The Russian influence in global fashion is gaining ground steadily. Designers are turning heads with their modern shapes and colorful embroidery, while keeping alive the spirit of the country’s traditional clothing. And one designer currently entertaining us with her captivating yet simple garments is the Russian-born, London-based Olga Vilshenko.
Vilshenko’s passion for fashion took shape thanks to her mother. “I still have fond memories of my mother making clothes for us in her spare time, so I learned a lot about dressmaking from her in my early childhood. I grew up watching her work constantly and learning how to sew from her,” she said.
While she was lucky to have this firsthand experience of how garments are made, Vilshenko knew deep down that she needed to study fashion in depth if she wanted to make it her career. This realization led her to study at the Institute of Fashion and Art in Russia, and then, to hone her skills and knowledge, she went one step further at the Istituto Marangoni fashion school in London. It was all worth it for her at the end of the day. “Now I had the tools I needed to make my mark in the world of fashion so I made my debut with the spring/summer collection in 2011,” said Vilshenko.
The reason the Vilshenko brand is gaining ground globally today is because of the designer’s elegant fusion of eastern folklore and heritage with Western designs and shapes. “This vibrant combination is what gives my brand its signature look,” she said.

Surreal fantasy
Vilshenko’s new-season collection is based on the work of British artist, Lindsey Carr, whose intricate sketches tell a story of surrealistic fantasy. The juxtaposition of light and dark is woven through the collection, with birds and hand-drawn flowers.
“While key fabrications for the collection include crushed textured silk, washed cotton linen, laser-cut Swiss dot cotton, and fine printed silk cotton, I’m working more with denim going forward into next season’s collections too,” said Vilshenko. “I’m quite excited about it.”
When it comes to seeking new ideas, Vilshenko is very much inspired by the classic fairytales that made up such a big part of her family life. “I also find travel a big source of inspiration — be it a far-flung destination or somewhere close to home,” she said. “There is always something out there in one form or another to feed your creativity.”
As for a role model or person she looks up to in her life, Vilshenko sees only her mother; she says nobody can replace her. “I would not be where I am right now in both my personal and professional life if it were not for her. I learned how to be a mother, a woman and a businesswoman from her,” Vilshenko said. “She has been the biggest influence and the biggest encouragement that I’ve had and that anyone could wish for.”

Celebs’ fascination with Vilshenko
Many high-profile celebrities have worn Vilshenko’s designs, giving her label exposure everywhere. They include Anne Hathaway, Naomi Watts, Florence Welch, Alexa Chung and Dakota Johnson.
“I’m very lucky to have had them donning my designs with so much panache. It feels so good,” said Vilshenko. “Other women that I would definitely love to dress are Alicia Vikander, Diane Kruger, Zoe Saldana — the list goes on!”
It is no wonder that Vilshenko feels flattered when she sees the most stylish women in the world having fun in her clothes. “I design for every woman who wants to show her femininity and modernity by wearing my pieces. When I see a woman that I don’t know walking down the street in Vilshenko, that feels so special to me — it makes my day and reminds me of why I do what I do,” she said.
As a mother, Vilshenko likes to be comfortable in every possible situation. That is why she tends to wear lots of denim, whether it is slim-fit or wide-legged jeans, paired with an embroidered blouse. Otherwise an embroidered skirt paired with a high-neck knit with a Vilshenko long fur-collared coat. “For evening, I prefer long and lean dresses paired with high heels,” she said. “You feel more airy.”

Boom time for Russian fashion
Vilshenko is happy with the progress the fashion industry is making in her country. “There are so many amazing designers emerging from Russia — it is an exciting time for us! The (Buro Fashion Forward Initiative) event that we were part of this year really summed it up — so much creative talent, and though each one of us has such different aesthetics, our heritage will always unify us.”
The increasingly demanding nature of fashion as it develops day by day has created a whole new challenge for designers at all levels. In the face of this unavoidable complexity, they are often participating in producing special collaborations and capsule collections to meet the ever-growing demands of consumers. Nevertheless, quality must prevail in every stitch.
“The hot topic today is ‘see now, buy now’ fashion which is absolutely followed by millennials. In such circumstances, our task is to maintain the identity of the Vilshenko brand by keeping it more competitive and unique,” she said. “It’s quite necessary to do so. After all, fashion has now become more dynamic than ever.”
Our conversation with Vilshenko ended on this positive note: “We would like to focus on the core values of the brand, exploring new concepts and increasing our clientele,” she said. “As long as we do this, the outcome will constantly improve.”