Published: 27 May, 2008, 15:54
Edited: 27 May, 2008, 15:54
Veronika Jeanvie has become the first Ukrainian designer to open her own flagship store in Kiev.
Veronika Jeanvie was already successful at home in Kiev. But when she met the renowned Spanish designer Paco Rabanne, the world opened up to her with fashion shows in New York and Paris.
“Two years ago I went to Kiev Fashion week. It was my first visit to Ukraine and I was impressed with the number of extraordinarily talented designers. And there was one particular collection which I loved. I was told the designer's name was Veronika Jeanvie. We met and she said she wanted to do a catwalk show in Paris. I told her I would help her and that's how we began working together. I knew she'd make it to the international podium,” Rabanne said.
Veronika's first ever catwalk show in the French capital took place in 2007 during Paris haute couture week. After its success journalists gave her the nickname ‘Parisian dolly-girl’.
“Sometimes we argue or debate during work. But of course I respect Paco Rabanne very much and I’m very interested in his personality. And of course I always listen to his advice because I understand that 45 years in the fashion industry is a whole life,” Jeanvie says.
Of course, Paco Rabanne is not the only one who appreciates her talent. The young designer's recent show at Los-Angeles Fashion week caught the attention of the Gucci, Dior and Karl Lagerfeld fashion houses.
Paco Rabanne decided to hand over the designer’s life to his protégé. The designer chose Moscow for the official announcement of his retirement as a designer, but not as an artist. His first ever exhibition of drawings was also held in the Russian capital three years ago.