From cyberpunk to Malevich sketches: Clothes from Kiev Chakshyn
Under the heading "New Brand" we present young designers and tell them where and why to buy their things. Recently, we wrote about the Ukrainian fashion scene - worthy designers, whose work is interesting to follow, appear there every season. One of the most notable new brands in recent years is Chakshyn, behind which stands a duet of young designers Dima Chayun and Anton Yakshin.
Before establishing their own brand, Dima Chayun and Anton Yakshin worked on third-party projects related to the fashion industry. Dima worked as a stylist and co-designer of several fashion brands, wrote articles for Ukrainian gloss, and Anton - a graphic designer and created prints for other brands. At some point, the guys decided to quit at the same time and start doing something on their own. Confidence gave not only years of experience, but also art school, which both graduated. "It was easy for us to start, because we learned from the mistakes of others, were familiar with the basic processes and were very well versed in many ways," admits Dima Chayun.
The brand has already released the fifth full-fledged collection, and this season they first went to Paris along with the show room More Dash. The main sources of inspiration this time are the clash of the past and the future of Asia. There are references to Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and the Ghost in the Shell. Designers connect the dystopian future with the heritage of Japanese culture - for example, armor tanko, an old military suit. Outerwear looks the most remarkable in the collection: a printed down jacket, full of natural goose down, trench coats and a coat with a clear waistline and a complex bodice design. Knitwear is what made the brand remembered from previous seasons. This time, knitted tops and dresses have sewn-in inserts that imitate a corset; on them are images of flowers and patterns in the form of drawings.
The strength of the designers is in their fresh look: "Anyone can make a sweatshirt with long sleeves. The most important thing is to bring something new, show your personal vision. After all, everyone has something to say." The average check for a Chakshyn item is about 350 euros, but the price range is large: for example, the brand's brand sweatshirt will cost 55 euros, and the trench of a complex cut will cost 580 euros.
Designers are focused on global expansion, since the local market is not at all interesting for them. The guys very carefully choose the places where their things are sold: now the brand can be purchased in small concept stores like The Frankie Shop (Paris, New York), Maimoun (New York), Sincerely, Tommy (New York) and others. In Kiev, Chakshyn can only be found in their own online store, and since the new season - in Kiev TSUM.
We are still young and are at the very beginning of the way and, of course, we make mistakes. Now we are involved in many processes: from sales to photo processing for books and creating prints - but only because we are very attentive to details, this is important for us. We were offered to give a part of things for production abroad, but we don’t want it: it will not be possible to track it personally.
All our collections can be described as one big collage. They are imbued with completely different moods, and everything happened in a mudboard: from cyberpunk and a Japanese military costume to the movie "Show of the Goals" and a series of sketches by Malevich to the opera Victory Over the Sun. We want to find a balance between when clothing feeds and reveals a person’s personality, and when it is a separate unit, an independent object of art. It is difficult to tell about this search more clearly than on the podium.
Photo: Chakshyn