She is one of the most exciting new designers to come out of Russia, plus a widely inspirational street-style star. Famous for her feminine and innovative creations, Vika Gazinskaya has teamed up with PETA to talk about compassionate fashion.
Those who follow fashion religiously know Vika as part of the new wave of Russian fashionistas – along with Ulyana Sergeenko, Elena Perminova and Miroslava Duma, Vika has ruled the street-style coverage from the last few seasons. Experimenting with volumes and textures, brightened by intricate patterns, Vika’s wearing her design personality on her sleeve – quite literally. But Vika is no stranger to shoppers outside of Russia, thanks to her collaboration with & Other Stories a few seasons ago.
As Russia is one of the world’s biggest markets for fur, an emerging designer taking a stand against it is unusual. Vika, a vegetarian since the age of 16, is standing up for animals by forgoing not only fur, but also leather in her designs – and she’s very clear that the reason why she’s looking to materials that don’t bleed is to promote animal welfare.
In this video for PETA, Vika also smashes the ‘but it’s cold’ excuse: she wears her own designs even at -20C in Moscow, feeling very comfortable. Not even the harsh Russian winter is a match for cruelty-free fabrics.
Vika’s determination to stay compassionate makes her unique, but we do hope that more designers will follow suit. As consumers become more and more aware and curious about where their clothes came from, compassionate fashion brands are bound to stand out from the crowd. Vika, we applaud your kind approach to style.
