I was pumped to interview fashion designer, Nadja Solovieva for Savvy Tokyo. She is the creator and mastermind behind the magestic and beautiful scarves seen on celebrities across the globe. VASSILISA is a rising star in the accessories world, get the scoop on how you can be a part of the magic below!
In a country where the size XXXS exists and boutiques carry
a standard “one size”, presumed to fit
all shoppers, it not only becomes frustrating, but utterly intimidating to
shop in Tokyo. Nonetheless, every
now and then all women need some retail therapy, and although leather pants may
not be in the cards for some, other elements of fashion are easier to find.
From major department stores to back street boutiques, Tokyo has no shortage in
the accessories department. As a leader in fashion trends, Tokyo offers unique
accessories from new designers and prevailing fashion brands that will set you
apart from your friends back home. Here at Savvy we want to introduce you to
the designers making waves across the globe and where you can find their
designs here in Tokyo!
One of the hottest labels in luxury scarves is creating buzz
here in Japan. London based brand, Vassilisa, is bringing fairytale-like beauty
to fashion editors and celebrities such as Kate Moss, Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth
Paltrow. The beautiful squares of mythological designs can be seen on fashion
spreads featured in numerous publications including Vogue, Elle, WWD and Tater.
Each scarf is designed to accessorize women in the same way as a majestic piece
of jewelry. The latest fall/winter collection is both contemporary and
innovative in design and color combinations. Paired with basic denim and a
leather jacket or worn elegantly over an evening dress, the versatility in the
Vassilisa scarf is facilitated through the luxe materials and edgy designs.
Savvy sat down
with Central Saint Martin’s’ alum and Vassilisa designer, Nadja Solovieva, as
she walked us through her latest collection and gave us the scoop on her design
philosophy, how she got started in the luxury accessories business.
Question:
Can you give us the
history behind Vassilisa? How did it get started?
Nadja: I started
trading in 2008. I graduated in 2007 from Central Saint Martins and my
collection was selected for the press shows and from then I began getting
inquires. In 2011 I received the British Council launch pad award for new
designers. We also do an exhibition at the London fashion week.
Did you work for any
other fashion houses before started your own line: Nadja: When I graduated
from CSM I was still relatively young when and worked for only one year with
the design team for Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood.
Scarves seem to be
your signature item, what made you decide to concentrate on scarves and do you
plan on expanding the brand with more items?
I started with dresses they were the “ Vassilisa the
beautiful” style concept, mythology, themed, very flowy and colorful. The scarves
were originally just the scraps from the dresses, they draped beautifully and I
loved them. The VOGUE editor called it her “Russian love” on a blog post and from
there, the brand became known for scarves.
Nadja: I follow
the Central Saint Martin’s method. I have a brand identity that sets the frame
“Vassilisa the beautiful”, so they must be beautiful. I do not source from
current trends or secondary sources; I focus on primary sources such as history
or things that are not yet in fashion. Creating a more timeless product. I
regularly visit historic archives, the Victorian and Albert Museum and national
galleries, and from there we use the sketchbook method.
Do you start with a
new theme each collection?
Nadja: Customers
want to see something new each season but they love to see the same ideas
turning over. The Vassilisa signatures are prints of fur, jewelry prints, and
collage effects that achieve a more modern appearance.
What are the main
materials used to make a Vassilisa luxury scarf? Nadja: We are a member of
sustainable fashion and use primarily Cashmere modal, silk and
Silk chiffon.
Where can our readers
purchase a beautiful Vassilisa scarf? Where are they sold?
Currently they are sold online. You can buy them from a
Tokyo’s online store called:
www.aila-japan.com
Also available online are these sites.
Vassilisa.com, Laso.jp
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