22-YEAR-OLD PARSONS STUDENT, ALINA TSYGANOVA MADE HER NYFW DEBUT PRESENTING THE SUBTERRANEI SS19 COLLECTION TODAY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th, AT STORE FRONT AND ARCHITECTURE. THE COLLECTION ACTED AS A PIECE OF INSTALLATION ART IN THE SPACE. VIP ATTENDEES INCLUDED HERON PRESTON, MODEL MARINA LINCHUK, MODEL SHARINA GUTIERREZ, AND STYLIST ANYA ZIOUROVA.
The Moscow born designer was inspired by the concept of self-protection and defending ones true self from penetrations of the outside world. The central theme of the collection is what one might call the “voice of the streets” and the desire to address the quotidian struggle of mankind with oneself and with its external pressures. “At War” – with yourself, with reality – is intended less as a political slogan and more as a description of the internal state within us all – our daily need to protest and resist our realities. Similarly, the main slogan – “STAY PROTECTED” – offers a stark reminder of the everyday necessity of self-defense, calling on us to always remain “protected” (a phrase that carries with it the additional connotations of HIV and gay rights.)
As for the style, these objects feature strong, clean, and angular silhouettes with a “battle-ready” character. The collection maintains a dominant palette of black tones diluted by Bordeaux and creamy white to facilitate a structure of concise uniformity. Her designs come to life with utilitarian fabrics to nod at the notion that we must always be at war with the forces that attempt to force us change from our truest self. She uses Latex as nod to a second skin, thinking of these garments as a form of self-protection from the outside world. Alina also taps her fine arts with the collection’s centerpiece, a while cotton suit, consisting of a mini skirt and a loosely fitted jacket, hand-branded by the designer with aerosol spray cans to imitate street graffiti. Slogans like “At War” and “Stay Protected” emblaze pieces from the collection – reminding us to be in touch with the truest version of ourselves.
Alina created a conceptual installation in the space that plays on this theme. The models interacted with the installed concrete blocks that were inspired by images of derelict remnants of urbanization and industrial landscapes; the fading echoes of street art and graffiti; and the romanticized depiction of cold concrete and brutalist architecture.
See hi-res images of from presentation. Photography credit: Tiffany Sage/ BFA.com
See link to BFA Gallery here.
See link here for hi-res lookbook images.
Designer/Styling: Alina Tsyganova @sub_ter
Casting: Alexey Galetskiy @AGPNYC
Hair Lead: Audrey Adrine Petrosyan @hairbyaudreyadrine
Make-up + Nail lead: Emily H. Rudman @emilyheathnyc
Venue: Store Front for Art and Architecture, 97 Kenmare St
