A FRESH ARRIVAL

Our office is caught in a flurry of excitement. Arriving earlier today, we welcome new items from our SS13 collection. Hanging perfectly from their hangers, awaiting new homes in closets around the world, our bright assortment of dresses and separates have lifted our mood. With the arrival of a new season comes a renewed sense of optimism. The months of hard work, uncertainty and obstacles seem to melt away instantly as soon as we see the collection before us. Of course the girls of the off...

Weekend Inspiration

This morning, over our croissant and espresso we came across a thought that made us stop and think: “Inconvenience, when everything is quicker and easier, the difficult experience will become the most rewarding” – Martin Raymond, futurist.

We place a premium on speed and efficiency, but in the process have we lost our imagination, passion and the ability to treat our daily experiences as unique ones? Recalling our favourite and most rewarding moments at HQ, most were achiev...

AN INTERVIEW WITH KEIKO SHIMODA

When we invited calligrapher, Keiko Shimoda, to participate in a project we’re putting together for the autumn season, we were curious to learn more about the wordsmith and her craft. Sitting down with Shimoda, we learned she started as a Japanese calligrapher, a skill her grandmother encouraged her to study. Attending Saturday classes since the age of three, she admits she didn’t love it at first but never resisted her grandmother’s gentle persuasion. “My grandmother and my mother pr...

FASHION vs. SUBSTANCE

Supermodel, mother and philanthropist, Natalia Vodianova, is using her renown to raise awareness about an issue close to her heart, cerebral palsy. Vodianova was born in 1982, into very humble surroundings. Despite her poor upbringing, she had an underlying faith that things would be alright one day. At the age of eleven, she helped her mother sell fruit and would later set up a small fruit store to help her family escape poverty. At fifteen she enrolled at a modelling academy, learned E...

6 O'CLOCK

As the sun slowly inched its way up the walls of our office, our content department and co-founder, Nathanael, sat in silence. To the general passerby, this moment may have seemed rather ordinary, maybe insignificant. It was six o’clock; the office was growing darker and quieter as the team packed up for the day, the possibility of anything exciting happening seemed minimal. But in actuality, this is our content department hard at work.

The conversation being had – our blog...

WITH EVERY STITCH

There are certain things that can’t be done quickly, and stitching on the Swarovski crystals which adorn the waists, sleeves and straps that cut across the exposed backs of our upcoming autumnal dresses is one task that can’t be rushed.

Not that long ago, a member of our team wandered into the atelier to watch our design assistants and apprentices stitch, with precision and patience, every sparkling bead into their appropriate place. It might be easy to presume it is a matter...

WHAT’S THE STORY?

This is a common phrase that rings through our offices every season. Call it our thing. Gruelling hours are spent contemplating it, brainstorming about it and sometimes cursing it. Overall, on average, we spend six months creating it.

Every season, we have the arduous task of bringing our collection to life through image. The process is nothing short of stressful. Beginning in our design department, our in-house wordsmiths translate what they see into words. Names are attach...

IN RESPONSE – “FASHION’S DEMOCRATIC DISEASE”

“Fashion’s Democratic Disease” – it stops you dead in your tracks. Heavy with connotation, the weight of each word forces their full articulation and contemplation before moving to the next. From the onset, the title of Liroy Choufan’s Op-Ed piece for the Business of Fashion prepares you for what you’re about to digest. Biting and persuasive the article navigates through the treacherous arena of affordable luxury; which, in of itself, is capable of instigating lengthy discussions...

THE GENTLEWOMAN

Launching in 2010, Editor-In-Chief, Penny Martin, who also holds a PhD in women’s media and knows her magazines inside-out, set out on a mission to create a fashion magazine that is not a fashion magazine. Recalling, “That feeling of closing a magazine and thinking, ‘I'm the wrong class, the wrong age, the wrong size, the wrong economic background, the wrong educational background.’ You know, that crushing disappointment. And meanwhile the sound of shoes-shoes-shoes ringing in your ea...

THE STORY BEHIND CALLIGRAPHY

Fascinated by anything mastered by hand, we are undeniably attracted to calligraphy but knew very little about it before embarking on our collaboration with Keiko Shimoda. Rolling up our sleeves, we did some investigating.

The word calligraphy, taken from two Greek words - ‘kallos’ and ‘graphẽ’ - is appropriately translated into ‘beautiful’ and ‘writing’ respectively. Dating back to ancient times, calligraphic writing can be tied to particular global regions, p...

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING

The clock strikes 6AM and the usual routine begins. Freshened up and ready to select my outfit, my mind draws blank. I stand face-to-face with dozens upon dozens of options. Staring at the shirts, skirts, trousers and dresses I feel overwhelmed, unsure of what to wear.

It happens to the best of us; a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear. Every day, I dress according to my mood and sometimes I don’t feel like going out into the world. I can’t place my mood. I can't...

IRONY

We have a story to tell, but at this exact moment we are grasping for the right words. Every so often a department in our studio is hit with the dreaded thing called creative block; this week, it has descended upon our content desk. Staring up at the metaphorical ceiling, every word can be an excruciating process. Everything written seems like utter rubbish, misplaced and uninspiring. It forces us to the hallways and other departments, aimlessly wandering, praying for a faint glimmer of insp...

MOROZKO

Remember the stories you were told as a child? Some were recounted and passed down from generation to generation; sitting quietly you held onto every word with wonderment. Others you followed with the turn of a page; magical illustrations lighting your imagination of fire. It is curious how, reflecting upon these moments, as significant as they were at the time, became even more so with time.

While fairy tales, or in Russia, folklore, may seem the stuff of childhood they were a...

LOST BUT FOUND

We appreciate all things created and mastered by hand, and after learning how calligrapher, Keiko Shimoda, transforms the humble letter we were left buzzing with inspiration.

For the most part, many of us spend our days in front of glowing screens and keyboards, an unavoidable fact of life we enjoy more than resist, but every so often we crave something a little more tactile. Sometimes we wander into our studio to watch our pattern makers and seamstresses hard at work, while othe...

INTRODUCING KEIKO SHIMODA

Prior to meeting with calligrapher Keiko Shimoda yesterday, we didn’t know what to expect but we were certain of a couple things: we are undeniably fascinated by calligraphy and we knew Keiko would leave us amazed.  Simply put, we are unsure whether this summarises how we felt after our meeting.  Elated and honoured, we cannot wait to work with her.

It started with an idea to unveil our AW13 collection.  Taking cue from the saying, “good things take time,” we spent the la...

DESTINATION ESCAPE

London’s weather has been depressing; there is no way around it. When the skies turn gloomy our minds cloud over – not making us very productive. While we sit in the office and stare into oblivion, searching desperately to find our creative spark we think about warmer places.

Truth be told, travelling ignites our minds and if you’re after a hidden gem then Cape Verde surely fits the bill. A collection of islands nestled 500km (310ml) off the West coast of Africa, there ar...

SCRIBBLES

We would feel incomplete without our notebooks. Precious keepers of our thoughts, inspirations and reflections a notebook is home to the seemingly unrelated collections of life. Visit the desks in our head office, and you find a notebook or two resting haphazardly underneath magazines, amongst post-it notes and other office paraphernalia. Call us the creative types that like the sound of a turning page, pen meeting paper and scissors cutting – we celebrate all things tactile. So when rain k...

SS13 INSPIRATION STORY

The SS13 collection has taken inspiration from a diverse selection of sources, some likely while others are very much the opposite. Architecture has been one of the strongest muses for the SS13 collection, with intricate designs and structures, such as a portion of the ceiling panels at Kings Cross Station. The triangular view captures in a snapshot features heavily on items from the SS13 collection and inspired several of the laser cut finishes in leather pieces, such as the Jasmine Jacket, G...

SPARKLE IN SWAROVSKI

When embellishing our designs – we choose Swarovski crystals. A smattering of jet-black, glass gemstones instantly elates our dresses to another level, so when the sun sets we adorn our necks and wrists with equally decadent jewellery. When wearing our classic, pink-champagne Candytuff dress (£695) we accessorise with the Swarovski Tabloid necklace (£449), featuring moonlight and white opals for an alluring finishing touch. Our fresh, white milk, laser-cut leather Lily dress (£825) works...

OUR STAMP

Our logo is the embodiment of our values – rarity and impeccable craftsmanship that transcends time. Inspired by Russian jeweller, Peter Carl Fabergé, our icon is deeply imbued with the spirit of our brand, subtly reinforcing the passions and poignancy of a lost world dedicated to the meticulous process of creating by hand. We feel these values still resonate in our modern world – a spirit we which to weave into our collections each season.

THE IZMAYLOVA WOMAN

She is the woman that wears Izmaylova; the career-driven, sophisticated, elegant, power-woman you see hailing a black cab in central London. She boasts a wardrobe that makes you want to be her. She insists on quality, attention to detail, craftsmanship and the flawless execution of her attire. She is a woman that appreciates creativity, culture and luxury; selecting garments that have a story to tell. Her presence is endearing, alluring, humbling when she walks into any room, day or night. ...

Creative director, Nathanael Gam, examines the fine balance of online luxury and offline experiences

Drawing on metaphors and analogies, business director Nathanael Gam, has an unorthodox but incredibly precise way of explaining his thoughts – an exactness that flows through every stitch and digital command created inside Izmaylova’s London headquarters. While others may have recoiled from bold business ventures, Nathanael has led his company forwards without hesitation, fully embracing fashion’s digital explosion. He sits down to discuss the fine balance of online luxury, and how its dig...

PARIS TO MOSCOW

Caught between fact and fiction; Moscow is a place that one travels to expecting to be challenged.

Moscow is a city shrouded in myth; a nation known but unknown to world. Despite the resolute convictions and general publicity entangling the city’s identity, a looming sense of unfamiliarity hangs in the air. Pushed and pulled between stereotypes and actuality, it is a place that one travels to expecting to be challenged. It is a city that is studied, scrutinized, writ...

SILK SATIN ORGANZA

Cut, sewn, draped and lined we incorporated three ultimate fabrics into our SS13 collection: silk, satin and organza. True to our aesthetics, these three fabrics became the backbone of our collection. We turned to organza, a lightweight textile derived organically from silk worms and weaved in India, to accentuate our essential wear pieces. Silk, alternatively, was used to create our extravagant elegant gowns; a history-rich material that also originates from the cocoons of silk worms. Shimm...

WISE WORDS

Our weekend dose of inspiration.

LONDON IN BLOOM

London is coming alive and it fills our hearts with joy. This Saturday morning we took a stroll and captured the beginning of spring.

SHAKING THE WINTER BLUES

Away with the colder, darker days of the year, at last we’re now well and truly into spring. At this time of the year we can shed our layers and prepare ourselves for the even warmer days to come. Until then, we’ll make the most of our lighter layers, such as our Anemone top or Iris jacket. Either of these SS13 pieces will keep you perfectly cool and chic during those subtle days of spring and our March Fashion Journal will definitely provide some food for thought for your blooming sprin...

SPRING AHEAD!

Ah Spring! The warmer months lift our spirits and give us a much needed dose of optimism. Looking forward to the upcoming months of sunshine and blissful travels, we shed our winter blues with the bright, layering pieces of SS13.

http://ow.ly/jhOHp

FLUME

French house music is making a comeback. Downloading the album “Flume” by Flume, was one of the best decisions we have made this year. Delivering his debut album fresh from Australia, Flume, aka Harley Streten, has taken the charts by storm; acquiring a respectful status in the electronic music industry. Recommended tracks include ‘Sleepless’ and our on-repeat favourite ‘Change.’ Creating tracks of mellow, glitch and hop qualities similar to the lost genre French house, Streten r...

CREATIVE EXCURSION

Yesterday, the creative team headed to Pebble London to source jewellery for our campaign. Located in the West End, their headquarters is a typical terrace house, however, once past the front door we were transported to world of treasures: oceans of gold, silver, enormous crystals and every precious stone from Earth. Cascading down the walls of their hallway to covering their kitchen counters, we were blown away. Curious what pieces we pulled for our campaign? Stay tuned!pebblelondon.com

9AM CONTENT MEETING

Our content team is a quiet group, apart from the sound of their clicking keyboards. Their days are spent finding beautiful words and stringing together poetic sentences which sing our song through words, but come content meetings – the atmosphere changes completely. Seconds into a meeting, our content department becomes a flurry of note taking, lively conversation and hand gesturing. Simply bursting with ideas and projects – we the captured the outcome.

WISE WORDS

Wise words from author Karen Salmansohn

CITY SNAPSHOT

When sending invitations or writing a letter to a special someone, the process does not end with the words. We have to admit, paper has a very special place in our hearts. We have filled our office and home with stacks of magazines, art books and cherished printed word to turn to when searching for inspiration. So when we take the time to sit down and write, we like the medium which receives our jotted ink to be equally special. This weekend we visited Ben Pentreath’s Victorian shop front ...

L’OCCITANE SHEA HANDCREAM

We take our hands for granted. From tapping away at computer keyboards and smart phone devices, to attaching intricate embellishments onto one of our SS13 pieces, we’re never short of things for our hands to do. In order to keep our dear hands supple and in great condition, we reach for an ample amount of L’Occitane rose hand cream. Softly and sweetly scented, this indulgent cream provides the relief for our hands and keeps them ready for all the work that lies ahead.

MONTEGRAPPA PENS

Luxury at your fingertips is more apparent while holding a Montegrappa pen. A single pen created by the Italian company is crafted into a work of art and can take inspiration from architecture, history, theatre or culture. Founded in 1912, Montegrappa has been synonymous with great 20th Century writers. Both Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos would make use of Montegrappa pens when writing letters home during World War One. A single Montegrappa pens can be crafted with precious metals, ran...

INK MEETS PAPER

The art of writing has enjoyed a luxurious longevity with the help of London-based stationary maker, Smythson of Bond Street. Dating back to 1887, Smythson has shown an appreciation of tradition along with an innovative eye for detail. Signature and traditional items such as pens, pencils, diaries and notebooks are now accompanied by iPad, iPhone and Kindle covers. But at the heart of it all Smythson continues to show a clear dedication to the art of writing through its provision of effortles...

QUIET

Every so often, there are moments that force you to pause. While the significance of these rare moments may be left a mystery for some time or amount to nothing at all, but this particular occurrence exerted its influence immediately. On our regular commute, we were stopped in our tracks by an unusual advertisement. On a white background was a serine book cover adorned by a simple, rather forgotten about word – quiet. Its subtle confidence caught our fascination. Amongst the crowded adver...

FASHION WEEK DETOX

After a long, exciting fashion week season, there is nothing we relish more than the small luxuries of life: a quiet weekend spent catching up on our sleep and enjoying the creature comforts of home. This past weekend, we not only pampered our mothers but took some time to recuperate. We love the excitement of fashion week. The opportunity to share our passion and tell the story behind our collection is something we look forward to each year, but by the end of it – we cannot wait to take a ...

ANTONINA ON – MOTHERS DAY

My first introduction to the world of couture happened in the private library of my mother. There, at the age of three, I discovered an old book filled with black and white photographs of the Russian Imperial Family. I remember being absolutely mesmerized by the beauty of the dresses worn by Alexandra Romanoff and her daughters, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. Those images stayed with me forever. A couple of years later I unexpectedly discovered the most seductive place i...

CELEBRATING WOMEN

Today, we are not only celebrating the Izmaylova woman, but all women.

HISTORY OF #IWD

Catalyzed by the industrialized world, the initial rumblings of International Women’s Day can be traced back to American soil, February 1909. Quickly becoming a global celebration, the date marks the collective consciousness of women and the fight for equal rights, finding its way to the farthest corners of the world, including the Russian Revolution of 1917, where women marched in St. Petersburg to protest bread shortages. Each year, the event incorporates a theme presented by the United Na...

ICONIC HOURGLASS

Universally recognised, the iconic hourglass shape has been painted, celebrated, coveted and immortalised for centuries; from the Renaissance to pop culture, Sandro Botticelli to Nadav Kander, Marilyn Monroe to Cristina Hendricks. Regardless of time or place, the natural curve of the female body has been constantly reinterpreted, reflecting social undercurrents and attitudes throughout fashion history. The shape has been an enduring symbol of femininity, a site of controversy that has been con...

JE NE SAIS QUOI

What is it about Paris that makes us swoon? Perhaps it is the change of scenery, the romantic, symmetrical buildings, their cascading staircases and beautiful sash windows. Maybe it is the blush, pastel tone of the city; everything is saturated, even at the height of winter, with a rose-tinted hue that makes the heart flutter. Whatever the cause, from the perfectly minimalistic ensembles worn by its chic dwellers or the overall appearance of the city, we respect Paris for its consistency. Al...

BRIGITTE BARDOT

There are certain personalities that instantly fascinate - Brigitte Bardot being one of them. Staring at a photo of a young Bardot during her screen years, we cannot help but be curious. Underneath the platinum blonde hair, playfully indifferent gaze, a pout and figure that continues to set hearts aflutter, is the woman that Simone de Beauvoir described in her 1959 essay, The Lolita Syndrome, as the “locomotive of women’s history.” David di Donatello Award recipient, BAFTA nominee, Legi...

BOULANGERIE MAUVIEUX

Travelling to Paris without visiting award winning Boulangerie Mauvieux bakery should be considered a faux pas. While it might seem cliché of us to fall over the nation’s favourite bread stick, we cannot resist the sweet aroma of freshly baked baguettes. Crusty, aromatic and baked to perfection, the bakery won the 2012 Grand Prix de la Baguette de Paris – allowing them to deliver warm baguettes to the Elysée Palace every morning. When the fashion week calendar makes its way to Paris, we...

WISE WORDS

PARIS PLAYLIST

There is something about Paris that mellows the spirit but also enlivens it. Paris is infectious. Whenever our travels, take us to the city of light – we tune in and let the city take us over.

1. Life – Ludovico Einaudi
2. Last Words – GoGo Penguin
3. Come Away With Me – Nora Jones
4. Fever - Meiko
5. Duet – Gonjasufi
6. On & On – Erykah Badu
7. Paris Nights/New York Mornings – Corinne Bailey Rae
8. Search and Destro...

WE ♡ PARIS

When we sat down to discuss what it is we love about Paris, we found ourselves discussing the simple things. The small pleasures of life, whether a fresh baguette in the morning, or the perfect mid-day cup of coffee, we believe Paris is a city of excessive simplicity. When visiting, we find the city embraces a slower pace of life, one that takes it time, enjoys the moment rather than racing to an indefinite finish line. This sentiment is making its way onto the runway, manifesting itself in a...

HISTORY OF #PFW

During the youth of the fashion industry, French fashion eclipsed most of the globe with its covetable elegance. Prior to press days and subsequent fashion weeks, women travelled to Paris each season to visit the leading couturiers. Come the First World War, American Vogue editor-in-chief, Edna Woolman Chase, anticipated the closure of French ateliers and attempted to keep the industry and magazine afloat by hosting a charity show at the Ritz-Carlton ballroom. Persuading the upper classes to ...

FASHION WEEK DIARY - MILAN

Milan Fashion Week, indisputably, is a reminder of Italy’s profound respect and preservation of craftsmanship. The Italian fashion industry, the world’s largest producers of luxury goods next to France, has a defiant demeanour. Disinterest in flimsy, short-lived trend and hype, Italy’s ongoing dedication to time-honoured, artisanal garment making techniques is exhilarating. From the street to the runway – time and skill rules, saturating every perfectly tailored garment thrown over sh...

WHEN IN MILAN

A few years ago Guido Martinetti and Federico Grom had a simple idea: they would apply to “gelato” the same Slow Food philosophy that the best Italian culinary experts have towards wine and food. Passion, patience, hard work, care and, above all, the best quality seasonal ingredients. The result is a healthy, balanced, delicate and tasty scoop of ice cream without additives. A mission based on quality that succeeded. The farm developed into a business empire that now includes more than 3...

THE ACADEMY AWARDS

Reaching its 85th year, one could argue the Academy Awards has seen and heard it all before. Come this evening, however, records will be broken seeing the youngest and oldest nominees in its history contending for Best Actress. American actress, Quvenzhané Wallis, aged just nine, stars in Beasts of the Southern Wild, which is also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director. She will be up against French actress, Emmanuelle Riva, age 85, who stars in French film, Amour, which is also in the...

WISE WORDS

SOPHIA LOREN

Scrolling through the countless images available of Sophia Loren online, it is hard to believe she was once teased for her frail appearance as a child; an unfortunate circumstance that nicknamed her ‘toothpick.’ Staring back at us, whether on celluloid or film, we see a magnetic woman. A charisma and career so sublime it masks years of poverty, adversity and war. Like a true screen siren, Loren gives the impression she simply arrived as is, but her rise to fame rivals most fairy tales. D...

MILAN FASHION WEEK PLAYLIST

There is something about Milan that makes our hearts beat a little faster. Our appetites a little more insatiable. Our flirtations a little more frequent. Perhaps it is the sun scorched sky that makes everything a little more mischievous, but whatever the catalyst – we welcome it with open arms. When the sun sets on the city, we tune in and drop out to these sweet melodies.

1. Americano – Trio Manouche
2. Get Some – Lykke Li
3. Diet Mountain Dw – Lana Del...

WE HEART MILAN

The third stop on our fashion week calendar, Milan is curious fascination of ours. Famous for its cuisine, opera, churches and da Vinci’s Last Supper fresco, the capital doesn’t feel like the rest of Italy. While other nations and their respective capitals mix the old and the new - Milan positively represents the younger and more modern side of Italy. Everything is a little quicker. A little more adrenalized. A little showier. The city breathes the best of design and fashion; sometimes...

LFW Diary

London Fashion Week has a distinct energy. You can see it wandering through the crowds congregated outside Somerset House, sense it with every click of a camera shutter and feel it with each step made on the runway. It is a pulse that flows freely from the cobbled courtyard, weaving its way into the glossy showrooms and tents, where bloggers and editors alike give way to six months of inspired work with pure abandon. London’s immense talent to bring together Britain’s unparalleled fashion...

The history of London Fashion Week

We feel London Fashion week has always been the most rebellious of the big four. If New York has sportswear and Paris has all things chic, London has innovation. Debuting much later than its fashion week comrades in 1984, the first edition of LFW took place in a West London car park; frankly, the location says it all. Founded and staged by the Fashion Industry Action Group, an ad hoc organization established in 1981, the group, headed by British retailer Cyril Kern, set out to unite fragmente...

WE HEART LONDON

Each year, when London Fashion Week kicks off another season, we fall in love with this city all over again. London is our subtle muse. The backdrop of our collections, where our creativity and ideas come together, unified with by a collective purpose and passion to fill a niche we felt was missing from our wardrobes. We cannot envision ourselves doing what we do, anywhere else in the world. London is perhaps the only bustling city where tradition and the contemporary, hyper-modern world col...

ROCK LOVE LEATHER

Ah Valentine’s Day. The day we cherish and boycott simultaneously. We remember our elementary school days, when we giggled to ourselves while hand-making little construction paper cards, meticulously bedazzling and covering heart shaped trails of glue with glitter. We remember how emptying our little mailboxes perched at the end of our school desks made our hearts flutter. In our adult years, some of us have dismissed the day entirely, but we can’t help but embrace the humour of its fick...

THE HISTORY of #NYFW

Not many would look at World War II as an opportunity, but prominent New York City fashion publicist, Eleanor Lambert, did. Prior to the war, American fashion was indistinct. The pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bizarre were dominated by the French. Consumers craved the lavish and chic Parisian designs even though most were unavailable to the average American woman. Come the war, the fashion status quo was disrupted. As France was fighting, many prominent fashion houses closed their doors and ...

AW13 DIGITAL RUNWAY!

Airing this Saturday at 4PM GMT on Izmaylova.co.uk – we will reveal our AW13 collection for the first time! Tune in to watch, shop, share the latest collection via our social media. This is a very exciting initiative for us and we look forward to watching you tune in with us!

TECHNO FASHION WEEK

A few weeks ago, New York-based public relations company, KCD, made an exciting announcement – Digital Fashion Shows, the firm’s previous invite-only, streaming fashion show platform, would open its digital gateway to the public beginning with the AW13 New York collections. Since the announcement, we have logged in with our colleagues and fellow fashion aficionados to watch the latest collections in high resolution (and in comfort). As a company finding its place in the growing digital fashi...

MBFW Playlist

Every city has its sound. NYC is a vibrant city. A city overflowing with talent and ambition, creating an intoxicating environment for bourgeoning mavericks. But despite its frantic beat, NYC creates moment of clarity. You can find it on the city streets at night. On a rooftop at sunrise. Strolling through Central Park. As we dive head first into fashion week, we have compiled a playlist to help capture the ambience of NYC. What sounds inspire you?

1. Beggin’ – Frankie Va...

WE ♡ NYC

We have a confession to make - most of us in Izmaylova HQ have never been to New York City. While your gaspssubside, we have the unique opportunity to reflect on the city that never sleeps before and after our eagerlyanticipated fashion week trip. New York City is a thriving metropolis. A mecca where millions of people with theirideas, dreams, challenges and triumphs gather in pursuit of something bigger. Perhaps it is fame, wealth orrecognition, but regardless of the motivation we are f...

IT IS POSSIBLE

To create a world without AIDS. Every 9.5 minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV. Thestatistics are haunting. It makes you want to close your eyes and shy away from the less than savory aspects of ourincreasingly complex world. Our world, however, is not a perfect place. What we do not know or understand cancause fear, but avoidance is not a solution, neither is ignorance which is why the people at AmFAR have beenraising seed capital to invest in promising but untested...

LE LABO

Before we pack our bags to embark on another fashion week season, we perform a ritual routine: get plenty of sleep,stretch out our aching muscles in yoga, stay obsessively hydrated and assemble our travel staples. While there is anart to packing light, there are some things we cannot leave home without - our Le Labo handmade perfume beingone of them. Although we wish ‘packing everything but the kitchen sink’ was not such a frowned upon concept, wewill settle for our little precious b...

JAMES BOND

We have always felt James Bond received the short end of the stick when award season rolls around. Last year, theworld’s favourite spy franchise celebrated fifty years on the silver screen; a glorious five decades seducingaudiences with exotic locations, scenarios and women. Come the Daniel Craig years, we felt a curious departure; achange of tone since the film originally debuted in 1962 with Terence Young’s Dr. No. A nuanced Bond riddled withproblems - a quivering trigger finger, a...

THE CITY HAS SOUL

Like a sweltering summer night, the sound of jazz hangs thick in New Orleans. It permeates everything. From every street, to the Louisiana Creole cuisine, the city oozes a spontaneous sensuality steeped in a musical rhythm. The city has soul. A spirit that evades definition much like the musical genre it nourished; bouncing erratically between moments of calm and chaos. With this in mind, a trip to New Orleans wouldn’t be complete without visiting the neighbourhoods and metaphorically smo...

TOWN

“Town. Made in London.” This snappy little bit of copy sold us. When we tracked down a printed copy we were smitten. Town is a quarterly about London, for London. It speaks about the people, the landscape, the things and the general idiosyncrasies that make the city what it is – downright fascinating. We respect the tone and general disinterest in high or low, but most of all, it doesn’t sink into the advertorial hodgepodge or stagnant content most geographically positioned publica...

THE CALM BEFORE FASHION WEEK

Beginning next Thursday, the fashion industry will welcome another season – AW13. Despite the whirl-wind nature of fashion week, topped with overflowing schedules and hectic social calendars, we cannot help but take a moment to pause and reflect on seasons past. As we eagerly wait for the international fashion community to flood into London, we are reminded just how exhilarating the past three years have been. Our beginnings are humble and it is hard to believe how far we have come from han...

WHITE OBSESSION

Warm white. Off white. Pure White. Ghost White. Ivory. Magnolia. Ricotta. Vanilla. Champagne. Loved for its classic, fresh appearance and simplicity - white is a rather complicated colour. Available in a broad spectrum of shades, the colour can produce a series of different impressions based on warm or cold undertones capable of evoking and pacifying. Whereas black is the total absorption of all colour, white is a total reflection of colour. As a result, it reflects the full force of...

THE CITY OF LIGHT

At the drop of its name, Paris weaves an elaborate and vivid story. Synonymous with many things, such as the distant flutter of valse musette or the ambient hum of people conversing in tucked away cafes, the city of light has inspired those who seek its sights and beckon its muse for centuries. At Izmaylova London, Paris is not only the hometown of our creative director, Nathanael, who has instilled our collections with an understated sophistication, but the precious keeper of fashion heritage...

SECRET WORLD OF HAUTE COUTURE

Originally airing on the BBC in 2007, director Margy Kinmonth delved into the complex and rather elusive world of couture in her documentary “The Secret World of Haute Couture.” For sixty minutes the audience is transported from Paris to New York and California to meet the shy haute couture clients which line the front row every season. Shedding new light on this much talked about but misunderstood pocket of the fashion industry, Kinmonth breaks open the world by showing the deep and unwav...

COUTURE REVIVAL

The world of haute couture has weathered an onslaught of obstacles. It has survived a century of war, societal changes and its attitudes towards dress urged on by the proliferation of ready-to-wear. It has stood defiant before austerity, industrial changes and years of relative disregard in the media. Despite it all, couture has survived and unlike previous years, no one speaks of its decline. Quite the opposite. The Paris haute couture schedule is brimming with those who have preserved its...

LONDON ART FAIR

The world of art is one we do not envy but have a profound respect for. It is a fiercely competitive industry and we have a fond admiration for those who carve themselves a niche. The London Arts Fair kicked off this week and we detached ourselves from our desks for a few hours to experience the undeniably inspiring sights this event has to offer. For five days, the fair features over one hundred galleries presenting the great names of 20th century Modern British art and exceptional contempor...

RUSSIA IN HOLLYWOOD

It is a shame Russia’s cinematic history is not well known because it is bursting with fascinating personalities. When contemplating Russia’s contribution to film, the conversation cannot begin without mentioning filmmaker Lev Kuleshov. Although his name may be foreign to most, Kuleshov proved the usefulness and effectiveness of film editing to portray emotional narratives through the Kuleshov Effect. The filmmaker, with legendary Russian silent screen actor Ivan Mozzhukhin, compiled a fi...

THE RED CARPET

Upon mention, a red carpet conjures many associations. Synonymous with high profile events or the arrival of important political and public figures, the red carpet is an internationally recognized and understood icon that elicits a glamorous tenor habitually affiliated with the film industry. When award season descends, the media and public eagerly await the red carpet. A flurry of speculation ensues: who will leave with a coveted award, will the hosts be a success or failure? But apart from...

SOUND + FASHION

We have always been fascinated with projects that investigate the various ways in which we interact and understand fashion. The relationship between music and fashion is one we cherish and maintain through our Stereomood account, but if clothes could talk, what would they say? In 2006, Nick Knight and his collaborators at SHOWstudio, including writers Penny Martin and Laura Bradley, attempted to catalogue the precise sound of popular materials and textures, from leather to waxed taffeta. The ...

STRIKING A CHORD

Music is emotional. Unlike the frankness of this rather indisputable truth, understanding how music can become emotional or influence behaviour is much more convoluted. In fear of wrapping ourselves in this sticky web of theory and psychology, we will state what we know. Music can summon memories and punctuate the important. It can pacify a tired mind and heal the spirit. Encourage a runner to challenge one more mile. Help pass the time or slow it down. With all these reasons and many mor...

VALERY KOSHLYAKOV

For the most part, the creative process is not an isolated act. Creativity requires stimulus, that elusive catalyst that triggers a torrent of ideas. While some fortunate few are able to stow themselves away and emerge triumphant in their creative pursuits, we would rather immerse ourselves in whatever piques our interest when designing collections (call us postmodern). On a recent trip to the Saatchi Gallery we had the great privilege to take in “Gaiety is the Most Outstanding Feature of t...

IZMAYLOVA MAISON

They say home is where the heart is - there really isn’t much to dispute here. A home protects and nourishes the soul. A place where one is always welcome. Memories are fondly recalled and created. Relationships are forged. Families grow. Losses and triumphs are shared. Where roots are reinforced. Homes are museums of the spirit - the precious containers of time and experience. At Izmaylova, we have opened our home to the world. The Izmaylova Maison is where our readers can delve int...

NOW OPEN

We ended 2012 with a bang; momentum we have carried through into the new year with the launch of our first e-boutique. Carefully put together by our dexterous team, our e-boutique not only serves the very practical purpose of connecting our global clients to seasonal collections, but offers a unique, layered experience captured through visuals and video. Landing on our homepage, guests are invited to flip through or watch our SS13 lookbook video. A combination of editorialized content highlig...

3PM - THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Constantly drawing inspiration from the world around us, we relish the moment when our team travels back home around the holiday season, bringing with them stories and photographs to share over morning coffee. It is truly fascinating being a member of an international team. The experiences, the sights and the narratives which set us apart but also unite us makes for a profoundly creative environment. This snapshot of the Rocky Mountains was taken by one of our staff members on a recent trip. ...

THE NEW YEAR

The new year. The anticipation of things to come. The opportunity to make good. With the arrival of each new year comes unadulterated optimism - turning the hues of world a little sweeter. This exuberance and clear-sightedness is something we cannot wait to embrace at Izmaylova London. While it is tradition (or perhaps habit) to reflect upon the past, we have taken our lessons and successes to look nothing but forward, to the year ahead of us. As our team trickles back into our head office...

IN DETAIL - SEQUINS

As the new year inches closer, it is only fitting we pay tribute to perhaps the most affiliated adornment of any celebration - sequins. Making their first appearance in our SS13 collection, sequins are known for bestowing eye-catching glamour to any garment (especially if worn at night), however, little is known about the little disks of light.

Derived from the Arabic word ‘sikka,’ meaning coin or minting die, sequins were once hand-made, metal disks fashioned by various cult...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2012 was a big year for us at Izmaylova. Our offices welcomed new staff, some from the farthest reaches of the globe, giving our team the strength and distinctive edge that comes with international experience. We also witnessed the development of new departments, notably our small but mighty editorial department responsible for our oeuvre - Izmaylova Magazine. Amongst this commotion and ceaseless string of happenings we have also celebrated. We live in troubled times, but we relish a challen...

INTRODUCING IZMAYLOVA MAGAZINE

The last few months, the Izmaylova London office and its bourgeoning editorial department has been caught in a flurry of meetings and late nights; some productive, others - not so much. Content was devised, reviewed, adjusted and sometimes discarded, but in the end we looked inside our walls to tell our story. The process, however, was worth it.

Beginning with the SS13 season, Izmaylova Magazine will become a biannual digital and print publication incorporating the brand’s cre...

IN DETAIL – SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS

Since launching our first collection in 2009, craftsmanship and incorporating the best materials into our designs has become a paramount initiative. In a world of fast fashion, we invest considerable time into sourcing the best Britain and the world has to offer. From artisans to multi-member operations, we work with those who share our taste for excellence – which is why we use Swarovski Crystals. The Swarovski story began in 1895 when Daniel Swarovski invented a machine for cutting and po...

IN OUR HEADPHONES

At any given moment, a melody, beat or rift is floating through the Izmaylova London headquarters. Our tastes are eclectic. Walk into our marketing and sales department, you might hear the postmodern harmonies of Alt-J or Hauschka’s piano remixes. Scroll through the playlist of our editorial team you’ll find an erratic mix of rhythmic trance and smoldering rock. Other areas of our office wouldn’t be the same without music, such as our atelier which is always bursting with Russian elect...

815AM – CREATIVE / I.T. DESK

The Izmaylova London team is comprised of a fascinating array of individuals; this unique amalgamation of professional backgrounds, experiences and personalities makes us who we are – dynamic. Our creative and information technology desk is a fascinating area of our London-based headquarters. Perpetually caught in a frenzy of project launching, high-fiving, inspiration seeking, problem solving and sometimes manic moments of, “why is this not working properly,” this desk is where you can ...

THE POLAROID

Looking back, it is curious to wonder whether Edwin H. Land, the American scientist and inventor who co-founded the Polaroid Corporation, knew what he was onto. Is it possible the clever innovator knew his sx-70 system would become legend, verging on the cusp of becoming an institution when he released the affordable and collapsible camera in 1972. The Polaroid, indisputably revolutionized photography in ways far reaching its own extinction. One could even go as far as arguing the Polaroid is...

ON HISTORY

“I think most of us are intrigued by the past. What it was like to live in a time other than our own. To feel what it was like to wear the clothing, to stroll down certain streets. To have a conversation or write a letter. To truly experience that moment in time. There is a certain charisma and romance to history. As a child I would spend hour upon hour in art galleries or wandering the halls of Catherine’s Palace lost in thought. Tracing the gold, baroque mouldings with my fingers. ...

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

When we set out to create a bi-annual magazine, we asked ourselves: what is the first impression we want to create? Knowing the inaugural issue would be the first point of contact many would have with our brand, we spent countless hours discussing, brainstorming, flipping through our archives and pouring over what inspired us. There were many late nights; some productive, others - not so much. Content was devised, reviewed, adjusted and sometimes discarded, but in the end we looked inside our...

930AM - IZMAYLOVA ATELIER

Every so often, we will post candid snapshots taken inside our London headquarters, atelier and beyond. Designed to offer unprecedented access to our brainstorming sessions, creative productions, such as photo shoots or fashion week preparations, we have the unique opportunity to share moments that would otherwise remain inside our walls. There is never a quiet moment, except this morning. This is an unusually serene moment for our atelier, an area of our North London home that is constantly ...

IZMAYLOVA MAGAZINE

At the end of November, Izmaylova London will launch the inaugural issue of its biannual magazine. Conversational and thought-provoking, the magazine will delve into intelligent and inspirational dialogue grounded in the modern world. An embodiment of Izmaylova, the content will include conversational interviews and thoughtful investigations into culture and the art of dressing.

Starting with our premiere issue, the magazine will revolve around diverse and charismatic women who...