Anastasia Naumenko, a student of the Department of Art and Fashion Design at Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, under the guidance of Prof. Olena Kolosnichenko, Doctor of Art History, has achieved the status of a finalist in the 37th Sakura Collection Fashion Design Award. The design of her competition entry is inspired by a symbiosis of deconstruction and traditions, enabling a profound exploration of the essence of silk’s value.
THE SAKURA COLLECTION, a prestigious fashion project originating from Japan, celebrates the incorporation of traditional Japanese textiles into the creative works of young designers. Established in 2012, the Sakura Collection Fashion Design Award aims to discover worldwide and support creative talents who collaborate with Japanese textiles to forge innovative fashion ideas.
In October 2023, the Sakura Collection Fashion Design Award initiated a new competition for students and fashion designers. Out of over 180 applications from 28 countries across Europe, America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, only 10 finalists for the 37th Sakura Collection Fashion Design Award 2024 were selected. Among them, a noteworthy participant from Ukraine, a student of the Department of Art and Costume Design pursuing a degree in Fashion Design. The finalists impressed the jury with their originality, creativity, technical mastery, and harmonious integration with Japanese textiles.
Anastasia Naumenko, a student from Group BD02-20,
and the sketch of her competition work
Since its inception, SAKURA COLLECTION has been committed to bridging traditional industries in Japan with young designers worldwide, fostering innovative ideas for the future. The theme for the 2023 competition revolves around the traditional Natsu-Shiozawa fabric, a valuable silk crafted using a special technique, with fabric dyeing being part of UNESCO's world heritage.
According to the competition rules, silk must be combined with denim fabric. Finalists will utilize the 'Natsu-Shiozawa' silk from Shiozawa City, Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture, manufactured by the 110-year-old textile company Yamadaori. They will also employ recycled denim fabric 'One-o-Five' from Yamasawa Press, a company based in Adachi-ku, Tokyo, specializing in garment inspection and correction. The finalists will create and showcase their designs using Natsu-Shiozawa and recycled denim at Texworld NYC, a textile exhibition in New York from January 22 to 24, 2024, competing for the Grand Prize, which includes a round-trip ticket to Japan.
The Grand Prize will be determined by a jury of three experts, including Mr. Tsutomu Saito, former president of Yohji Europe, the French branch of Yohji Yamamoto; Ms. Hervé Hervé, an American designer who has worked with brands like Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera; and Ms. Keiko Aoki, a renowned Japanese businesswoman and socialite.
We sincerely congratulate and wish our talented student the best of luck!
06.12.2023
