Couturier dedicates collection to Varlamov during Belarus Fashion Week
The imprisoned couturier’s sister was present at the show.
Lyudmila Labkova has decided to use the opportunity during her show at the BFW because she is indignant at the situation the couturier is in.
Lyudmila Labkova: “The BFW is the only opportunity to express my opinion about it in public. I think that Sasha deserves a collection to be dedicated to him, I respect this man a lot. I know the system of “Fashion Mill”. Having worked there for 7 years, I can tell you that I think that the current situation is very unfair”.
Meanwhile, the majority of Sahsa Varlamau’s colleagues decided that it was better to be silent. Lyudmila does not think that her deed was special:
“In particular, the whole system in built on fear in our country. I am not afraid to say it. It is a personal matter – to be silent or to speak up. I have always expressed my opinion and I can boldly say that I am indignant at the situation and I can tell any representative of the state organs about it”.
Lyudmila has been the leading designer of Varlamau’s best-known project “Fashion Mill”. The designer had cooperated with Valramau for seven years and spent three years preparing projects for the final of “Fashion Mill”.
Valramau started “Fashion Mill” 20 years ago. The project’s idea was supporting young and talented designers. Varlamau selected participants in the country’s educational institutions. He got acquainted with Lyudmila Labkova during “a sketch tour” organized for students of the Academy of Arts. Lyudmila took part in a show in Berlin after her first attempt.
Lyudmila is collecting signatures in support of Sasha Varlamau now. The designer says that she knows the situation and is sure that he was an obstacle to someone.
Lyudmіla Labkova: “I have worked with the state organs including the TV and the President’s Administration a lot. I can tell you that all financial issues are really difficult to solve in those structures. You need to be more flexible when you are responsible for so many people. I have worked with him for many years and I cannot complain. We have already sent appeals. Unfortunately, almost everyone who used to cooperate with us did not go farther than expressing their disagreement in the kitchen”.
Lyudmіla Labkova: “I have worked with the state organs including the TV and the President’s Administration a lot. I can tell you that all financial issues are really difficult to solve in those structures. You need to be more flexible when you are responsible for so many people. I have worked with him for many years and I cannot complain. We have already sent appeals. Unfortunately, almost everyone who used to cooperate with us did not go farther than expressing their disagreement in the kitchen”.
Euroradio has found out that Ryma Shymchonak, Alyaksandr Varlamau’s sister, was present at the show:
“I was invited, I saw the collection and I liked it very much”.
In Lyudmila’s opinion, there is no “Fashion Mill” without Sasha. Lyudmila has refused to take part in the future projects of the Mill because she does not think that it will be possible to preserve the festival’s quality:
“This man worked so hard to create it. And now the project has no future. The Mill has disappeared”.
The couturier’s former team mates could save the festival. However, the team has split and the people are working on different projects now.
Lyudmіla Labkova: “You have to understand what you are doing when you take people abroad. Making a collection for a contest is not cheap for young designers and students. And nobody will do it if they do not know what it will lead to”.
Photo by: http://www.bfw.by
