FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE

Crafting couture fairytales, while preserving the precious knowledge of ateliers of her country, this designer has taken her opulent and timeless designs to the global map, and rightfully so.

- SHIVPRIYA BAJPAI

From a studio with five people in Moscow, to more than a hundred employees at present working behind the scenes at the eponymous label Ulyana Sergeenko of international repute, her designs breathe soul into every piece of craft. Ulyana was born in a small town in Kazakhstan, and grew up in a family of linguists and intellectuals. Russian and European fairy tales, as well as classics of Russian literature like Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, the poetry of Akhmatova and Tsvetaeva fed her imaginations. Her love for handmade clothes finds its roots in the Soviet era, when fashion was not an international business, and women relied on craftsmanship and traditional handwork to make their own wardrobes. One such woman holds a special place in Ulyana’s heart; her grandmother, who has been her biggest fashion inspiration till date. The country back then housed hundreds of small ateliers, who were perpetuating traditional crafts, as carefully guarded as the most precious secrets.

After moving to Moscow, Ulyana’s brewing interest in art began to take shape, when she started getting her clothes made to order, modelled after her own drawings and inspirations. Being a socialite, her personal style received rave reviews and it didn’t take her long to launch her own studio in 2011. Since then, she has taken Russia to the global map of fashion with her eclectic designs known for their intricate detailing. She collaborates with local craftsmen and ateliers to preserve the essence of her culture. In an exclusive interview, Ulyana shares her journey with us. Edited excerpts follow.

Being born in a small town in Kazakhstan to being a couture client yourself, and finally launching your fashion house in 2011; how has been the journey so far?