Fashion Designer: Ekaterina Belebeeva
Photographer: @l_skliar_l
Photographer: @kaa_trin
Model: @__verusik__ @ABC MODUS
Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist: Ekaterina MamaevaWhen did your passion for fashion start and what were the main milestones that turned you into the artist you currently are?
From the time I can remember I was always obsessed with fashion. I loved to watch movies and documentaries about fashion, dress up my dolls, and even try to sew and present my clothing during the fashion evenings at the school. Watching “The devil wears Prada” I always imagined myself As Miranda Priestly and didn’t truly understand how can somebody not be able to see the difference between blue and cerulean 😁 (that is one of my favorite movie, by the way). Being a fashion designer was always my entire dream but I raised in a small town where the fashion designers exist only on TV.
I got my major in economics and moved to Saint Petersburg where I found out that there are so many opportunities to because a person you always wanted to be and I decided to make my dream come true and change my life upside down.
What do you love the most about your profession?
The opportunity to communicate with the audience raising up global problems and at the same time inspire people to be themselves and be kind to one another. One more thing what I love the most is the collaborations with other talented people surrounding me. Every creative activity brings new incredibly talented people in my life such as photographers, make up artists, models. And I’m so blessed to meet these people on my way.
Would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it? Is there any message you would like your photos to convey?
“Messēji” brand is all about the statement to the people: “please look around, analyze your behavior and make the right decision for the better future”. Each collection will have a certain message to the audience and I hope it will help to draw the attention to the important problems in different areas of our lives.
The collection «Undo» was inspired by difficult 2020 filled with the events we would like to cancel but unfortunately we cannot turn back time and prevent these events but what we can do is to do the right things in the future and not to repeat this experience again. I hope the other people can see the purity of intention, heartedness and kindness in my clothing and wish to be closer to these things.
How hard has it been establishing yourself in the industry and what are some of the largest things you've faced?
We live in a wonderful time where everything is possible. And if you do something with passion you will succeed anyway no matter how hard it would seem at first glance. I haven’t faced any real difficulties yet hopefully, but it’s just the beginning of the journey. Or maybe I’m just a lucky person who attract empathetic and supportive people with whom everything is nice and easy 😁
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career what would it be?
You're capable of more than you think, just trust in yourself. All the boarders are in your head.
What is your main source of inspiration?
The people who are changing the world for the better future. When I did my first steps as a fashion designer the first person who inspired me was Alexander McQueen. I watched his performances and cried because it was so amazing, appealing and breath-taking. He raised the problem of the fashion industry with no fear to be misunderstood or ridiculed. I admire the people who are not afraid to be themselves and it helps me to move forward.
Are there particular issues within the fashion industry that concern you?
Unfortunately the world’s ecology suffers the most from the fashion industry. We created a fast fashion consumer society and produced so many clothing that now we don’t really know how to handle the problem with overconsumption. Fortunately many fashion brands try to improve the quality of their clothing and call the consumer up to buy less. I hope we will overcome this problem someday.
What kind of impact do you hope to make in the fashion world?
The main goal is to produce the high-quality clothing that will serve for many years. And I also want to do the right things such as helping other charity funds, people or animals who are in need, acknowledge my audience with the slow fashion tendency and the principles of reasonable consumption.
In your daily routine, what resources do you like to learn new things about art, fashion?
I’m reading the fashion magazine, looking through their Instagram accounts, my favorite app is Vogue Runway.
What projects are you working on next, and what are your goals for the future?
Being a designer means to always think about new collection when you current one is just out. And it’s true. You are always so inspired by the result of your work that you cannot wait to release something new that will have much more impact on the audience. And it’s really great. So answering your question, I’m working on a new collection. I cannot tell it’s name and the message but it will be something great and challenging.
Where can we see more of your works and get connected with you?
Please follow me on Instagram @messeji_wear, that’s my main source of inspiration.