Alexandra Petina

If she was not a fashion designer, Alexandra Petina would like to have been a documentary photographer. But the 22-year-old Russian has found fashion design is a way for her both to express her thoughts and to respond to her country’s current strife. Alexandra creates protest garments focused on Russian political issues, including the Moscow protests of last summer. Comprising three looks, her final collection aims to encourage young people to fight for their rights and freedom. “I want to help young people who are currently experiencing repression from the government,” she says. “And I want to show my opinion of the Russian government.”

A dress, a jacket and three t-shirts form the collection. The dress was inserted in a poster with slogans before being cut out of it and is made of a whiteboard material, while the jacket opens up as a huge poster. The three t-shirts present an image of a young man being arrested by the police, which can only be seen if three people wear the t-shirts standing next to each other. Alexandra creates performance designs that all have action in them, whether it is a hidden poster reminiscing about Russian protests or a whiteboard sharing thoughts. “I like to work through ideas,” she says. “It’s like my own manifesto.” The designer has created a short video with all the garments in movement. She was initially concerned about presenting her collection virtually, but the situation has opened up new creative possibilities. “In the end, my work reflects my worries,” she says. “But I sublimate them in my work.”

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Words: Léana Esch
Video: Raminta Ceponyte