Page 197 - Demo

www.MOSTmag.com || FASHIO N MAG A ZINE || 197gorgeous shawls and scarves that I sew myself. From shawls and scarves I moved on to the planning and launching of %u201cContrast,%u201d a sophisticated, avant-garde line of clothing for women. When I visited my mother in Minsk in the summer of 2013, I brought all the leather and fabric with me, hired sample-makers, and, in a couple of weeks I was ready to show my collection at my first in life fashion show %u2013 %u201cMamont%u201d Festival of Modem Arts and Avant-garde Fashion show in Minsk.A few months later in the fall of 2013, I competed at RAWards, and was chosen as one of three finalists for the Designer of the Year in Los Angeles.FMM: What do you think are the biggest challenges for the emerging fashion designer?T.S: In most cases, emerging fashion designers are people who hold day jobs while working on pursuing their dreams of fashion. This is my case. I balance my full-time job and my civic responsibilities as an active member of the Rotary Club of Pico Rivera with my entrepreneurial goals as a fashion designer. Balance is the biggest challenge, and certainly the same is true about money and funding. One needs a lot of money to start a fashion business, especially regarding fashion PR.FMM: What skills are most important for a successful career in fashion design?T.S: First and foremost, NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAMS! I also have a long list of other skills and requirements that I think a successful fashion designer should possess: artistic talent, ambition, self-motivation, charm, phenomenal people and communication skills, commitment, competitiveness, confidence, efficiency, flexibility, initiative, independence, strong leadership and business skills, high and positive energy, humor, imagination, organizational and strong writing skills, excellent computer skills, huge passion for fashion, patience, resourcefulness, daring and networking abilities.FMM: How do you handle stress? T.S: We all face stress on a daily basis. It is all about how you respond to it. I can handle any type of stress and stay calm. A number of people asked me, as I worked on my show backstage at L.A. Fashion Week, how I could stay so calm. My answer was: %u201cWhat is the worst thing that could happen?%u201d If you enjoy fully what you are doing, you should not feel stress; you should enjoy the process. Even when mistakes happen, you will learn from these mistakes and next time you will do much better.FMM: How would you describe your personal style? T.S: My collection was inspired by my tremendous passion for travel and learning about other cultures. Bold bright colors and shapes as well as color-blocking elements derive from my longtime admiration for the work of Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky and Belorussian-French artist Marc Chagall. My collection incorporates fusion colors along with the current trends. My ambition with this line is to produce clothing that people will want to wear in everyday life. Very comfortable, yet stylish%u2014these qualities have always been the goal of my designs. Every woman has to look sexy and feminine, too. I believe that adding a little touch of %u201cdrama%u201d is essential even though I want my clothing to be wearable and not simply designed for the runway. My clothing certainly should WOW a runway audience but at the same time I want that runway audience to know that this clothing is made for them. My designs draw on a host of influences and inspirations, including the colors and styles of Belorussian folk dresses. By reflecting my >>>>>