Designers Reveal Their Success Stories from Moscow Fashion Week
Designers Reveal Their Success Stories from Moscow Fashion Week
04.03.2026
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/hsnt69N64VdwBQ
From March 14 to 19, 2026, Moscow Fashion Week will take place at the Central Exhibition Hall ‘Manege.’ The ‘Made in Moscow’ project, a significant platform dedicated to promoting local fashion brands, will serve as a partner of the event for the second year in a row. In the lead-up to the country’s major fashion event, several designers shared insights on how participation in Moscow Fashion Week has significantly impacted the development of their brands.
Aleksandr Barbakov, Founder and Designer of Sasha Barbakov (Moscow)
Aleksandr Barbakov, the creative force behind the Moscow-based Sasha Barbakov brand, made his Moscow Fashion Week debut in March 2025, immediately attracting attention of leading Russian and international glossy and business publications.
"Participation in Moscow Fashion Week was a turning point for the Sasha Barbakov brand. The clothes were actively purchased in the Moscow Fashion Week pop-up shop — this resulted in a noticeable increase in sales. After the show, the brand was noticed by leading publications: The Symbol, RBC Style, as well as InStyle Spain, Marie Claire Argentina, Cosmopolitan China, Arab News, The Telegraph India, and others," said Aleksandr Barbakov.
Since debuting in March 2025, the Sasha Barbakov brand’s social media following has grown by nearly 20%. Notably, after the previous edition of Moscow Fashion Week, all skirts from the collection sold out within just two days.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/D5cVGt0nfnRYyg
Nadezda Abzaeva, Founder of the Abzaeva brand (Ulan-Ude)
Each season at Moscow Fashion Week delivers tangible results for the Abzaeva brand: more than half of each collection sells immediately after the show. Participation in the previous Moscow Fashion Week has also opened the door to strategic partnerships. Nadezda Abzaeva met representatives of the concept store Lynx, where her collections are now featured, and she secured a collaboration with the creative space ‘Artel.’
"Thanks to Moscow Fashion Week, my brand has started to develop beyond Buryatia: now I work with showrooms in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yakutsk, and I travel to different regions of Russia for fashion shows. Also, thanks to Moscow Fashion Week, my collections have received international exposure in glossy magazines — photos from the shows are published in Vogue China, L'Officiel Brazil, Harper's Bazaar Malaysia, and others," Nadezda shared.
"Every season, I apply to participate in Moscow Fashion Week because it’s the premier platform for an emerging brand’s growth: providing valuable professional experience, access to industry experts, and opportunities to connect with new partners and customers," she added.
In 2024, Nadezda showcased her collection at China Fashion Week in Beijing.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/QZ-UYIx8x5TSHA
Alexandra Koryakina, Designer of the Za_Za Brand (Saint Petersburg)
For Alexandra Koryakina, founder and designer of the Za_Za brand, Moscow Fashion Week remains a vital component of the brand’s growth strategy. "Participation in Moscow Fashion Week has helped us connect with retailers and wholesale buyers, meet fabric and trim suppliers. And the fashion shows organized by Moscow Fashion Week are surely the only place where we can truly gauge the audience’s reaction, gather expert comments, and receive media feedback — all of which provide valuable insights for future collections," Alexandra shared.
Furthermore, Za_Za participated in Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI in March 2025, under a bilateral agreement between Moscow Fashion Week and the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), following the BRICS+ Fashion Summit. The collection showcased at the event was featured in ELLE India, a leading fashion publication. Building on this engagement, Alexandra Koryakina initiated a partnership with the prominent Indian multi-brand boutique chain AURA, with Za_Za pieces quickly selling out across their stores.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/82Sx0dpB2uRiBA
The ‘Made in Moscow’ project, alongside Moscow Fashion Week, continues to actively support the local designers of clothing and accessories. Participants showcase their collections at local markets, marketplaces, and organize fashion shows as part of the event. This season, brands from the ‘Made in Moscow’ initiative will participate in a fashion show and pop-up shop at Moscow Fashion Week.
Anna Degtyareva, Founder of the accessories brand Création Pôle, (Moscow, participant of the ‘Made in Moscow; project)
Anna Degtyareva, founder of the accessories brand Création Pôle, notes that participating in the summer Moscow Fashion Week in 2025 provided her with many valuable connections.
"Moscow Fashion Week introduced me to the 'Made in Moscow' project, which helped increase my brand’s recognition through TV interviews and mentions in glossy magazines, including advertising integrations in a special print issue of VOICE Shopping magazine. New contacts with buyers at the pop-up shop gave me the opportunity to expand the retail presence. The event and collaboration with 'Made in Moscow' also boosted brand awareness: my social media followers doubled," emphasizes Anna.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/RH5aeIcuT-I0lQ
Sandra Gutsati, Designer and Founder of the clothing brand Ónoma (Moscow, participant of the ‘Made in Moscow’ project)
Sandra Gutsati says that participating in the Moscow Fashion Week provided a valuable platform to showcase her latest collection, connect with fellow designers, and boost brand recognition among consumers and industry peers.
"Our products sell well in the pop-up shop, and this motivates us to continue developing. Additionally, I talked to buyers during Moscow Fashion Week last summer and received valuable feedback from them. Thanks to events like this, more and more people are learning about our brand," explains Sandra.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/6EtmP39DLhRIrA
Natalia Podlesnykh, Founder of the clothing brand Lurvin (Moscow, participant of the ‘Made in Moscow’ project)
Natalia Podlesnykh, founder of the Lurvin clothing brand, emphasizes that participating in Moscow Fashion Week offers a valuable opportunity to present her brand to a broad audience and attract the attention of leading media outlets and influencers.
"Participation in the Moscow Fashion Week pop-up shop consistently yields impressive results: significant sales growth, direct contact with the target audience, and the attraction of new customers who share the brand’s values. The pop-up shop provides an opportunity to receive feedback from consumers, helping me better understand their needs and preferences," says Natalia.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/m6IlXJi-WJJFjA
From March 14 to 19, 2026, Moscow Fashion Week will take place at the Central Exhibition Hall ‘Manege.’ The ‘Made in Moscow’ project, a significant platform dedicated to promoting local fashion brands, will serve as a partner of the event for the second year in a row. In the lead-up to the country’s major fashion event, several designers shared insights on how participation in Moscow Fashion Week has significantly impacted the development of their brands.
Aleksandr Barbakov, Founder and Designer of Sasha Barbakov (Moscow)
Aleksandr Barbakov, the creative force behind the Moscow-based Sasha Barbakov brand, made his Moscow Fashion Week debut in March 2025, immediately attracting attention of leading Russian and international glossy and business publications.
"Participation in Moscow Fashion Week was a turning point for the Sasha Barbakov brand. The clothes were actively purchased in the Moscow Fashion Week pop-up shop — this resulted in a noticeable increase in sales. After the show, the brand was noticed by leading publications: The Symbol, RBC Style, as well as InStyle Spain, Marie Claire Argentina, Cosmopolitan China, Arab News, The Telegraph India, and others," said Aleksandr Barbakov.
Since debuting in March 2025, the Sasha Barbakov brand’s social media following has grown by nearly 20%. Notably, after the previous edition of Moscow Fashion Week, all skirts from the collection sold out within just two days.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/D5cVGt0nfnRYyg
Nadezda Abzaeva, Founder of the Abzaeva brand (Ulan-Ude)
Each season at Moscow Fashion Week delivers tangible results for the Abzaeva brand: more than half of each collection sells immediately after the show. Participation in the previous Moscow Fashion Week has also opened the door to strategic partnerships. Nadezda Abzaeva met representatives of the concept store Lynx, where her collections are now featured, and she secured a collaboration with the creative space ‘Artel.’
"Thanks to Moscow Fashion Week, my brand has started to develop beyond Buryatia: now I work with showrooms in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yakutsk, and I travel to different regions of Russia for fashion shows. Also, thanks to Moscow Fashion Week, my collections have received international exposure in glossy magazines — photos from the shows are published in Vogue China, L'Officiel Brazil, Harper's Bazaar Malaysia, and others," Nadezda shared.
"Every season, I apply to participate in Moscow Fashion Week because it’s the premier platform for an emerging brand’s growth: providing valuable professional experience, access to industry experts, and opportunities to connect with new partners and customers," she added.
In 2024, Nadezda showcased her collection at China Fashion Week in Beijing.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/QZ-UYIx8x5TSHA
Alexandra Koryakina, Designer of the Za_Za Brand (Saint Petersburg)
For Alexandra Koryakina, founder and designer of the Za_Za brand, Moscow Fashion Week remains a vital component of the brand’s growth strategy. "Participation in Moscow Fashion Week has helped us connect with retailers and wholesale buyers, meet fabric and trim suppliers. And the fashion shows organized by Moscow Fashion Week are surely the only place where we can truly gauge the audience’s reaction, gather expert comments, and receive media feedback — all of which provide valuable insights for future collections," Alexandra shared.
Furthermore, Za_Za participated in Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI in March 2025, under a bilateral agreement between Moscow Fashion Week and the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), following the BRICS+ Fashion Summit. The collection showcased at the event was featured in ELLE India, a leading fashion publication. Building on this engagement, Alexandra Koryakina initiated a partnership with the prominent Indian multi-brand boutique chain AURA, with Za_Za pieces quickly selling out across their stores.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/82Sx0dpB2uRiBA
The ‘Made in Moscow’ project, alongside Moscow Fashion Week, continues to actively support the local designers of clothing and accessories. Participants showcase their collections at local markets, marketplaces, and organize fashion shows as part of the event. This season, brands from the ‘Made in Moscow’ initiative will participate in a fashion show and pop-up shop at Moscow Fashion Week.
Anna Degtyareva, Founder of the accessories brand Création Pôle, (Moscow, participant of the ‘Made in Moscow; project)
Anna Degtyareva, founder of the accessories brand Création Pôle, notes that participating in the summer Moscow Fashion Week in 2025 provided her with many valuable connections.
"Moscow Fashion Week introduced me to the 'Made in Moscow' project, which helped increase my brand’s recognition through TV interviews and mentions in glossy magazines, including advertising integrations in a special print issue of VOICE Shopping magazine. New contacts with buyers at the pop-up shop gave me the opportunity to expand the retail presence. The event and collaboration with 'Made in Moscow' also boosted brand awareness: my social media followers doubled," emphasizes Anna.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/RH5aeIcuT-I0lQ
Sandra Gutsati, Designer and Founder of the clothing brand Ónoma (Moscow, participant of the ‘Made in Moscow’ project)
Sandra Gutsati says that participating in the Moscow Fashion Week provided a valuable platform to showcase her latest collection, connect with fellow designers, and boost brand recognition among consumers and industry peers.
"Our products sell well in the pop-up shop, and this motivates us to continue developing. Additionally, I talked to buyers during Moscow Fashion Week last summer and received valuable feedback from them. Thanks to events like this, more and more people are learning about our brand," explains Sandra.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/6EtmP39DLhRIrA
Natalia Podlesnykh, Founder of the clothing brand Lurvin (Moscow, participant of the ‘Made in Moscow’ project)
Natalia Podlesnykh, founder of the Lurvin clothing brand, emphasizes that participating in Moscow Fashion Week offers a valuable opportunity to present her brand to a broad audience and attract the attention of leading media outlets and influencers.
"Participation in the Moscow Fashion Week pop-up shop consistently yields impressive results: significant sales growth, direct contact with the target audience, and the attraction of new customers who share the brand’s values. The pop-up shop provides an opportunity to receive feedback from consumers, helping me better understand their needs and preferences," says Natalia.
Photo: https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/m6IlXJi-WJJFjA