Tuesday, April 19, 2011

[Un]Discovers: Anastasia Lomonova

It's time for me to introduce another fashion designer who will be participating FAT this year! Today, I am happy to present you the winner from last year's Toronto Fashion Incubator's New Label competition, Anastasia Lomonova!


Hello Anastaisa, thanks for taking some time from your busy work schedule to answer some of my questions. First, please tell me, what made you change your career path from visual artist to fashion designer? At this moment, do you still want to be a visual artist?
I studied drawing and painting all through my highschool years and always thought that that's what I would like to do for the rest of my life but finally realized that I wanted to do something more involved with people. As an artform, if we can call it that, fashion is more relevant to everyday life in the sense that my work is open to individual styling interpretations of end consumer as a way of their self expression - that's what I like about it - you can wear a garment so many different ways to reflect your mood whereas a painting just hangs there, always the same, in the solitary confinement of someone's apartment. I paint a little bit here and there but it's not something I see doing for a living anymore.


I have to agree, how you dress does reflect what kind of mood you have for that day. So, if you need to use 3 adjectives to describe the style of your brand, what will they be? Why?
Pure, refined and modern. Pure because I tend to stay away from cluttered detail and excessive embellishment, I find it tasteless and kind of annoying. Refined because I put a lot of thought and effort into each design, streamlining and perfecting the proportions to the best of my abilities. Modern because I am anti-retro - we really need to stop recycling ideas.


Refine and modern are definitely 2 of the adjectives I will use to describe your fashion pieces. Now I am curious, does your Russian background help you to create your collections? 
I wouldn't say that my background has very much influence over what I do... maybe it does, but I am not aware of it. My family travelled quite a bit when I was growing up so I did get a chance to see a lot of things but what I create focuses more on ideas and concepts rather than specific cultural references.


Being able to travel a lot does help to get more ideas for creating your collection and this probably one of the reasons I find your pieces to be very fresh. I know you were the winner of Toronto Fashion Incubator's New Labels competition, was that a major turning point of your career? Have you gained more opportunities after it?
This is a very tough industry and unless you are doing something exciting every couple of months or you have a really good PR person, nothing really happens to you. I took a season off after the competition because I was completely burnt out but now I am back with a new season so time will tell.


I wish you good luck and with your skills, I am sure many opportunities will be waiting for you in the near future! From what I have read on your biography, before you moved to Montreal, you studied in Ryerson University. Do you see a big difference between the fashion scene in Toronto and Montreal? If so, what is the major difference?
Montreal has a non-chalant charm about it whereas Toronto is much more business, in my opinion. That's the major difference - Montrealers have a very casual way to look dressed up, they take a very personal approach to style and could be wearing the latest trendy piece as if they've owned it forever.


I have to agree with you fully about the difference between Toronto and Montreal fashion scene. Last but not least, what will you be working on after FAT? Will you be able to give us a hint on what we will expect to see in your S/S 2012 collection?
I haven't thought about SS12 yet - I have a lot of projects in mind so for sure no one will be bored!

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Now it is time for us to know Anastasia more with these trivia facts!

Coffee or Tea?
Coffee

Paris or Milan?
Paris

Blue or Pink?
Smoke purple

Red or White Wine?
Espresso

Doughnuts or Cupcakes?
Cupcakes!!!! And at least 3!


Spring or Autumn? 
Autumn

Mickey Mouse or Snoopy? 
I am not familiar with their work.

Vogue or Harper's Bazaar?
Vogue

Givenchy or Gucci?
Givenchy

Pen or Pencil?
Pen

Now I am sure you are excited to see the new F/W collection from Anastasia Lomonova so make sure you get your tickets to attend FAT between April 26-29! All photos are courtesy of Anastasia Lomonova and you can click here to see her previous collections! Good luck Anastasia, I am looking forward to see your runway show!

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