When I was 8 years old, I decided to become a fashion designer and gain rewards for this. / Viktoriia Vlasenko
Links to work:
- Youtube with videos from projects: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlN6RujNRPfgYFsC6mieAQ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vik.vlasenko/
- Website: https://vikvdesign.com/
Interview
Where you are from originally?
Ukraine
When and how did you first discover your passion for fashion design?
When I was 8 years old, I decided to become a fashion designer and gain rewards for this.
What kinds of clothing did you first begin creating?
At first I regularly made closing for myself to go for a discotheque, it started when I studied at school, I just remade my mother’s closing. I made clothing for the dolls under 6 years old. My very first serious work in fashion design was the suit for my graduating younger brother.
In your opinion, why is fashion such an important aspect of our lives? What kind of power does it give a person?
Clothing is very important in our lives, since it shows our personality, our mood and it is so different in different periods of our life. Besides, clothing gives an approximate idea of a person’s profession and shows how much creative an individual is. Clothing has also showed a social status of a person in society at all times.
From the Document you sent – can you tell me what you mean by you worked in parallel with Swiss Textiles Awards – did you work for them? If so, in what capacity, what were you doing?
I took part in the competition and show of Swiss Textiles Awards, which was telecasted in Milan. Each participant was chosen from the best university students and was assigned a different task. I was given the painter and his work, and I prepared my design by being inspired by this painter (Alice Channer Scarf Border Drawing 2007 Courtesy the artist and the Dicksmith Gallery). I also worked with fabric, which were provided to me for this competition.
As a fashion designer what kind of style/garments/collections do you enjoy designing most?
I feel myself as a costume designer and a fashion designer. As a fashion designer, I own my personal production of clothing (Terrasse brand), where I produce various clothes for sale: jackets, dresses, coats, cardigans… and that’s what ordinary people will wear for every day (casual clothes) and on holidays, weddings… but for those people, who like to be peculiar and stylish in dress and wear garments made of top-quality Italian fabric. Most my clients are confident and successful women, predominantly business ladies.
But as a costume designer, I feel myself more being a painter. I can develop and have a flight of imagination. As a costume designer, I can produce very creative and crazy things. I can work not only with fabric, but with metals, plastic, 3D-prints, various incredible materials and paints as well. Although it is difficult, but very interesting. It is interesting to transform actors or signers into different characters/personages, produce fantastic costumes of super-heroes or historical ones from fiction books, which I like to read so much, or produce suits for red carpet or show/performance of celebrities, or video clips.
How have you used fashion as a platform for activism?
I like to develop social projects, in order to draw attention of the society to some problems, but for this I use fashion – make fashion films, hold exhibitions, create collections on serious topics (For instance, my collection on the topic of Explosion in Hiroshima), develop projects and publish my books according to these projects. My future project is a social project (films and photo sessions on this topic). I wish to draw attention to despair of a human with serious diseases. Therefore, locations for shooting will match the topic and the models will have in fact serious diseases. I want to show that beauty can be different.
What issues are you most passionate about? (war in ukraine, etc.)
By my project No War I wished to draw attention of the public in Italy to the war in Ukraine, since the war only began at that time and nobody knew in Europe that the war began and what was in fact happening. For this reason, I produced a brief film, made the collection, wrote the book about it and published it. I was one of the first sources about the war in Ukraine in Milan, and also took part in many demonstrations at that time.
Where do you get your inspiration from for the garments and collections you create?
I get inspiration from nature and its drawings, including the life of various persons and my family, some social projects, books, travels, history…
When did you start Terrasse?
I opened my brand Terrasse and started production of clothing more than 2 years ago. And I currently own 6 stores. And this is not the end…
Do you have a partner with you at Terrasse or is it your own business? Seems like alot to handle having 6 stores and to also be working as a costume designer! 
My mother helps me with business, especially when I’m absent. But I spend half of my time for the brand and another half of my time is spent as a costume designer for celebrities, for theatres and films.
How would you describe the clothing Terrasse sells and the customer/person you are designing for?
I produce different things for the brand Terrasse: jackets, dresses, coats, cardigans… and that’s what ordinary people will wear for every day (casual clothes) and on holidays, weddings… but for those people, who like to be peculiar and stylish in dress and wear garments made of top-quality Italian fabric. Most my clients are confident and successful women, predominantly business ladies.
Can you also add about it everywhere:
Having graduated from the university, I participated in the Fashion Show 2015 New Talents Vogue Milan for young designers. (with photos what I give you)
Why do you think costume design is so important to a film – how does it add to the story and the characters?
Costume is very important to a film, since it reveals more the character and image of a hero, the film epoch and genre. For instance, a historical costume is very important for a historical film. And, for a fiction genre, for instance, the superhero costume is important, that is in high demand and popular today. For instance, my film with my costumes, being currently produced, is a fiction film with monsters and superheroes.
Now the Unworld film is shooting with my costumes. This is an urban fantasy film with action and comedy elements. This film is about the technologies, which are fighting against the antiquity monsters. The viewer will see that the power of digital technologies is capable to bring down the established order and how the people come together to stand up to this power. This film also is about the simple human feelings that make us happy.
What is it about designing for film and other visual productions that you enjoy most?
I, as a costume designer, have passion for work in a new team for films, and as a costume designer, for work with absolutely new materials, because it is always interesting for me and it’s always a challenge to produce something new and make possible what is impossible.
Do you have a favorite genre or style of film or theatre production you enjoy working on most?
I enjoy working on music clips, since they often require something unusual from the point of view of costume design. And, my favorite film genres are fiction, historical, fairy-tale. They are the genres/styles, where I can show and prove myself best of all as a costume designer.
What makes you good at what you do– what unique talents and skill do you have that make you superior to the rest?
I work hard and can work for 5 persons. I’m also a quick learner. I can work with various materials, which other costume designers are afraid to work with, I’m also a good painter. I can invent and implement/realize it myself into life. And, correspondently, I’m very unique and production of films will be more cost-effective, because I myself can perform everything, related to costumes.
Can you tell us about your creative process when it comes to designing the costumes for a film, theatre or visual production? (Once you are hired as the costume designer, how do you start your work)
I read the scenario; then I learn the subject of costume and film epoch. Then I think over the ideas, calculate the production and how much time it will take, then start to draw the design, select fabric and materials. After this – purchase of materials and the costume production itself after agreement of the design with the film director.
In your opinion, what are the most important qualities for a costume designer to have in order to be successful in the field?
It is necessary to like what you do, it is important to be a talented/gifted person and always learn something new, be successful in joining the project, where you can show and prove yourself in full force, in order to gain reward in costumes and leave a personal mark in history.
Alice
When did you work as the costume designer on the Alice in Wonderland theatre production?
2017
Where did the performance take place? What is the name of the director?
In Ukraine, on the stage of Philarmony with chamber choir. The performance was made in jazz and in English. Performances were held throughout the Ukraine. Its Director is Dmitriy Obednokov.
How many people were in the cast?
Approx. 50 persons took part in this stage performance
Can you tell us about the costumes you designed for the Alice in Wonderland theatre production?
The costumes were theatrical and were made for the audience at a long distance. They were made in my style and execution, but were also close cardinally to classics, which we got used to.
What made this a special project to design?
It was my vision of Alice in Wonderland. The performance was also theatrical with a focus on the spectators, who were sitting far away. The difference was that the chamber choir was involved in the performance.
Olga Pechko
How did you get hired to design the costume for Olga Pechko?
Olga Pechko saw my forged iron dummies as garments for her show (since she was looking for who made it), could see my works as a costume designer and asked to make costumes for her show.
How did Olga want her costume to be designed?
She wanted in the trend of more costumes and for her different songs by style of each song.
What did you design for her – can you describe it in detail?
Many different attires/dresses by style for different songs were made. From romance to rock, in accordance with the song genre.
Is there anything unique I should know about this project?
I worked a lot with simulations of metals for this project so that the costumes could look nice and beautiful from the stage for the audience.
Loose Ends
Can you tell me about the storyline in the film “Loose Ends”? What happens in the film?
The film tells how the life of a human can change, if he/she does not want to achive something or if he/she wants. And this is a comedy.
Did the film have any prominent screenings or win any awards that I should know about?
Winner Best comedy 2016 Hollywood Boulevard film Festival
Can you tell us about your inspiration for the wardrobe for the main characters in the film?
My work was very simple for this film: I watched the vagrants/homeless, how they behave and what they wear in Los Angeles, including the prisoners’ costumes. I assisted the director with composition.
What was your favorite part about working as a costume designer on the film?
It was merry/joyous to work over the comedy and watch the life of vagrants/homeless.
Can you tell us about the costumes and some of the challenges you faced?
Exactly this project was very simple for me, but this is exactly what the film director wanted from me, his vision of the project.
Mr. Heart (No interesting project- better not to use)
Can you tell me about the storyline in the film “Mr. Heart”? What happens in the film?
This is the comedy about the girl, who is in love with the toy, and which afterwards turns into an alive fellow.
Did the film have any prominent screenings or win any awards that I should know about?
Not yet. The film director did not sent this film anywhere.
Can you tell us about your inspiration for the wardrobe for the main characters in the film?
The wardrobe was rather simple, except for to create the toys for the films with various emotions and make the toys move themselves.
What was your favorite part about working as a costume designer on the film?
It was merry/joyous. It was for the first time, when I made the costume and the toys themselves.
Can you tell us about the costumes and some of the challenges you faced?
It was for the first time, when I made the costume and the toys themselves.
UnWorld
Can you tell me about the storyline in the film “All Lives Matter”? What happens in the film?
Now the Unworld film is shooting with my costumes. This is an urban fantasy film with action and comedy elements. This film is about the technologies which are fighting against the antiquity monsters. The viewer will see that the power of digital technologies is capable to bring down the established order and how the people come together to stand up to this power. This film also is about the simple human feelings that make us happy.
Did the film have any prominent screenings or win any awards that I should know about?
The film is still screened/in production.
Can you tell us about your inspiration for the wardrobe for the main characters in the film?
The screen and creation of superheroes and monsters, since it is fiction.
What was your favorite part about working as a costume designer on the film?
Work with absolutely new materials and creation of the masks for costumes and of the monsters.
Can you tell us about the costumes and some of the challenges you faced?
Work with absolutely new materials and also creation of the masks for costumes and of the monsters. And conveyance/transportation of all costumes to production/shooting site.
Any other pertinent information that you think I should know or include in your articles?
The film is still in screened/in production, and I think that I have a good chance to win the prize for the costumes in it, when the shootings is over.
All Lives Matter
Can you tell me about the storyline in the film “All Lives Matter”? What happens in the film?
This is fiction telling how humans can treat others badly and in this case – the cyborgs.
Did the film have any prominent screenings or win any awards that I should know about?
The film was not delivered by the Director to the festival.
Can you tell us about your inspiration for the wardrobe for the main characters in the film?
In the costumes the past and the future were mixed, therefore, it was necessary to make the costumes from the past, which slightly give an idea of the future already. Unusual women’s costumes and more classic men’s costumes were made.
What was your favorite part about working as a costume designer on the film?
In the costumes the past and the future were mixed, therefore, it was necessary to make the costumes from the past, which slightly give an idea of the future already.
Can you tell us about the costumes and some of the challenges you faced?
In the costumes the past and the future were mixed, therefore, it was necessary to make the costumes from the past, which slightly give an idea of the future.
Having graduated from the university, I participated in the Fashion Show 2015 New Talents Vogue Milan for young designers. (with photos what I give you) .
