Evgeniy Yashyk
RussiaBiography of Evgeny Yashchuk
Evgeny Yashchuk is the General Director of Moscow Fashion Week. He has been involved in the fashion industry in Moscow since 1994. In the early years, Moscow Fashion Week was held once a year and featured haute couture collections. However, in 2003, the format changed to twice a year, showcasing both haute couture and pret-a-porter collections.
Before the establishment of Moscow Fashion Week and the Association of Haute Couture and Pret-a-Porter, there was no such event in Russia. The growing interest in high fashion necessitated the creation of a platform to satisfy the needs of fashion enthusiasts. However, in the early days, the Association faced challenges in finding skilled professionals as the fashion market was still developing. Many people perceived fashion week as a social gathering rather than a gathering of professionals, but these stereotypes gradually changed over time.
Initially, the majority of designers participating in Moscow Fashion Week were foreign, accounting for approximately 60% of the participants, while only 40% were local designers. However, in recent years, this percentage has significantly changed, with only about 10% of participants coming from abroad.
Moscow Fashion Week serves as a platform for all individuals involved in the fashion industry. However, for young and emerging designers, it can be financially challenging to participate in such events. The costs of showcasing a new collection are significant, and only those who have already established their businesses can afford to debut. Nevertheless, the Association and major players in the fashion market pay attention to these debutants, offering them job opportunities or lucrative orders.
Moscow Fashion Week attracts not only potential clients and employers but also journalists. In recent years, foreign journalists have shown a tremendous interest in Russia, which has also benefited the growing fashion industry.
In terms of differences between Moscow Fashion Week and its international counterparts, the principles are essentially the same. However, Moscow Fashion Week has experienced significant growth, with an increasing number of participants each year. The demand was so high that the event had to be extended by an additional day. It is worth noting that foreign designers cover their expenses to attend Moscow Fashion Week, which demonstrates their interest in the Russian market.
To further develop the fashion industry, the Association focuses on promoting Russian designers both domestically and internationally. Evgeny Yashchuk himself appreciates and supports the work of Russian designers such as Yudashkin and Sharov. While many achievements have been made, there is still much work to be done, particularly in promoting Russian designers on both the international and domestic markets. This will require the Association to focus on developing the mass market.
