steps to Voskhod

X' U boots by Yulia Krivich

«BANYA concept store»

As we already spoke at last X' U presented her collection in the Moscow gallery «Mel».

Now you can buy dresses from X ’ U in St.-Petersburg too.

For this purpose you can come to the «BANYA concept store».

BANYA concept store is an idea platform, introducing the latest collections of mainly Scandinavian and Asian designers, new issues of world-wide known fashion magazines, albums on art and design, jewelry, designer toys, lomography, vintage selection of cult and incognito brands from all around the world. The range of products does not tolerate restrictions: anything that can generate some interest for sophisticated visitors has a chance to be represented in BANYA.

But above all, BANYA concept is a fashion research community of designers, musicians, artists, photographers and other creative people, united by similar views on the fashion industry in Russia and abroad.

BANYA concept confidently shares philosophy of fresh and aesthetic appearance of man with bathhouses. White tile, aluminum tubes, restored and actually functioning shower cubicles instead of fitting rooms - shop interior matches the one of public baths, interspersed with mirror tiles that reflect the entertaining aesthetics of bars, and vintage elements characterizing love for fashion, both current and past. Moreover, the room is equipped for evening events and periodically secretly works as a bar.

Born in the most European city of Russia - St. Petersburg, the store tries to reflect the cultural and imaginative spirit of the people of the northern capital.

The Moscow gallery «Mel»

Vimeo.

Ksenia Marchenko created her new collection. She found inspiration and force in the Ukrainian folklore, and traditions of the country. Designer presented us easy white dresses from natural fabrics through stitched by black threads. She used an embroidery which could "tell", namely protect by word. After all on dresses the hand-written text, and in a consequence by a thread puts the authentic plots, capable to bring to the owner good luck, happiness and love. The natural function of clothes is to protect, that we are once again convinced. When the designer showed the collection, it has not conceded to initial idea. There was no alcohol on presentation , in exchange, all visitors will regale on natural drinks, such as a dogrose or tarragon drink. During the presentation in the Moscow gallery «Mel» models went down in a court yard and strode, without looking, at cars and passers-by that them surrounded. It creating thereby cleanliness and naivety atmosphere directly on the street. The absolutely casual people paid their attention to it and only then again hastened on affairs.

Moscow

In the territory of factory Red October in the gallery «Mel» will take place the presentation of the project «Spells» created by Ukrainian designer Ksenia Marchenko and artist Vladimir Kuznetsov.

Spells

July, 08, 2010 – at 5 pm, Kiev

On the 6th floor in Sky Art Cafe of the PinchukArtCenter was presented the project "Spells",

created by Ukrainian designer Ksenia Marchenko and artist Vladimir Kuznetsov.

On presentation the authors are prearranged about the idea of creation of collection, feature of work in collaborations and described own personal practices. Vladimir Kuznetsov told about the methods of the use of text in different contexts, Ksenia Marchenko told about

connection of fashion and art and about the features of cutting out.

Harpers Bazaar editor-in-chief Natalia Guzenko argued about copula of fashion and art in world practice.

At the same time was started exposition of work from the project "Spells".

Were present also natural soft drinks and djs Nina Direnko and Petro Baron.

Working on the new collection, Ksenia Marchenko invited Vladimir Kuznetsov to the collaboration, being inspired the use of embroidery in his works. As a result it was created ten dresses with the texts of the authentic Ukrainian spells embroidered on them.

A basic idea was to create clothes, which would contain the deep functions of defence.

"Embroidery is one of those cliches which profiteer mostly, describing Ukrainian. It seems at the same time, that having such weight in folklore and in discussion of Ukrainian provinciality, embroidery in earnest is underestimated by an art as a resource of senses. For example, resource elevated, magic, mysterious and secret". (Olesya Ostrovskaya-Luta, curator of modern art).

In the project "Spells" in the context of embroidery text messages come forward : the authentic Ukrainian protective spells, called to guard the owner from wicked forces, portending to him success, health, love. Dressed, embroidered by spells, collects the function of patronage, certain mystery, magic. Text is stitching a thing through, becomes single unit with him, materializing in object-defence.

In the preliminary realized projects Vladimir Kuznetsov already called to the theme of folk embroidery, in particular, embroidering texts of lullabies on sheets, giving to these objects of sacral sense, abandoning their utility at that. As well as lullabies, spells are built on alike rhythms, they are saturated by deep offenses, in both present appeals-wishes for the sake of result - sleep, healing or defence.

Character of collection is built on combination of contrasts. There is lightness of white dresses, that associated with the sterile bed of dreamy girl-teenager and by clear purposeful orders, embroidered black filaments.

Ksenia Marchenko is a designer, permanent participant Ukrainian Fashion Week and Holiday Fashion Week. From a past season participant Russian Fashion week and Aurora Fashion week Made off Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, worked on probation in Central St. Martines College of of Art of and of Design. In 2004 years founded the own brand of clothes of woman and masculine clothes of X'U. In 2005 year Ksenia became the prizewinner of competition of young designers "Look in the future", in 2006 year Ksenia won a victory in a competition Fresh Fashion, which took place within the framework Ukrainian Fashion Week.

Collections of this brand is distinguished by simplicity and intellectuality. A designer gives advantage to creation of "clean" silhouette, uses the self-weighted exact cutting out, combines various invoices, does not burden clothes whimsical details.

Vladimir Kuznetsov is artist, participant of residences, symposiums, counsel projects, international artistic exhibitions, author of the personal projects.

Hi was born in Lutsk in 1976, Ukraine. In 2005 Vladimir Kuznetsov graduated Lvov Academy of Arts, hi is a co-founder of Artistic Advice - same-educational association, which is based on international co-operation in 2008, in 2006 Vladimir is a co-founder CCCK - Center of for of Communication of and of Context, Kiev, in 2004 Kuznetsov is a co-founder of group R. E. S. (Revolutionary Experimental Space). Lives and works in Kiev.

X' U resort 2011

lookbook by Cate Underwood,

style Dasha Lagenberg,

model Kristina Byrak

About

One of the most promising Ukrainian designers, Ksenia Marchenko founded her own clothing brand X'U (which means abbreviation of her first name) in 2004.

Ksenia obtained BA degree with honours in Fashion Design from Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design and created her first prêt-a-porter collection at the age of 19. Since then Marchenko takes part in Ukrainian Fashion Week on a regular basis.

In 2006 she won the Pantene Pro-V award for the collection "Question Mark" and was sent to Central Saint Martins College, London to take the short course “Deconstructing Fashion”.

Ksenia's professional background also includes work as a fashion editor, stylist and columnist for local magazines. She created school uniform, collaborated with Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Adidas, Procter&Gamble, Martini and other brands on various projects.

X'U brand could be easily portrayed with three main words: sincerity, simplicity and freshness. It is based upon clean minimalistic silhouettes and precise, considered tailoring. The garments are very wearable yet they emphаsize the unique features of every person who chooses X'U. This brand is designed for open-minded, active people with street-smart, XXI century sense of fashion. X'U collections are mixed, for both men and women.