Behind the lace curtain: Moscow Fashion Week’s bold step onto the global stage

Designs by Sergey Sysoev stands out against the red bricks of the Kitaygorodskaya Wall. Photo: Moscow Fashion Week Press Service

Looking beyond personal sentiments or geopolitical views, you will realise that Moscow is just like any other city when it comes to its fashion.

It is focused on the same current trends, the same issues to do with the industry, and the same desire to balance creativity with commerce while carving out its place on the global scene.

The runways of its fashion week display a diverse set of aesthetics – each one just as familiar to a fashion insider as those seen on any of the world’s major fashion stages.

This clearly shows that the quest for relevance is a common pursuit in every corner of the world.

Culture is a big inspiration for Russian designers. Not surprising, as their country houses some of the richest traditions, histories and artistic legacies that continue to inform and shape modern style.

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A visit to Moscow’s State Historical Museum will show you just how deep those roots run.

From ornate folk costumes to works of fine art, they all serve as a wellspring of references that designers reinterpret for today’s runways.

One fashion showcase at the Leo Tolstoy House-Museum highlighted the deep connection between literature and fashion, while another opened with an interpretive ballet routine – a nod to one of Russia’s greatest cultural treasures.

The Kitaygorodskaya Wall, a 16th-century fortification remnant, was among the regular showcase spots, one of them being designs by Sergey Sysoev (pictured on the cover).

It offered a striking juxtaposition between centuries-old history and contemporary fashion, cementing how the city’s past continues to frame and elevate its modern creative expressions.

More than that, runways held on the Paryashiy Most (“Soaring” bridge) of Zaryadye Park afforded stunning panoramic views of the Kremlin and St Basil’s Cathedral.

Talking points like sustainability are highly relevant in Moscow. One designer chose to present his designs in a “secret” venue.

The intimate setting made the experience feel deeply personal, reflecting his use of fabrics collected from flea markets and antique shops, while subtly reinforcing the value of mindful, resource-conscious fashion.

Moscow Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 included designers of various nationalities.

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It also underscored the city’s ambition to continuously position itself as an international platform.

There was womenswear and menswear, avant-garde creations and ready-to-wear, and even unexpected styles like country western.

Dramatic shows were plentiful, but so too was the quiet glamour of elegant evening wear.

No doubt, many international brands have withdrawn from the country, but the continuation of Moscow Fashion Week shows how its fashion scene is adapting to current circumstances.

Regardless of the challenges, fashion finds ways to persist – whether through resourcefulness, reinvention or creative expression.