Love to see women in my clothes - Alexander Terekhov

Published 27 September, 2008, 13:42

Alexander Terekhov hails from a small town in Russia. Now living in Moscow and heading up his own clothing line, Terexov, he is quickly gaining international recognition in the fashion world as a designer capable of sublime elegance. After studying at the Moscow Institute of Fashion and Design, he began his career designing for Yves Saint Laurent, and today his clothes for Terexov evoke the strong, confident glamour that was the core of Yves Saint Laurent’s work. His new collection, full of modernised seventies glamour and pastel jewel tones, thrilled the celebrity-studded crowd at his show in New York. RT catches up with the designer to find out about the forces behind this tremendous collection.

RT: What was the inspiration for the intense, beautiful colors you used for your Spring ‘09 collection?

Alexander Terekhov: I found a vintage dress that was made of pieces of colorful fabric positioned together to form a map. I took that idea and made my own fabric of a map.  I loved the way all of these colors looked together and separately.

RT: Who is the elegant, jet-setting woman you had in mind when you designed this collection?

Alexander Terekhov: She is a composite of many women – I love to see how different women put themselves together.  I especially love to see them in my clothes. I see fabric or a design and feel I have to interpret that into something beautiful. Again, this map inspired me, and it inspired many of the special fabrics we had in the show.

RT: Usually, models are sent out on the catwalk holding a handbag at most, but yours were carrying small, brightly colored suitcases.  With the recurring map print, it seems you are very focused on fashionable travel.

Alexander Terekhov: I am not sure I really had a travel theme in mind. I more liked the idea of the cases, which are a little hard edged. Then we made them more fun with the colors and textures. Mix those cases with the beautiful hued fabrics we used and you have a woman who is going places and doing things.

RT: Who do you hope to see wearing this collection?

Alexander Terekhov: I like to see all different women wearing my clothes. In Russia, there are many types of women who wear my dresses. I love to see the way women put a look together. With my dress as a foundation, it’s interesting to see what the end result is.  In each country, women have their own look- I like traveling and being surprised by what woman are wearing.

RT: Why do you prefer to show in New York, whereas many of your compatriots show in Paris?

Alexander Terekhov: I love New York. I like to look at women in New York – I think they are very glamorous and very serious about getting dressed. I love many things about New York – the energy, the cabs, the lights.  I also think that in the fashion world, the fashion audience in NY is a very important component to my growth. I think New York gets you a lot of attention worldwide.

RT: What would you like to change in the fashion world with your designs?

Alexander Terekhov: I think I have done a good job with dispelling what some people are predisposed to think a Russian designer would design. I know there are many talented designers in Russia – how could there not be?  We have a lot of history – arts, theater – we now have the freedom to express all that beauty in a very bold way through clothes. I think I am doing that.

By Laura Rose for RT

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