Where have all the Russian glitterati gone? Now great cancellation extends to Paris fashion week as FROWS empty of models Irina Shayk, Sasha Pivovarova and Natalia Vodianova – and couture houses come under pressure to show support for Ukraine
- Russian celebrities and influencers are notably absent from Paris Fashion Week
- Usual big hitters such as Irina Shayk and Sasha Pivovarova are absent this year
- Only former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova has braved the front row in France
- Questions arose over links between oligarchs and inner circles of high fashion
The inner circles of ‘high fashion’ are facing a reckoning amid their uncomfortable ties to Russian money as celebrities, influencers and models abandon the front row amid Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
This week, many Russian stars appear to have declined invitations to the hottest ticket in the sartorial calendar and abandoned the front rows of Paris Fashion Week.
The usual big hitters from Russia such as Irina Shayk, Sasha Pivovarova and Natalia Vodianova have all stayed away and used Instagram to condemn the war as Putin’s troops continue to pour into Ukraine.
Only former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova, 34, has braved the trip to the French capital – leaving the usual merry-go-round of wealthy Russians who are often picturing lining runways in New York, London or Milan conspicuously empty.
Instead, British and American celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Bella Hadid and Rihanna have been pictured rubbing shoulders.
It means that luxury labels – who often use their catwalks as an in-person catalogue for many of their wealthiest clients – are likely to miss out on the orders from many of their affluent Russian customers.
Questions have also arisen over the close links forged between the inner circle of Russia’s high fashionistas and wealthy oligarchs – who have either been named on international sanction lists or are alleged to have close links to Putin.
Roman Abramovich’s ex-wife, Dasha Zhukova ran her own fashion label and remains editor-in-chief of avant garde fashion magazine POP.
And Ulyana Sergeenko, an influential Russian fashion designer, was married to Danil Khachaturov, a tycoon who was named among oligarchs to be sanctioned by the United States in 2018.
The developments come amid a backdrop of celebrities and influencers facing pressure to condemn Putin’s invasion and the threat of financial sanctions looming over Russian oligarchs and tycoons.
The inner circles of ‘high fashion’ are facing a reckoning amid their uncomfortable ties to Russian money as celebrities, influencers and models abandon the iconic front row amid Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Pictured: The FROW of Paris Fashion Week on Thursday
The usual big hitters from Russia such as Irina Shayk (right) Sasha Pivovarova and Natalia Vodianova (left) have all stayed away from the French capital and instead used Instagram to condemn the war as Putin’s troops continue to pour into Ukraine
Only former tennis World No. 1 Maria Sharapova, 34, (pictured) has braved the trip to the French capital – leaving the usual merry-go-round of wealthy Russians who are often picturing lining runways in New York, London or Milan conspicuously empty
Russian models Sasha Pivovarova (left) and Sasha Luss (right) both took to social media to share their support for Ukrainians
Russian model Irina Shayk on Monday took to Instagram with an image of a peace sign, in expressing her support for the people of Ukraine.
She captioned the post: ‘No To War.’
She continued: ‘I will be donating to @unicef and @redcrossukraine – Please check my stories for donation links and resources, give what you can. Praying for peace.’
Sasha Pivovarova, a Russian model who is known for being the longest appearing fashion model for Prada, took to social media to share a picture showing Ukraine’s flag with a yellow and blue heart.
Meanwhile, Sasha Luss, a Russian model and actress, took to her Instagram stories to urge her followers to donate food, water and hygeine products to Ukrainian refugees.
Russian model Irina Shayk on Monday took to Instagram with an image of a peace sign, in expressing her support for the people of Ukraine
Sasha Luss (pictured at Paris Fashion Week in September) took to her Instagram stories to urge her followers to donate food, water and hygeine products to Ukrainian refugees
Natalia Vodianova (pictured at Paris Fashion Week in September 2021), who is Russian, said she was going to donate to Ukraine
Other influencers such as Natasha Poly (pictured at Paris Fashion Week in October 2021), who has 1million followers, are yet to share any permanent statement online
Sharing links to an array of organisations, she wrote: ‘Give now to rush urgently needed water, food, hygiene kits and ongoing support for families, especially women, children and the elderly.’
Russian supermodel Vlada Roslyakova also shared a video urging peace, while Natalia Vodianova, who is also Russian, said she was going to donate to Ukraine.
The usual big-spending core of Russian shoppers – who use their deep pockets to lavish themselves with fashionable garments – are still yet to be seen at Paris Fashion Week.
This week, the global fashion industry faced an unprecedented wave of pressure to use their influential platforms and huge social media followings to do more to support Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
Instead, British and American celebrities including Lucy Boynton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Demi Moore (all pictured with Maria Sharapova) have been pictured rubbing shoulders
Demi Moore attended the Chloe fashion show on Thursday as part of Paris Fashion Week
Victoria Beckham found time for a spot of shopping in the French capital on Thursday after she announced her own Fashion Week show
Earlier in the week, Victoria made an eye-catching appearance at the Saint-Laurent show alongside her son Romeo, who towered over his mother
Notable Russian influencers, models and celebrities, including Irina Shayk who once dated Cristiano Ronaldo, have slowly started to speak out on the war.
The 36-year-old supermodel took to Instagram on Tuesday to share an image of a peace sign as she expressed her support for Ukraine. She wrote: ‘No To War’.
Natalia Vodianova, 40, who states she is a UN Good Will Ambassador on her social media channels, wrote: ‘As a mother my heart goes out to all mothers who are suffering the consequences of recent events in Ukraine and everyone effected (sic) by this conflict.
‘Women will be the ones carrying most burden of this conflict and I want them to know that they are not alone.
‘I can’t help alone but together as a community, we can do a lot. I will be listing organisations that you can donate to to help and which I will be donating to.’
Critical comments had flooded in online after many couture houses, and much of their wealthy Russian crowd, chose to bury their heads in the sand as their country wages war with their Ukrainian neighbours. Above: Russian President Vladimir Putin
The capital of Kyiv continues to face intense shelling but has so far been spared a major assault, with Russia’s main attack force stalled for days in a miles-long convoy on a highway to the north
Other influencers such as Natasha Poly (1million followers) are yet to share any permanent statement online.
Ukrainian models, designers and editors that left their hometowns for Milan Fashion Week have spoke of their difficulty at being away from their friends, families and employees as their country descended into a war zone within hours of their departure.
Many who expected a week of glamour in the Italian fashion capital have spoken of bizarre parallel worlds as they walk the runway in front of A-listers in designer clothes, while their friends and family hide out in bomb shelters at home.
They described how the ‘tone deaf’ fashion community has failed to properly acknowledge the Russian invasion and spoke of their heartache at trying to helped loved ones still trapped.
Some are desperately trying to get back to their families in Ukraine while others are heading for Poland in the hope of being reunited with loved ones across the border.
Critical comments had flooded in online after many couture houses, and much of their wealthy Russian crowd, chose to bury their heads in the sand as their country wages war with their Ukrainian neighbours.
La Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, the governing body of Paris Fashion Week, had ignored calls to postpone the show, but did offer a statement of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
Its president, Ralph Toledano, said: ‘Given the present context, the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode encourages you to experience the shows of the coming days with solemnity, and in reflection of these dark hours.’
Olivier Rousteing, the French fashion designer of Balmain, took to Instagram during Paris Fashion Week to share a rare political message on the invasion.
He said: ‘It’s hard to feel right focusing on clothes as we listen with a heavy heart to the news. We are well aware that there are more important things happening in the world today.’
Balenciaga, whose creative director Demna Gvasalia hails from Georgia, became the first house to make a statement when it deleted all of its fashion content on Instagram days before its show in Paris – replacing it with calls to donate to the World Food Programme.
But some have called for far tougher response across the industry.
1Granary, a London-based magazine whose editor-in-chief, Olya Kuryshchuk, is Ukrainian, published an open letter demanding fashion businesses and their leaders ‘stand with Ukraine and condemn Russia’s invasion’.
TsUM Kyiv, a department store in the capital which has been closed since Putin’s troops started flooding into Ukraine, has been leading calls for fashion houses to cut off their trade with Russia.
‘The fashion industry needs to stand up. Stop trading – stop supplying Russia. Stop your relationships with Russia,’ marketing director Marusya Koval said in an interview with Vogue Business.
Some have already heeded that call, including Danish brand Ganni and Hungarian label Nanushka who have already chosen to halt their sales in Russia.
Peter Baldaszti, the chief executive of Nanushka, was at a show during Milan fashion week when he first heard about the Russian invasion. He described cutting trade in Russia as a ‘significant financial decision’ for the brand.
‘We have respect for the Russian people and our partners,’ he said.
‘We know this is not their decision, but it is impossible to do business with Russia based on our moral values.’
This week, the global fashion industry and couture houses including Balmain and Balenciaga faced an unprecedented wave of pressure to use their influential platforms and huge social media followings to do more to support Ukraine following the Russian invasion
Pictured: Olivier Rousteing, the French fashion designer of Balmain, took to Instagram during Paris Fashion Week to share a rare political message on the invasion
UK-based fashion entrepreneur Paul Harfleet said: ‘The ability of such large fashion businesses to yield their “soft” power will undoubtedly have some impact on the Russian high street, fashion industry and economy, but will Putin take note? It’s unlikely.
‘Longer terms effects specific to the fashion industry are impossible to predict, but I do hope that we can separate Putin from his people. It’s clear many Russians are as appalled by his actions as I am.
‘It may well be that people start to shun Russian brands, as we’re already seeing, but it’s important to note that not all Russians back Putin.’
Paris Fashion Week comes as crippling Western sanctions were first enacted – forcing Russia’s financial markets into turmoil and causing the rouble to sink to record lows against the dollar.
With the national currency plummeting in value, wealthy Russians are turning to luxury goods as a potential source of relief as scores of fashion brands – including Burberry, Ganni, and Yoox Net-a-Porter – temporarily halt trade in Russia.
Bullish investors looking to retain the value of their assets are now turning to watches, jewellery and precious metals, which often serve as a hedge against inflation.
Last week, senior EU sources said Italy rushed to remove the likes of Gucci loafers and designer handbags from any export bans agreed by the bloc aimed at hitting the lifestyles of Moscow’s elite
It comes as Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Labour’s spokesman on international trade, demanded further action from the Government on financial penalties for those with links to Putin
Last week, senior EU sources said Italy rushed to remove the likes of Gucci loafers and designer handbags from any export bans agreed by the bloc.
One EU diplomat said Italy’s argument was that banning sales to Russian oligarchs ‘would have been largely symbolic’.
But senior Italian government sources reacted furiously, with one saying the country’s prime minister Mario Draghi ‘did not seek a carve-out on Italian luxury goods – that is categorically untrue’.
Russian consumers still only account for approximately 3 per cent of global luxury sales.
It comes as high-end brands, such as Italian jeweller Bulgari, are still reporting strong sales in Russia despite the invasion of Ukraine and the looming threat of sanctions, Bloomberg reports.
‘In the short term [restrictions have] probably boosted the business,’ the jeweller’s chief executive Jean-Christophe Babin told Bloomberg.
‘How long it will last it is difficult to say, because indeed with the SWIFT measures, fully implemented, it might make it difficult if not impossible to export to Russia,’ he added.
It comes as Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Labour’s spokesman on international trade, demanded further action from the Government on financial penalties for those with links to Putin and his war effort.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Thomas-Symonds called for a ‘total ban on the export of luxury goods’ into the country in a bid to stop ‘Putin and his inner circle living a Mayfair lifestyle in Moscow’.
‘Whether it is on clothing, on jewellery, on diamonds… [the UK should] get a comprehensive ban in place to stop Putin and his inner circle living in luxury while barbaric, evil acts are perpetrated against the people of Ukraine’, he added.
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