Capturing Russia from white to black, north to south, east to west

Posts Tagged "streetfashion"

Russia-NYC Photo Series 21

Russia-NYC Photo Series 21

He was hanging out at a tiny cafe in the center of Moscow in his New York t-shirt. He said he moved here from Pridnestrovie, a breakaway republic wedged btw Moldova and Ukraine because he saw no future for himself there. He said he dreamed of a career in the music industry.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 20

Russia-NYC Photo Series 20

Anton, sporting a Brooklyn shirt, was walking with his girlfriend Katya toward Sparrow Hills, which offers one of the best views of Moscow, when I bumped into them. While taking a few photos, Anton suddenly turned toward Katya and kissed her.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 19

Russia-NYC Photo Series 19

The skies opened up and rain poured down when I saw Mikhail in his Brooklyn shirt in Moscow. Neither of us had an umbrella, yet he didn't mind chating or being photographed in the rain. He said he grew up in the former Soviet republic of Moldova. While working at an Italian restaurant in Moscow, he fell in love with a co-worker ... though he didn't start dating her until he changed jobs. She is from the Moldavan breakaway region of Pridnestrovie. They are now married and will be having their first child soon. He says they will continue to rent in Moscow as apartment prices and mortgages (avg ~12%) are too expensive - an all to common complaint. On a separate note, this is the second guy I spoke with this summer who married a co-worker from a Moscow restaurant - both women were from Pridnestrovie.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 18

Russia-NYC Photo Series 18

Both Vitali and Alexei are from Novosibirsk, the so-called capital of Siberia. Both attend Moscow State University, where I ran into them. Both are studying oil and gas engineering....and both are wearing NYC-themed shirts. Alexei, on the right, said he bought the shirt in Thailand, which is one of the top five foreign destinations for Russian tourists, attracting more than 1mln a year. It takes roughly the same time to fly to Thailand from Novosibirsk as it does to Italy (7hrs).

Russia-NYC Photo Series 17

Russia-NYC Photo Series 17

Zhenya, a loan officer for Russia's largest bank Sberbank, was walking in the southern city Stavropol this summer in his Brooklyn shirt. It reminded me of t-shirts made by Brooklyn Industries. I just happened to meet Zhenya on a street that had a huge advertisement by the clothing store New Yorker. With Russia's economic growth coming in much lower than expected, Zhenya just may be busier these days trying to recover loans rather than dispense new ones.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 16

Russia-NYC Photo Series 16

I was exploring the back streets of Sochi one night this summer when I ran into Kristina and her dog Torik. Kristina, who was wearing a NYC shirt, moved with her family from Omsk, an oil town in Siberia, to the Black Sea town of Sochi because of the better climate. Kristina said she is into music, including rap, and was proud to have recently met one of her favorite DJs. Kristina said she wants to be a DJ in New York or Miami.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 13

Russia-NYC Photo Series 13

He was in the metro station heading home with friends when I noticed the cool Brooklyn hat. He said he plays basketball and bought the hat in Miami. I asked him to step outside the station to take the photo as the light was a bit better. He was a bit reluctant, but agreed. As I got my camera ready, this girl ran over and jumped into the photo, causing him to smile. She then ran off just as fast into the metro. He must have been 6'3" - you can see that she is on her tippy toes and still a few inches shorter than him.
 

Russia-NYC Photo Series 11

Russia-NYC Photo Series 11

As we exited the metro, I asked Roman if I could take his photo with the Bronx hat and he agreed. On the escalator ride up to the street, I asked him what kind of work he was involved in. He leaned toward my ear and whispered "I'm an artist."

Russia-NYC Photo Series 9

Russia-NYC Photo Series 9

I learned something new about Russian sports from my chance encounter with Mikhail, whom I saw standing next to Lenin's Tomb on Red Square in his New York hat and USA-flag shirt with Mickey Mouse. Mikhail, who lives about 200km from Moscow, was in town to visit his sister. He said he is a member of a stuntbike team, which is soccer (football) on motorbikes with the exception that the ball is much bigger. He said Russia as several stuntbike teams around the country. As for his t-shirt... It jokingly calls Mickey Mouse "America's version of Cheburashka," a Russia's cartoon character. Cheburashka was created in mid 1960s, whereas Mickey Mouse was created in 1920s.

Russia-NYC Photo Series 8

Russia-NYC Photo Series 8

Vlad was standing with his girlfriend outside a metro station in northwestern Moscow. Vlad said he bought the shirt because he likes the Brooklyn Nets, which is owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. Vlad is a fire-fighting specialist for the Russian Emergency Ministry, which probably explains his big physique.

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