Interview with Mary Katranzu
Mary Katranza, a London designer with Greek roots, featured at Aurora Fashion Week its autumn-winter collection. Slickwalk.com on the instructions of Look At Me, met Mary and asked her about Petersburg, dresses and Russian girls.
- Did you have time to take a walk in St. Petersburg?
“I have a friend from Petersburg, and on one of the nights we were stuck on one side of the bridges that had been opened. From 2 am to 5 am we walked around the city throughout the night. I saw him day and night, and in the evening. It was very cool! And it is interesting to see how people dress here, to look at all these streets and buildings, to experience all these sensations.
- Is this your first time here?
- Yes, I am the first time in Russia and St. Petersburg. I am very glad that there were a few extra days to see the city, to really feel it. When I arrived, I told my young man that Petersburg somehow reminds me of Greece. How everything is arranged here, the daily routine and architecture. Of course, there are no such churches like ours here, they are different. But I think there is something in common here. And, you know, I have some kind of warm feelings, like I'm really at home.
- As for people, did you notice anything special in their appearance?
- I was surprised because I assumed that I would see women dressed in very short dresses and high-heeled shoes. But in fact, women are very attractive and still look sexy, but in a more ... casual style. I expected everyone to have a bright make-up, and really, there were such women. But this is still an exception. One night we took a taxi and met many young girls and guys, and it was very interesting to see how they express themselves. Understand them as far as possible in five days. In Greece, you also need to have the perfect makeup, the perfect bag, the perfect dress.
- Your things are known for their unique prints. Do you think it is realistic to wear them during the day?
- Absolutely! And in the afternoon too! I was here at the store that sells my clothes. There is an organza dress with a zebra print. Not really a zebra, but something similar to her. For our brand it is very good, because we are now doing a lot of evening dresses, and here they are perceived as day dresses. People express themselves very freely and can wear something that looks a bit extravagant at any time. It is just remarkable that there is no strong distinction between where and when you wear a dress. You can wear something really special and just go out for lunch and feel great. You just need to have some courage to wear such prints if you usually wear monochrome clothes. You can dress for the occasion and look bright and especially.
- You thought about some unusual places, where would you like to see women in their dresses?
“I was in Singapore a couple of weeks ago.” I have never been to Asia before. I think that there is a completely different culture and women also wear clothes in a completely different way. In Singapore, they often appear in dresses. Last season we had dresses with corsets, and we didn’t know how they would go there. But in Singapore they sold well. And when I arrived there, I saw all these women, dressed as if they were going to the red carpet, in beautiful corsets and really long dresses. It was very interesting for me, because I have never seen my dresses in such a place and environment. If I went from Singapore to Hong Kong, or Seoul, or Japan, everything would look completely different there.
- Do you regret having made a capsule collection for Topshop? After all, the fruits of your talent have become more accessible.
- For me it was an invaluable experience. I was asked why I did not release simpler dresses. And these are just very affordable. We really wanted to release them, because it was an important step. For a young designer, it's actually quite difficult to make such a commercial simplified version. Topshop made a fantastic offer - to release a capsular collection with several dresses that any girl could afford, even 15 years old, and to feel especially, because before that she most likely could not even think about buying my dresses. It really helped me look at the design of clothes, at what I do, on the other hand. It was a success, and I hope next year to repeat this experience.
View the gallery from the show.
All materials on Aurora Fashion Week.