Two Russian clothes designers have mastered the ancient craft of transforming smelly fish skins into spectacular fashion items. Timur and Aleksandra Tikhonyuk from Kaliningrad Region, Russia’s exclave in the Baltics, work with a range of scaly creatures,
Their clothes look so good it would be easy to think they were made from snake or alligator skin. The fish skin is specially treated, ironed out and dyed, before being sewed into clothes. The process gives the finished article a smooth, glossy finish. Most people can't believe their eyes when they see stylish outfits made of salmon, beluga and sturgeon. The couple use contemporary materials and ferments to rid the skin of its oil and characteristic fishy smell. They say carp gives the best results for fine design, because of its large scales.