PSFK Author:
LauraFeinstein

This Friday saw the launch of a new empire for 15 year old Russian fashion Czarina Kira Plastinina as she opens her first US store in New Yorks trendy Soho area. Plastinina, who currently owns 40 stores in Russia, the Ukraine and Kazakhstan, was on hand with her Millionaire Wimm-Bill-Dan co-founder father to inaugurate the store and greet the press. Decked out in her own designs, Plastinina looked every bit the part of a Princess, with her white track suited father (cell phone in hand) as the dutiful king.

Though originally made possible through funding by her father, the Kira Plastinina line is now a multimillion-dollar franchise with more US stores opening on the west coast later this month. The stores interiors are reminiscent of the inside of a young girls room, with the second floor of the New York flagship actually housing a Queen size bed adorned with zebra fur and hot pink pillows. The walls, which are decorated with unfortunate images of Plastinina’s muse Paris Hilton, are also painted with tradition Russian textiles- in hot pink and silver. The clothing itself could be described as young and flashy looking, with nylon jumpsuits and lycra dresses priced reasonable enough to afford with a weekly allowance and perfect for a night out on the town in Moscow or LA.

In addition to clothing and accessories, the store also contains a series of Kira Plastinina chocolate bars as part of a collaboration with confectionary titan Dylan’s Candy bar. On hand to document your shopping experience, the store has even installed a photobooth and video recorder where you can take pictures, make a short film, or give your congrats to Kira.

While many have doubted how successful a line of uber-girlie clothing targeting tweens will be in a market already saturated with competitors such as Forever 21, Delia’s, and H&M, if the line of people crowding the register within hours of the stores opening are any indicator the American fashion market may be in for a new cold war.

Address: 594 Broadway, NYC

Contributed by Laura Feinstein

For two days this January, the sleepy but structurally magnificent Angel Orensanz Foundation was transformed into ground zero for new and cutting edge fashion as the second annual Capsule show descended upon New York’s Lower East Side. The neo-gothic center, which was originally built as a synagogue in 1849 and today serves as an event and performance space, was the perfect backdrop for designers and fashionistas from all over the world to show their new collections, meet prospective buyers, and talk about what inspires their eclectic wears. Capsule - which could be characterized as one part trade show, one part cool hunting ground- boasted an impressive 57 participating cutting edge menswear brands under one roof with everyone from Nike showing off their limited collections to new comers Chronicles of Never which can only be described as what it would look like if Ingmar Bergman were to design mens fashion- dark, exciting, and devilishly hip.

The first label I spoke to was New York based collection Barking Irons, which derives their inspiration from the same dirty air and bio-engineered drinking water as the rest of us in the boroughs. In addition to their finely drawn silk-screened shirts, the label also has a collection of accessories made from recycled spoons, molded into necklaces and rings of such famous sites as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Hudson River.

What Inspires Barking Irons fashions?

Barking Irons: We are always thinking about New York History in our collections, and using different events to inspire us. We like to keep it gritty, like the city. And the idea of what comes around goes around.

If you could have any famous figure, dead or alive, wear your clothing who would it be?

BI: It would probably be Walt Whitman, we actually based some of our collection from last season on him. [He then shows me a stark but naturalistic silkscreen based off the famous recluse.] Since this years an election year, we’re using Boss Tweed as an inspiration.

For sports fans, the collection No Mas is like Thanksgiving and the Superbowl rolled into one. The label, which boasts its own sports blog and online sports TV station, is constantly blending the world of fashion and entertainment, while making it fresh and exciting for fans of the game everywhere.

What was the idea behind No Mas?

No Mas: We wanted to give people some perspective on sports through new mediums and ideas. That was the inspiration behind putting out the magazine, and our collaborations with Puma and Grotesque magazine. We’re also working with local artists on some new ideas. Our founder, Chris Isenberg, used to be a former sports journalist so he’s always trying to integrate what he loves into the line.

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