.
Katya: High-End Fashion Industry
Katya, 28, was taking a break outside the high-end fashion showroom in Rostov that she works at. She said they offer European fashion for the city's wealthier inhabitants. Katya said she would like to become a 'buyer' for her company and travel to Europe to pick out the clothing that will be displayed in the showroom. I asked her about the latest fashion trends in Rostov. ''Over the past few years, people have become more fashionable - with their own individual style - especially young people. Four years ago, there were just a handful of such people.'' ''Lately, I have seen a lot of hipsters, girls are starting to wear various, interesting layers. And I often see people wearing military style and sometimes grunge.''
Margo & Milana: Street Fashion
Margo (holding bag) and Milana were eating McDonald's on the street in Rostov as they leaned against a street underpass staircase. Margo, who runs the hurdles, shouted with pride ''We are from Samara!'' as they were photographed.
Natasha: Ferris Wheel for Khabarovsk
KHABAROVSK: Natasha, dressed in a 'New York' winter hat, was leaving her university with three girlfriends. She said she was studying public service, following in her dad's footsteps and planned on staying in Khabarovsk. I asked what changes she would like to see in her city. "I would really like to see a ferris wheel built," she said. "And that our educational system resembled America's a bit - where you can choose your own subjects; cheerleaders, swimming and beautiful cafeterias." Several people I spoke with in the Far East commented - like Natasha - that there aren't enough recreational or entertainment spots in their cities.
