This fall semester, junior Timosha Krivtsov, a current Apparel, Textile and Design (ATD) student, was accepted into Kansas City Fashion Week (KCFW) to show his original collection of his fashion designs and launch his individual brand. KCFW is ATD’s entrée into this competition.

He was selected to be part of the show via an application that was sent through his academic advisor from the College of Arts & Letters. As part of the application process, Krivtsov had to answer a series of questions regarding his individual business models, his personal backgrounds and bio and his plans for the fashion show.

Krivtsov showcased five separate garments during the show. Additionally, because of the modular capabilities of his garments, he was able to showcase around 15 distinct looks. During the show, he was on stage for segments of it, which allowed him to interchange components of his designs while the models remained on stage.

“That was key,” Krivtsov said. “Showing the audience how the garments work. Seeing as this was a completely new concept to much of our audience, I ended up conducting more of a presentation for them, rather than a conventional runway walkthrough.”

KCFW was an established venue, which meant they had dedicated staff to help backstage, before, during and after the show. Krivtsov and his team were at the show all day as they worked on last-minute fittings and facilitated model walkthroughs. He described the experience as surreal. “I walked up and down the runway, head held high, trying to express a strong sense of confidence as I removed and interchanged the components of each garment.”

Fashion Passion Started Early

Since he was a kid, Krivtsov always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur but the idea of fashion only struck him during his first semester at Michigan State. After viewing a documentary about how the fashion industry affects third world countries and how it harms our planet, his curiosity was sparked.

“I am a problem-solver so connecting the dots comes naturally to me. So, the question was, how can we merge aesthetically pleasing designs with an environmentally-focused outcome? In other words, can we design a fashionable garment without harming the environment? This question guides my work to this day,” Krivtsov said. “Sustainability is the primary driving factor in my work.”

For Krivtsov, he creates his designs by connecting the dots and recognizing patterns of already existing garments and silhouettes in the fashion industry. He is able to see how he does not need to approach his designs in a new way necessarily, rather he just looks at designs from the past in a different way.

Faculty Expertise

Krivtsov’s Michigan State University education has helped him tremendously by introducing him to resources and opportunities like the KCFW show. In his current Design, Development and Presentation class, taught by Dr. Theresa Winge, Krivtsov has been able to acquire valuable skills in CAD programs that are essential to the fashion industry, like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. In a recent assignment, he was able to apply his newly acquired skills to make proper technical renderings for the first sweatshirt he designed. Thanks to this course, and Dr. Theresa Winge, Krivtsov has not only been able to learn valuable new skills, but he has also received critical feedback throughout a curriculum that aligns with his professional interests and endeavors. “It really is a win-win situation,” Krivtsov​​​​​​​ said

The ATD faculty and staff have been extremely supportive of his ideas and desire to explore all areas of fashion. As a result of his ongoing education at MSU, Krivtsov​​​​​​​ has been able to incorporate his ideas into his assigned course work.

Along with Professor Theresa Winge, Krivtsov​​​​​​​ has encountered many professors at MSU that have helped him pursue his dreams of fashion. ATD professors have been tremendously supportive of his work and encourage him to use various motifs and concepts like in his designs for the Screen-Printing class taught by Xia Gao.

Next Steps in the Fashion Journey

Aside from KCFW, Krivtsov​​​​​​​ has participated in two other fashion shows, one being in Lansing and the other being the second MSU Fashion Week at the Spartan Stadium. Both shows incorporated a more theatric performance rather than the conventional runway format, just like the show at KCFW.

“These nonconventional shows engage the viewer by inviting them to think about the symbolic significance of the garments, models, and choreographed performance. The shows challenge the status quo, such as the conventional runway format. This is not just pretty models wearing pretty garments- this is art.”

This is not just pretty models wearing pretty garments – this is art.

Krivtsov is planning to graduate in the Spring of 2020 with the goal is to create a self-sustaining business. He is considering moving to New York where he can be much closer to his suppliers and acquire a more consistent flow of sales and stronger brand reputation. However, Krivtsov​​​​​​​ is also considering staying in Michigan where he can base his business out of Detroit. There, he would be able to continue to invest and develop in a city that he believes will be more realistic for his current standing.