"Revolutionary" collection TARAKANOVA

Within the framework of Belarus Fashion Week autumn-winter season 2016-2017 probably one of the most interesting Belarusian designers Lyudmila Tarakanova presented her author's collection “Revolutionary”. The collection was presented after a long hiatus. Lyudmila Tarakanova has not taken part in Belarus Fashion Week since 2013.

What is interesting about Lyudmila Tarakanova? Firstly, it is always high skill and excellent quality - Lyudmila Tarakanova, in addition to working as a designer, is also a teacher, assistant professor at Vitebsk Technological University. Secondly, these are not only interesting concepts of the collections themselves, but also always some kind of presentation on the catwalk.

Models dressed in the images of the revolutionaries of 1917 did not go to the podium from behind the curtains, they appeared quietly, from the auditorium, as befits a revolutionary, in dim lighting, and only then the defile began. Few of the Belarusian designers today risk diversifying the monotonous procession of models on the catwalk with elements of the performance. It's a pity. Thirdly, Lyudmila Tarakanova is the only famous Belarusian designer who makes men's collections. And clothes for men are undoubtedly the “strong point” of this designer.

As the designer herself admitted to reporters, the idea of ​​creating a collection appeared by chance: “I sit, smoke and think, in 2017, one hundred years from the day of the October Revolution, and why am I not making a collection on this topic”.

The “Revolutionary” collection features both male and female images. The colors are mostly black and gray with red accents. Fabrics are only natural. “I like natural fabrics, they breathe,” says the designer.

Products are varied. On the podium one could see coats, raincoats, saki (light men's coats), bombers, vests, shirts, trousers and skirts, dresses and sweaters. Dresses and skirts, including those in men's images. According to Lyudmila Tarakanova herself, there is no novelty in this, if you recall the history of the costume, then the dresses and skirts were borrowed by women from the men's wardrobe. As headdresses were used "Kubanks", which were worn by anarchists.

On the podium one could see not only the images of the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks, but also the Cadets, Socialist-Revolutionaries, workers and peasants. The flared cut of the trousers was used as a reference to the "hippie", and the tight lines of the trousers - to the "beatniks".

In general, the collection of Lyudmila Tarakanova, however, as always, made an excellent impression on the audience, journalists, and the models themselves participating in the show.

But the designer clearly has no plans to spoil the public with his collections. According to Lyudmila Tarakanova, she has very little time, most of which she spends on her main job - teaching. Just like all Belarusian designers, there are problems with funding - there are no sponsors in the country willing to support creativity. So, Lyudmila Tarakanova, for example, worked for Russian customers for some time. Therefore, whether we will see her collections in the next seasons of Belarus Fashion Week remains a big question.