Fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev is a pioneer in the domestic fashion industry, the most important milestones in his biography. Vyacheslav Zaitsev: biography, personal life, family, wife, children - photo Where were the hares born
- Russian fashion designer, whose name is widely known far beyond the borders of Russia.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev: biography
The famous designer was born on March 2, 1938 in Ivanovo, then still the city of the Soviet SSR. The father of the fashion designer was called Mikhail Yakovlevich, mother - Maria Ivanovna, despite the difficult military and post-war years the parents were able to give the boy a good education, in September 1945 Slava Zaitsev was enrolled in the first grade of the Ivanovo secondary school №22, after graduating from which in 1952, Vyacheslav entered the chemical-technological technical school. After 4 years of hard study, Vyacheslav Zaytsev finally received the coveted crust of a textile design artist with which he went to Moscow to enter the Moscow Textile Institute, which he graduated with honors in 1952. By distribution, Vyacheslav Zaitsev ended up at the experimental and technical sewing factory of the Moscow Regional Economic Council in the city of Babushkino as the artistic director of this enterprise. Vyacheslav Zaitsev has been working in this position for a long time.
His first collection of clothes was a line of special work uniforms for women in the region and the village, rejected by the party leadership, which did not prevent its publication in the magazine "Pari Match", under a loud inscription that this man dictated fashion trends in the capital. It is thanks to this article, which contains bright and colorful photos of the collection that has not become available to the public, that Vyacheslav Zaitsev will be recognized abroad.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev: collaboration with Pierre Cardin
In 1965, Pierre Cardin and Marc Bohan (Dior) approached him, who came specially to express their admiration for the talent of the young Russian designer, who shortly before had managed to gain recognition in the union and get the position of artistic director of the experimental and technical enterprise of the All-Union House of Fashion Models on Kuznetsky Most, abbreviated as ODMO.
Celebrities who arrived to meet the novice designer, including Guy Laroche, admitted that they did not expect to meet in Soviet Russia, a man so imbued with the spirit of fashion, which was written about in the newspaper "Women's Daily Wear", which published an article under the loud title - "Kings of Fashion."
But, despite the growing popularity among foreign colleagues of permission to leave the USSR, Vyacheslav Zaitsev could not receive until 1986, therefore he remained an employee of ODMO for 13 years, developing sketches and sewing clothes for different segments of the population of the Soviet Republic. During the years of his work as artistic director, Vyacheslav Zaitsev has been conducting a show of collections that have become incredibly popular in the Soviet Union and abroad, called the "Russian Series", as well as a clothing line created on a folk motif from Ivanovo chintz, which were considered at the time of 1960-1970 -s one of the best fabrics for sewing clothes. These collections are deservedly considered one of the main in the design work of Vyacheslav Zaitsev, largely thanks to their creation, they began to talk about the fashion master, finally, a well-deserved and long-awaited success came, accompanied by a storm of applause at fashion shows held in China, USA, Japan, France and other countries. The author himself was never present at these shows, for the reasons already mentioned, the government was afraid to miss such a valuable shot, and therefore access to travel remained closed, it was necessary to be content with eyewitness accounts.
In 1967, Vyacheslav Zaitsev presented a new dress on the country's main catwalk in Moscow, which was named “Russia” in the collection. The novelty was so liked by buyers and critics that it further increased the interest in the designer on the part of Western colleagues, as well as the media, who christened Zaitsev none other than "Red Dior". Western colleagues could not understand how such a legendary and gifted person could live and create in a conservative and monotonous Soviet Union from their point of view. The growing fame was confirmed by the publication in the Czechoslovak fashion magazine Kveta of a 1974 review dedicated to the 100 best artists in the fashion world, the name of Vyacheslav Zaitsev standing next to the name of the famous Christian Dior. In 1976, the Czechoslovak workers were delighted with the loud news that Vyacheslav Zaitsev agreed to cooperate with the Jablonek company, which organized the release of a series of jewelry he personally designed.
A few months later, Zaitsev held the first fashion shows under the auspices of this company in the cities of Jablonec, Brno and Karlovy Vary.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev: career
After his departure from ODMO, Vyacheslav Zaitsev did not take a break from work, immediately getting a job at the factory number 19 of custom tailoring and starting work on fashion collections for the Fashion House, which at that time was planned to open in Moscow on Prospekt Mira. After the opening, which happened in 1982, Vyacheslav Zaitsev was appointed to the post of chief artistic director of this organization, and 6 years later in 1988 he was appointed director of the entire institution. Vyacheslav Zaitsev remains in this position to this day, with the help of the inexhaustible resources of the Fashion House, creating his endlessly beautiful clothing collections, such as Pret-a-Porter and Haute Couture.
A no longer young designer is in constant search for something new and not previously used by him, amazing colleagues and the public with his skill and good taste. Among the most popular and noteworthy collections of the fashion designer, the following can be noted:
1. "1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus" (1987-1988);
2. "Russian Seasons in Paris" (1988);
3. Collection of clothing models from European fabrics (1988);
4. Collection of models male fashion (1989);
5. Collection of models of women's clothing from domestic fabrics (1990);
6. "The Agony of Perestroika" (1990-1991);
7. "Awakening" (1995-1996);
8. "Plague" (1995-1996);
9. “How young we will be” (1996-1997);
10. "Temptation" (1997);
11. "Event" (1997-1998);
12. "Leafing through the memory of the page" (1998-1999);
13. "Insight" (1999) - the first fur collection in Russia;
14. Collection ready-to-wear and haute couture season spring-summer 2000-2001 (1999);
15. "Secrets of Harmony" (2000);
16.Luxe ready-to-wear 2001 (2000);
17. "Dedication" (2001);
18. ready-to-wear 2002 (2001);
19. "Invasion" (2002);
20. Pret-a-porter 2003 (2002);
21. "Divertissement" (2003);
22. ready-to-wear 2004 (2003);
23. "Nostalgia for the times gone" (2004);
24. "Improvisation" - ready-to-wear 2005;
25. "Secrets of Seduction" (2005);
26. ready-to-wear de luxe 2006 (2005);
27. "Playing with ..." (2006);
28. "Phantasmagoria" (2006);
29. "Origins" (2008).
It was these collections by Vyacheslav Zaitsev that aroused the greatest interest of the public and critics in him, made his name well known even to those who actually have nothing to do with fashion.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev: creativity
The invention of new images and their subsequent implementation take a lot of time and effort from the designer, nevertheless, he finds the strength to devote part of his life to a different kind of art - drawing. Vyacheslav Zaitsev is fond of painting and drawing, his works are not a continuation of fashionable subjects, they have their own history, since the designer's easel painting has already taken pride of place among the paintings of contemporary artists. For painting, the artist most often uses pastel, pencil and felt-tip pen, believing that the current world needs to be drawn using modern materials. The vivid pictures reflect, first of all, the emotional mood of the author, his emotional experiences, joys and sorrows, which is why they turn out to be quite sensual and semantic, forcing the viewer to think.
Today Vyacheslav Zaitsev is not just a celebrity, a world-famous designer, but a person who is always ready to come to the rescue, so, at the special request of the government, the designer has designed and developed a series of fashionable and comfortable uniforms for Russian police officers, which earned their endless gratitude.
The designer also worked on the creation of stage costumes for movie, theater, music stars, made a whole series of costumes for athletes who dance on ice and many other collections.
Back in 1980, Vyacheslav Zaitsev outlined his views on fashion and life in two books at once, which became the most widely read in the Soviet Union. The first book was called "Such a changeable fashion", the second "This changeable world of fashion." In 1992, the book "Nostalgia for Beauty" appeared in the light on English language dedicated entirely to the creative path of Vyacheslav Zaitsev. In 2006 I was able to read a new book about the famous designer “Slava Zaitsev. Secrets of Temptation ”, this book is perfectly illustrated and rather resembles an album of personal photos of a celebrity.
A popular all over the world designer is never tired of inviting to all kinds of fashion shows, judges and the like, for example, in 2009, the fashion designer became one of the main judges at the Gubernsky Style international fashion festival.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev: personal life
Vyacheslav Zaitsev was married, but the marriage broke up and now he and his ex-wife Marina Vladimirovna lives separately, meeting only at joint dinners at the family table. From this marriage, only one child was born - the son of Yegor Vyacheslavovich, on this moment who is also a designer. The designer also has two granddaughters - Marusya and Nastya.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev is one of the trendsetters of high fashion, including world-class, a multifaceted creative personality, was born in the suburbs of Moscow in the famous city of Ivanovo weavers 03/02/1938.
Childhood
Perhaps it was the place of birth that predetermined the fate of Vyacheslav Zaitsev, since the town in which he was born and raised was small, and his whole life revolved around a huge weaving mill, which supplied most of Russia and the nearby Soviet republics with products.
Like many children of the war years, he was left without a father early, and all the care of his son had to be taken on by the mother, who disappeared at the plant literally for days. Although she herself was a very creative person - she sang beautifully and felt the music, drew well, read poetry with talent. Before the war, she dreamed of an acting career, but this dream was not destined to come true.
Realizing how difficult it is for a mother to cope with everything alone, after receiving a basic education, Vyacheslav went to a technical school. Since childhood, being no less gifted than his mother, he chose the creative specialty "weaving drawing" for himself. After graduation, he planned to stay, like most graduates, in hometown and continue the dynasty of weavers.
Acquaintance with the world of fashion
It was not easy to study - it was not for nothing that Ivanovo fabrics were famous for their beauty and quality throughout the vast country. The teachers demanded from their students not only the maximum disclosure of their creative abilities, but also a very responsible attitude to the implementation of each task.
The students had to carefully think over the drawing, verify and clearly draw each line, choose the optimal combination of colors and even imagine how the fabric would look in different types finished products. They believed that the presented ornament should come to life in the fabric, playing with colors in a new way.
Vyacheslav was so carried away by his new specialty that, imperceptibly for himself, he began to look closely at nature, drawing new ideas and colors from it. At the same time, he tried to get acquainted with the work of his foreign colleagues, which at that time was possible with great difficulty.
Fashion itself was considered a completely bourgeois phenomenon, alien to Soviet ideology. But nevertheless, fashion magazines seeped from the socialist countries, passed from hand to hand and literally read to their holes.
Comparing what he was taken into account in the technical school with what he saw on the greasy glossy pages, Vyacheslav subconsciously understood that the truth was somewhere in the middle.
Conquest of the capital
In 1956, an unknown graduate of the Chemical Technological College from glorious city Ivanovo arrived in the capital. Only having reached the heights of fame, he was able to admit to himself that even then thoughts about fame and world catwalks were swarming in his head. But, as a young man, he sincerely believed that he was going to develop his creativity and deepen his professional skills.
He passed the entrance exams in the specialty "fashion design" very easily. Professional education in Ivanovo it was at a very high level. But with fellow students, and with many teachers, the relationship was quite difficult.
This short, gifted boy, who had his own point of view on everything, was not afraid to be different from others, stood out too much against the background of the general mass.
Without support from his parents, he devoted his free time from school to work. Trying to get closer to the fashion world, which he dreamed of so much, Zaitsev gets a job at the Model House on Kuznetsky Most. It was there that Soviet fashion was born and promoted. It was he who became for Zaitsev a launching pad and a field for creativity for many years.
Realizing that without a thorough knowledge of the basics of painting and drawing, he would not be able to fully create, Zaitsev spent all the few free hours left after study and work in museums. He also tried to visit exhibitions of contemporary art, rightly believing that the most advantageous option is a reasonable combination of classics and modernism.
To the heights of high fashion
After receiving his diploma, he already officially remains on the staff of the Model House, and over time he heads the experimental group of fashion designers. Here chance played a role. The first distribution Zaitsev receives at the sewing factory of the Moscow Economic Council. And his first independent task was the development of work clothes.
Accustomed from childhood to each task thoughtfully and as creatively as possible, Zaitsev creates a whole collection in which simplicity of lines, convenience of cut and high functionality of clothes are perfectly combined.
After the premiere show, the collection on Kuznetsky Most simply shocked the capital's trendsetters and immediately attracted the attention of the foreign press - his models were so bright and unusual.
It was thanks to this work that such world celebrities as Pierre Cardin and Christian Dior learned about him. Zaitsev himself only read about these people on the pages of fashion magazines, and then they seemed inaccessible to him. And if someone told him then what people were interested in his work, he simply would not believe.
But as time went on, Zaitsev's models became more and more daring and at the same time functional, he learned more and more the canons of fashion and quickly learned to feel and predict new trends. And some ideas were even adopted from him by other designers. And so in 1965 he became the head of the experimental workshop.
Famous Western fashion designers often visited the house on Kuznetsky Most, trying to comprehend the canons of a kind of Soviet fashion. On one of these visits, Pierre Cardin meets a talented young fashion designer.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev with his models
He was so impressed by Zaitsev's original vision of fashion that after his arrival an article titled "Kings of Fashion" appeared in the Western press.
World glory
But the world fame for Zaitsev was brought, of course, not by the development of fashionable Soviet clothing, which still had to obey clearly defined ideological requirements. In parallel with his main work, Zaitsev worked on the creation of his own author's collection, on which he spent three years of his life.
Spending a lot of time in museums of folk art and growing up among Russian weaving masters, Zaitsev was so inspired by the idea of embodying the traditions of Russian painting in the world of modern fashion that he created the famous "Russian Collection", showing which the House of Models traveled almost all over the world.
However, the creator himself did not participate in these trips, but continued to work for the good of Soviet fashion.
Nevertheless, the world elite spoke about his talent. In the Western press, enthusiastic responses about his collections were already regularly appearing, and there he was even dubbed "Russian Dior", which the Soviet party leadership did not like too much.
That did not fail to affect the financial well-being of the fashion designer - back in 1970 he was asked to open designer boutiques in all world fashion capitals, but Zaitsev did not receive permission from the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
Since 1970, Zaitsev has become a recognized trendsetter of Soviet fashion, and frankly at that time, the only creator of it who could adequately represent the country on the European and even American markets. The wives of the highest party elite and the stars of Soviet cinema and stage begin to turn to him. Real glory comes.
In 1982, he officially became the director of the Moscow Fashion House, which later received his name. Now he already has a network of his own boutiques almost all over the world, but he still continues to delight us with his creativity, despite his advanced age.
You can't say much about Zaitsev's personal life - his only love has always been work. For a long time he was officially married to Marina Zaitseva, who gave birth to him only son Egor.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev with his wife in his youth
When I was still a little girl of about twelve years old, a small book "Such a changeable fashion" appeared in our house. It was written by Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Zaitsev, our native, but it was not his biography, no. In his book, Vyacheslav Zaitsev enthusiastically and vividly described “this multifaceted world of fashion” (by the way, this was the name of the second book of this famous couturier, which was also first published in 1980). I remember with what enthusiasm I read this book, although I did not understand everything I read then. Several more years passed, and this book became my desk book. I read it to the holes! But a few years ago, moving to a new place, I lost her! Apparently, in a hurry, she threw it out along with old yellowed magazines and other waste paper. A common case when moving, but it felt like I had lost something very precious and valuable.
The hero of my article was born on March 2, 1938 in the "chintz land" - the city of Ivanovo, in the most ordinary Soviet family. He was named glory in honor of the famous politician Vyacheslav Molotov, who, as you know, was also Mikhailovich by his father. By the way, already at the end of the eighties Zaitsev reduced his full name to the former boyish Slava, as he learned that Molotov was a rather unpleasant person.
The father of the future famous fashion designer was convicted during the war years as being taken prisoner by the Germans. Mom, Maria Ivanovna, had to give up her dream of becoming an operetta artist, and work either as a cleaner or as a laundress. But love for singing and theater was passed on from mother to son. Years later, fashion designer Zaitsev recalls how, like many children with a sweet tooth, he earned money by singing in pastry shops. As a reward, the little singer received crumbs of cookies and sweets.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev in his youth, photo from the archive: meeting with Pierre Cardin and Marc Bohan
After graduating from high school in 1955, Vyacheslav Zaitsev entered the Ivanovo Chemical-Technological College, where he received the specialty of a textile design artist. Upon completing his studies at the technical school, he almost immediately entered the Moscow Textile Institute to study as a fashion designer - at that time it was the only place where he could be accepted as the son of an “enemy of the people”. Upon graduation from the university in 1962, the young man was assigned to the city of Babushkin, where he was appointed artistic director of the Experimental and Technical Garment Factory of the Moscow Regional Economic Council. It was here that the young fashion designer impressed his compatriots by offering an unusual collection of workwear for rural workers. In terms of cut and color, those clothes in many ways resembled the Russian folk costume, but distorted the prevailing idea of the “quilted jacket image” (according to the designer himself 🙂). Naturally, the collection was rejected, but the news about it penetrated the notorious "Iron Curtain", and the magazine "Pari Match" dedicated a huge, six-page article to it. This number fell into the hands. And when in the spring of 1965 the master once again visited Moscow, Slava Zaitsev tracked him down. From that very day, a long and warm friendship between two outstanding masters of the twentieth century began: Pierre Cardin and Slava Zaitsev. During the three years that shared the debut collection of the fashion designer Zaitsev and his meeting with the fashion master, he has already achieved considerable success, creating a fashionable women's clothing for the Moscow retail network, in particular for the Svetlana store. A month before the fateful day for Zaitsev, he was admitted to the All-Union House of Fashion Models (ODMO), which is at 14 Kuznetsky Most, as artistic director of the experimental and technical workshop. But that April day practically became a turning point in the fate of a simple Ivanovo boy. Apart from Cardin, the meeting in the Moscow restaurant “Sofia” was attended by two other famous fashion designers: the then head of the House of “Christian Dior” Marc Bohan and Guy Laroche. Needless to say, the attention of such world celebrities to the unknown master from the USSR did not pass by the foreign press: the New York newspaper “Women Wear Daily” burst out with an article “Meeting of the kings of fashion”, accompanying it with a picture taken during the dinner of the masters (and the French in fact recognized Vyacheslav as a worthy "brother in arms").
And then there was 1967 and the Moscow World Fashion Festival, where Vyacheslav Mikhailovich received the Grand Prix for a dress under the motto “Russia”. "Red Dior!" - loudly christened him in the Western press. A little earlier, periodic demonstrations of the combined collections of the House of Models, created under the strict guidance of Zaitsev, began at foreign exhibitions. It would seem a success! But one small detail was upsetting: the author of the magnificent creations himself was absent from all these exhibitions! For a long time, the authorities did not let the fashion designer go abroad, even to friendly socialist countries. The Americans even offered to open Zaitsev's branded stores, but the Soviet side rejected this offer. Only once Pierre Cardin was able to help a friend by setting a condition for the Bulgarians: they say, if Zaitsev is not at your fashion festival, then there will be no me!
Slava Zaitsev in his youth, archive photoDespite the difficulties, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich, who was nicknamed as a child for his optimism “ sun bunny”, Easily moved forward. Already in 1972, he went on a promotion, becoming now the deputy artistic director of the House of Models itself. And two years later, there was a resounding success again: the Czech magazine Kvety, reviewing fashion over the past hundred years, placed Zaitsev's photo alongside the most significant fashion designers in the world, including Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret and the same Dior. At the same time, in the seventies, the fashion designer began to create costumes for theater and stage artists. Perhaps the best of his creations for the stage masters was a red hoodie dress for A.B. Pugacheva, with whom she amazed the audience at a festival in Sopot in 1978.
And yet, at the same time in 1978, after a successful demonstration of his collections at the House of Cinema, timed to coincide with Zaitsev's fortieth birthday, he left ODMO. According to him, he got tired of making a helpless gesture every time, answering the same endless question: “Where can all this be bought?”. Overwhelmed by the bureaucratic machine, the designer felt unnecessary in the Model House. It is interesting that at the same time Zaitsev first tried to compose poetry: what had accumulated in his soul simply demanded an exit. Moving to work at a custom tailoring factory, he works on collections for the new Fashion House. In 1982, having become the artistic director of the House, he created the first Fashion Theater in the USSR on its basis.
With the beginning of perestroika in the country, fashion designer Zaitsev finally begins to travel to capital countries: the first such trip took place in 1986 to Canada. And then came 1988 - a jubilee year for Vyacheslav Mikhailovich. Presentation of your collection at the Haute Couture Week in the capital of France! Moreover, now V.M. Zaitsev is also an honorary citizen of the glorious city of Paris! Here it is - a triumph! Later, the fashion designer said that it was the brightest event in his life. But less than six months later, the second show took place in the capital of France and Vyacheslav's acquaintance with the legendary couturier (for me personally, this is the most significant fact, because I just adore Saint Laurent - author's note 🙂). However, this acquaintance (and even subsequent cooperation) with famous fashion designers does not end there - soon Zaitsev personally meets Jean-Louis Scherer, Thierry Mugler, Paco Rabanne and others. And in December 1989 in Tokyo, fashion designer Zaitsev became the winner of the "Five Best Fashion Designers of the World" competition, overtaking such masters as Claude Montana, Hanae Mori and the Italian duet Byblos!
Yes, the ice was broken, but ... according to the couturier himself, he already had enough titles and regalia by that time, but money ... Unfortunately, his worldwide recognition as a fashion designer did not bring much wealth. But fortunately, at the same time in Paris, the famous company "L'Oreal Paris" invited Slava Zaitsev to create a perfume. That perfume line was named "Maroussia" (in honor of the designer's mother, although actually "Maroussia" is translated as "My Russia") and was presented in 1992. This perfume has become incredibly popular.
Fashion designer Zaitsev is also known as a teacher and mentor: almost all modern famous Russian fashion designers have gone through his school. Also, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich is the organizer of many competitions and fashion seminars, of which, perhaps, we should mention the annual competitions: professional fashion designers named after I. Nadezhda Lamanova (Moscow) and “Talent” (Ivanovo).
You can talk about this person endlessly. A detailed biography of V.M. Zaitsev in chronological order, as well as a complete list of his collections, awards, titles, etc. you can view on the official website of the fashion designer zaitsev.info. I can also bring to your attention a fresh video.
P.S. I have always been interested in this person. I read and watched a lot about him: articles, interviews, TV shows ... And it turned out that many of his thoughts are in tune with mine. I fully agree with the following words of Slava Zaitsev (but not about theater as such, but about art in general):
“… I like aesthetic theater more. Everything related to beauty. Because there is so much dirt in life that when you come to the theater you don't want to swim in this dirt. I would like to saturate my soul with purity and light, and leave there not with heavy thoughts about the reality of being ”.
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Name: Vyacheslav Zaytsev
Age: 81 years
Place of Birth: Ivanovo
Height: 170 cm
The weight: 67 kg
Activity: fashion designer, painter
Family status: divorced
Vyacheslav Zaitsev - biography
The most famous Russian fashion designer, Vyacheslav Zaitsev, amazes the audience with irrepressible imagination and bright colors, grew up in difficult conditions, far from prosperity, satiety and beauty.
On TV was "Fashionable Verdict", which Vyacheslav Mikhailovich himself once conducted. Full lady in a gray robe poured out the soul of the audience. From the general "everything is bad," he caught two thoughts: we don't sew for big women and there won't be enough money to ... Oh, it's a pity, he's not sitting in the chair of the host of the program right now. He would have found something to say. No money to look like a queen? So for this not money is needed, but brains!
Slava Zaitsev, a boy from the provinces, without money and connections managed to conquer not only Moscow, but also Paris, the capital of world fashion. Even at 78 years old, with serious health problems, including Parkinson's disease, he still feels like an enthusiastic young man who is just learning the world.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev - childhood
Kommunalka in Ivanovo, where he lived with his mother throughout the war. Constant hunger and fear - suddenly my mother will no longer come back from her terrible job. The work of the washerwoman brought a penny, so she had to work with early morning till late evening. He was often asked later why there are so many white... Because from childhood he saw these rows of drying sheets, flapping in the wind ...
Already at the age of 7, Slava stood in lines and bought cards in the store. In the summer I collected berries, hare cabbage and lime blossom with the neighbors' children. He also sang at the bazaar, for which he received some food. There was no father who could instruct, teach, support. He went to the front when Slavik was little. He was captured, fled, fought again and met Victory in Berlin. But, having returned to his homeland, instead of honors he received 10 years in the camps and the stigma of an enemy of the people.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev - education
Such a "happy" childhood can turn a child into a little old man, but Slava did not give up. He drew excellently (he was even trusted with movie posters!), Danced and recited poetry, performed not in front of market traders, but in front of collective farmers-leaders at important concerts.
I tried to fill every minute with creativity so as not to think about hunger and disorder.
After school, Slava applied to a music school - he dreamed of becoming an operetta artist. Despite his undoubted talent, he was not accepted: the son of an "enemy of the people" has no place in a prestigious educational institution. In a military school, the same result. The only thing that remained was the Ivanovo Chemical-Technological College. Slava began his studies to become an artist for painting fabrics rather out of despair. But it was this that became the first step on the path to world fame.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev - biography of personal life
Zaitsev glanced at the TV screen again. The stylists picked up a fashionable dress for the heroine of the program, and the presenters tried to convince that it suits her. The woman, by the way, was in his taste - he loved stately ladies, those who are called Russian beauties. But this lacked confidence, the ability to present oneself. All the women whom Vyacheslav was fond of, and he was fond of all the time, were bright, lively, wise. He was often accused of being excessively loving. This is what he never understood - how love can be superfluous, because this feeling is so inspiring. You can often hear that the artist must be hungry. No! Zaitsev has long understood: an artist must be in love.
He remembered his first true love in Moscow. After college, Vyacheslav came to the capital, entered the Textile Institute. There he met Marina, beautiful and just as restless. A girl from a good family (dad is a pilot, mom is a ballerina) was also very gifted. Together they came up with the "Satirical Fashion Theater", with which they performed in student clubs.
In 1959, they decided to sign, although her parents did not accept the "provincial rogue", suspecting him of the worst "sin" - an encroachment on his Moscow residence permit. Even on the wedding day, the mother-in-law did not let them into the apartment. The young couple drank a glass of champagne under the door and went to the semi-basement damp room, which the mother-in-law rented for the newlyweds in the same house. There the couple lived all 9 years of marriage ...
Slava sent half of the scholarship to his mother, earned money as lessons, but still there was not enough money. A year later, Yegorka was born, but the mother-in-law did not change her anger for mercy even then. If not for her, Vyacheslav and Marina would have been together to this day ... Until now, Zaitsev recalls this scene with a shudder. He had already worked in the Model House on Kuznetsky Most, created costumes for theater and cinema, and his mother-in-law one "fine" day simply did not let him on the threshold. worthy husband... And Marina ... She could not resist the pressure of her mother.
Zaitsev never married again, although he was always surrounded by the most charming fashion models of the Soviet Union. Women loved him, and he adored them, but over time he realized that for a true artist, love is important not only for the fair sex, but also for the beautiful in general. And even more important is loneliness.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev - Fashionable and free
Vyacheslav Mikhailovich listened. No, footsteps were heard. He knew perfectly well that in his huge house in the suburbs, except for him, there was no one else. Loneliness gives freedom, but he really missed it at the dawn of his career.
After the institute, Zaitsev, an excellent student and a Lenin scholarship holder, was assigned to the Experimental Factory of the Mosobls-Narkhoz. Instead of evening dresses, he had to "invent" ... overalls! But Vyacheslav was not taken aback. He made gray felt boots colored, and tied colorful Pavlovo Posad shawls on the heads of the models. The Arts Council, which did not expect such agility from the newcomer, "hacked to death" the very first collection.
But the show was seen by French journalists, thanks to whom they learned about Zaitsev in Europe. Naturally, in the Union, the fashion designer was immediately cut off oxygen. At the factory, they gave the most miserable fabrics, but he managed to sew things from illiquid assets that sold out with a bang. By the end of the 1970s, Vyacheslav Zaitsev received the unspoken title of the country's main fashion designer.
And then ... he left the chair of the head of the All-Union House of Fashion Models. I just realized that he was turning into an administrator, creativity was leaving his life. In search of a muse, he went nowhere. He began to collaborate with actors and athletes, sewed concert dresses and casual costumes. Some time later he became the director of a small atelier. Everyone supported him, everyone praised him, only good fabrics were still not given. The savvy helped to prepare for the first screening. Zaitsev bought several sets of underwear at Voentorg and painted his underpants and shirts in rich colors.
And he shod the models in cheap leatherette boots. So at the beginning of 1982, the Fashion House was born, which Zaitsev manages to this day. And maybe that collection was not so good, but he managed to make a real extravaganza out of the show. A little humor, a lot of imagination and a great desire to show the world beauty - these are the three components of his success. At the same time, Zaitsev, unlike many colleagues, tried to dress the models as much as possible, and not undress. After all, a woman should be a secret, which is interesting to discover gradually.
... "Fashionable sentence" ended, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich turned off the TV. I went up to the office: today he was going to work on another picture - after all, he is not only a fashion designer, but also a talented painter. And the title of People's Artist Russian Federation, which Zaitsev received in 2006, is assigned only to the largest masters.
Labor Veteran Medal (1983)
Gold medal of the Exhibition of Economic Achievements (1983)
Honorary Citizen of Paris
Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (2007)
Vyacheslav Zaitsev was born on March 2, 1938 in the city of Ivanovo. The boy grew up in a family of workers. Childhood took place during the war years and in typical conditions for that time. Vyacheslav's father went to the front and the mother had to put her son on her feet alone. The woman instilled an interest in the beauty of nature, the world around her, reading, folk songs. In 1945 he went to Ivanovskaya high school, and in 1952 he continued his studies at the Chemical-Technological College.
In 1956, Zaitsev received a red diploma with a degree in textile design. The profession was chosen traditional for Ivanovo, because it was she who guaranteed work in the capital of chintz. However, Vyacheslav loved to draw since childhood. And in the technical school he was distinguished not only by talent, but also by diligence. Strict teachers set difficult tasks for the students. They demanded not only the expressiveness of the lines on the fabric and the fullness of the drawing, but also the "revival" of the ornament. At the same time, completing tasks, the future fashion designer constantly wondered how the fabrics with his pattern would look on the finished products.
Zaitsev decided to develop his skills and knowledge in Moscow, at a textile institute. He arrived in the capital in 1956 and turned out to be completely different from the local applicants. The guy was distinguished by his ideas about life, people, art. Vyacheslav was immediately admitted to the Faculty of Applied Arts with a degree in clothing modeling. The young man knew that in Moscow he only needed to rely on himself, so he began to combine work with study, and in his free time he went to exhibitions, theaters and museums.
At the university, Vyacheslav Zaitsev not only mastered the skill of applied textile art as a professional calligrapher, but also studied drawing as the basis of graphics. In addition, he copied old Western and Russian masters, painted antiquity and Egyptian frescoes, as well as medieval ornaments and Persian miniatures. Already at the institute, Vyacheslav acted as a fashion designer and demonstrator of his clothes at the same time. Often he shocked fellow students and teachers with unusual things in silhouette and color combination. Russian folk art came under close attention of Zaitsevo. The fashion designer traveled to ancient cities and studied the essence of art: proportions, color combinations, rhythm, color scheme.
In the 1950s, all artists had a meager representation in world fashion. The necessary information was obtained from foreign magazines. In the classroom at the Theater Library, Zaitsev met eminent fashion masters. He was impressed by Paul Poiret, Gabrielle Chanel, Christian Dior. Vyacheslav Zaitsev wanted to base his diploma on smart clothes. But the designer was given women's business suits. I coped with my task perfectly.
Vyacheslav graduated from the Moscow Textile Institute in 1962 and was assigned to the city of Babushkin at the Experimental and Technical Garment Factory of the Mosoblsovnarkhoz as artistic director. The designer immediately began to create a collection of clothes for female workers in the region and the village. The cut and color scheme began to destroy stereotypes about the image of workers and, after discussions, the models were rejected. But the line was later published in the magazine "Paris Match" along with an article entitled "He dictates fashion to Moscow."
In 1965, using this article, Marc Bohan and Pierre Cardin tracked down Vyacheslav. Before their meeting, the fashion designer showed himself well, and he was invited to the position of artistic director of the experimental and technical department of the All-Union House of Fashion Models in Moscow. Parisian couturiers got acquainted with the work of their colleague and recognized him as a professional.
Zaitsev worked at the House of Fashion Models for thirteen years and finished his career there as a Deputy Artistic Director. Over the years, the designer has done a tremendous job of creating seasonal collections for businesses. light industry union. A group of artists under the leadership of Zaitsev took into account the level of industry, and the quality of fabrics, and the climate of the regions, and the age of consumers.
In parallel, Vyacheslav Zaitsev worked on author's models. From 1965 to 1968 he demonstrated the famous "Russian Series", in 1976 collections from Ivanovo calico, consolidated collections in the USA, Japan, Canada, France, Yugoslavia and Italy. True, all the shows were held without the participation of the designer himself.
At this time, abroad Vyacheslav Zaitsev was perceived as the leader of Soviet fashion, he was nicknamed in the Western press "Red Dior". According to the Czechoslovak edition of Kveta, Zaitsev took an honorable place in the gallery of portraits of prominent fashion artists in the 100 Years Review of Fashion. His name was on a par with Paul Poiret, Gabrielle Chanel, Christian Dior.
The fashion designer left the house of models because under the system of multi-stage councils, the state standard and the fashion industry, the author's intention is distorted, the models become obsolete in production, before reaching the consumer. Vyacheslav Zaitsev began to engage in enlightenment, to introduce people to the aesthetics of clothing, to write, perform and organize fashion shows, drawing attention to the problems of fashion.
After that, the artist begins to collaborate with popular pop and theater artists. These are Muslim Magomayev, Tamara Sinyavskaya, Iosif Kobzon, Edita Piekha, Alexander Strelchenko, Alla Pugacheva, Lyudmila Zykina, Philip Kirkorov, "Time Machine", "Na-na". After the House of Models, Zaitsev moved to a custom tailoring factory and began to work on the assortment of the new Fashion House, of which he became artistic director in 1982. Six years later, he was elected director. Later, the Fashion House became the first European-style Fashion House in the country and was named after Vyacheslav Zaitsev.
The first professional fashion theater in Russia opens at the Fashion House. The theater begins to successfully tour the cities of the world. In 1996, Vyacheslav became the president of Moscow Zaitsev Fashion House. Under his leadership, the Fashion Laboratory and the Model Agency began to work.
The designer has modeled clothes for Lyudmila Putina, Svetlana Medvedeva, leading Russian artists and athletes. In the summer of 2007, he headed the Fashionable Sentence program on Channel One, where he worked until mid-2009.
A significant and long-term area of Vyacheslav's creative activity is theatrical costume, scenography, and theatrical poster. For more than two dozen performances of the capital's theaters, the fashion designer made stage costumes. Subsequently, Zaitsev created costumes for the play “ The Queen of Spades"At the Maly Theater. He also created costumes for a number of performances of theaters in other cities, including for the Hermitage Ballet Theater in St. Petersburg.
Since 2009 Vyacheslav Zaitsev has been the chairman of the jury international festival fashion "Provincial style". In March 2013, for the 75th anniversary of the master, the Navona publishing group published the book by Sergei Esin "Glory Zaitsev: Master and Inspiration". The designer was awarded the titles "Honorary Citizen of Paris" and "Honorary Citizen of Ivanovo".
In 2017, Vyacheslav Zaitsev traditionally opened the spring-summer 2018 show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia. Slava Zaitsev's collection was published in scarlet tones and in retro-shock style. The designer reinterpreted the classic silhouettes of Dior, diluting the French trends with kitsch a la russe: kokoshniks, Pavlovo Posad shawls, folk ornaments.
Awards and Recognition by Vyacheslav Zaitsev
Order of Merit to the Fatherland IV degree (1998)
Order of the Badge of Honor (November 14, 1980) - for the great work in the preparation and holding of the Games of the XXII Olympiad
Medal for Labor Valor (1974)
Labor Veteran Medal (1983)
Gold medal of the Exhibition of Economic Achievements (1983)
People's Artist of the Russian Federation (2006)
Honorary title "Honored Artist of the RSFSR" (February 11, 1991) - for services in the field of fashion design and many years of fruitful work to promote the art of fashion modeling
Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation (1996)
Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the field of literature and art 2003
Twice laureate of the Russian Government Prize (2009, 2010)
Honorary Citizen of Paris
Honorary Citizen of the Shchelkovo Municipal District of the Moscow Region
Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (2007)
Medal of the Order of Ivan Kalita (Moscow region)
Medal "For Faith and Asceticism", All-Russian Public Movement promoting the spiritual development of the population "For Statehood and Spiritual Revival of Holy Russia" (2015)
Badge of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation "For contribution to Russian culture"(2018)