Russians in London: Tess Jopp, stylist
Over the past week, Wonderzine talked about the key moments of London Fashion Week, which is traditionally famous for its avant-garde and young fashion designers. What is not surprising - in the development of youth culture with the city can be compared except New York. In London, always come the guys who want to get the best education in art or fashion and / or join the teams that form the taste of an entire generation, be it Dazed & Confused, Love and i-D magazines or KTZ or Palace clothing brands.
We gathered 6 girls who are currently building a career in the London fashion industry, and asked them whether it is difficult to survive in one of the most expensive cities, how to get a job in a place where almost the biggest competition in the world is, and whether return to Russia.
I was born and raised in Moscow. As a child I loved to play and draw typewriters, changed five schools and went to art school, from the age of 13 I rode a snowboard, abandoned when I moved to London. I have never been fond of fashion, and my parents have nothing to do with it. My girlfriend said that she came from London, she wants to make something and she needs a stylist. I did not know what kind of profession it was, but I realized that I needed to get clothes at any cost. I went to the exhibition of young designers, begged for things there, and there we took off. So I met Masha Mel. Then I entered London College of Fashion and graduated from it in the summer of 2013. Now I do everything in a row: I style the shooting myself and help other stylists, I help produce the show.
I wanted to go to Paris, but at the last moment chose London, because Masha Mel was studying there. I like the city very much - a lot is happening. I made friends with incredibly talented people and professionals in the fashion industry. Creativity is here in priority: everyone doesn’t care who is wearing what or how much crazy style you promote. So in America or France do not clear up. On the other hand, there are a lot of mauvais goût and busting through any type of Anna Trevelyan. I would love to go to New York to work. Here in the industry they pay less and mostly do free shooting. And a lot of snobbery. And the rest, of course, fun.
I think, Moscow is good and there is an interesting job, but it is more comfortable for me to work in Britain. No one will condemn me for my creative and crazy ideas. Everything, of course, depends on the client, in general, interesting and unusual concepts are welcome, that's why I like working here. And the industry somehow, probably, works more smoothly than in Russia. The reasons, of course, are historical. I think I would not be able to work as a stylist in Moscow, rather I would open my own brand of clothes or some other business.