AAU_marina_solomatnikova_F1013Marina Solomatnikova
MFA, Academy of Art University

DALLAS, Mar 21, 2010 / FW/ — Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings, MFA graduate Marina Solomatnikova sent out gray and beige apparel in suede for her graduation collection, emoting fashion from an unusual viewpoint which is parallel to Georgia O’Keeffe’s atypical perspective of nature.

While Georgia O’Keefe drew flowers on the horse skull against a sandy surface, mother of pearls with colors changing from pure white to night black, white seashells contrasting against the multicolored dark background, Marina Solomatnikova chose to combine tough natural forms with fragile airy elements, marrying silk chiffon and suede in the collection.

As most fashion design students know, suede is one of the hardest fabrics to work with. As Marina related, “From my tailoring and construction process, I now fully understand how unforgiving suede is as a fabric, how much care it requires, and how precise the patterns need to be.”

Commenting on her fabrications techniques, Marina said, “I wanted to have pleats but found out that suede does not keep them so I worked with my instructors, used various techniques and supported the pleats with interfacing. Overcoming this challenging fabric and the time spent on these techniques has greatly improved my tailoring skills. I incorporated sheer silks to give a lighter appeal to the overall look.”

Born in Revda in the Sverdlovsk region of Russia, Marina Solomatnikova was raised in Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan of Russia. She received her AA degree in Graphic and Interior Design from Kazan Art College in 1998, and her MA degree in Design and Construction of women and children’s wear from Kazan State Technological University in 2002.

In 2004, Marina was the recipient of Russia’s Couturier of the Year Award, and in 2003, the Russian Silhouette Award. After working for fashion design company Indan in Kazan, Marina decided to pursue her MFA degree in Fashion Design at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California.

[MARI DAVIS]
Photos by Randy Brooke, courtesy of AAU

New York Fashion Week Fall 2010