Brands that appeal to the Russian arts and crafts

Folk arts and crafts, such as Gzhel, Khokhloma, Zhostovo and other, sometimes inspire not only the Russian designers, but also the foreign brands. Today we are going to tell you how the traditional patterns typical for Russian crafts have been reinterpreted as part of collection by various brands from Kiehl’s to Chanel.

Capsule collection by Kiehl's

Capsule collection by Kiehl's

In 2016, American brand Kiehl’s released special capsule collection for International Women’s Day. The design of skincare products package was inspired by the Russian arts and crafts, and the task to paint the jars was entrusted to Max Goshko-Dankov. In general, the concept was based on four different traditional crafts: Matreshka, Zhostovo, Mezen and Gorodets, which determined the color, the shape and the mood of the future paintings. In search for inspiration, the artist visited local crafts manufacturers, consulted with practicing artisans and watched their actual work. These efforts resulted in Goshko-Dankov's signature bright patterns decorating the brand’s skincare products jars. The capsule collections designed by invited artists have already become a regular practice for Kiehl’s started from famous collaboration with Andy Warhol. 

CtrlZak for Seletti

Plate from the Hybrid collection

The collection of porcelain plates and cups called Hybrid for notorious Italian inventor brand Seletti was created by designers from CtrlZak bureau. As part of their collection, they decided to combine the East and the West, which resulted in the range of items decorated with painted patterns, which partly refer to the modern Gzhel, and party to the oriental motives. The duality of the Hybrid items is emphasized by their shape: the plates and the cups made of thin and ringing ‘bone-like’ porcelain with uneven edge look like, as if they were made of two halves hastily glued together. The decorative patterns where applied using the annealing paints, while designers decided not to stick with traditional blue color of Gzhel and proved that, for example, green Gzhel also happened to be.

Passionate Russia Collection by FREYWILLE

"Golden berry" by FREYWILLE

FREYWILLE is the Austrian jewelry brand focusing on the products made of precious metals and decorated with distinctive bright fire enamel. The company has a long history of more than 60 years and stands out against its competitors thanks to the inimitable color combinations and recognizable patterns. When designing its Passionate Russia collection, the jewelers sought inspiration not only in the Russian crafts, such as Matreshka and Khokhloma, but also in the traditional fairytale symbols like the Firebird and important aspects of the Russian national identity affecting the European culture, for example, the Russian ballet. Thus, the designers reinterpreted the traditional Khokhloma pattern as part of their Golden Berry collection, where they decided to ring some changes on the traditional painting and use more colors instead of usual red and gold on the black background.

Collection Inspiration Pusse by Chanel

Sergueï Bracelet by Chanel

Chanel is another brand that decided to release the collection of Russia-themed jewelry. The brand’s capsule collection features the names of four Russian men who once influenced the fate of the Coco herserf: Dmitry, Romanov, Igor Stravinsky, Vaslav Nijinsky and Sergei Diaghilev. The Baroque set Serguei is dedicated to    Diaghilev. First, the jewelry somehow reminds of Diaghilev’s homeland, Perm, and are decorated with bright Ural semi-precious stones such as ruby, malachite, aquamarine and rubellite. Second, they recreate the  traditional folk craft patterns, but using the gems: the central element of the bracelet is the huge aquamarine surrounded with the elaborate malachite ornament and the neat ruby roses.