Published
Nov 5, 2016
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Katya Dobryakova enters US market with NYC store opening

Published
Nov 5, 2016

Russian designer Katya Dobryakova has the difficult, yet promising task of introducing herself to the US market. Since launching her namesake fashion label in 2010, the designer expanded her presence beyond her native country of Russia and into Asia, the Middle East, Europe and UK. On Thursday, she opened her first-ever US store in New York City with the intention of replicating the same success.


Designer Katya Dobryakova in her New York City store on 463 Broome Street


 
The 650-square-foot store on 463 Broome Street took Katya and her team over two months to build. Upon entering, one would notice the contrasting interior details like the rustic exposed concrete wall and brushed metal table and the opulent gold racks and pristine white walls. The New York City store is very similar to the brand’s Moscow store, but it has an intimate boutique feel that is original to the space.
 
The SoHo store currently carries the full fall 2016 collection and a small portion of the artist inspired spring 2016 collection. The fall 2016 collection is inspired by the circus and is comprised of sweatshirts, hoodies, denim jackets, skirts and coats that feature circus characters like jugglers and circus animals like tigers, seals and elephants. Many of the sweatshirts contain mixed media graphics that pair lace with faux fur and velvet. To commemorate the store opening, the brand is offering a limited-edition graphic t-shirt.

Katya told Fashion Network that Russia takes great pride in its circus shows and events, and she wanted to share her home country’s culture and creativity.
 

The Katya Dobryakova fall 2016 collection at the recently opened New York City store



Prior to launching her fashion label, Katya graduated from the Stroganov Moscow State University of Arts Industry with a degree in graphic design, which led her to Sony Music where she designed album covers for some of Russia’s most influential music acts. She parted ways with Sony and landed partnerships with several large companies and corporations in Russia. Later, she designed pillows for friends and clients, which was the precursor to her fashion design career. 
 
Though a fun and light-hearted subject inspires the fall 2016 collection, Katya tends to dabble in political and social themes using images of President Vladimir Putin and President Barack Obama on t-shirts with phrases and quotes. She launched her namesake label with a line of t-shirts shortly after releasing a t-shirt of President Putin with a quote from a Pushkin story, “If he married me – I would give our Tsar an heir. Handsome, brave, beyond compare.” Katya has a knack for achieving immediate success; the recently opened New York City store sold $35,000 in product in just two weeks on neighborhood foot traffic alone. 



 
Many designers would take the opportunity to introduce their brand to a new market themselves, but most often have to rely on other retailers. Katya is very fortunate to be in complete control of her brand’s entrance into the US market, and as an independent designer as well. 

Katya Dobryakova is available in 18 countries at specialty stores such as Tsum and Podium Market in Moscow, The Place in London, Saks Fifth Avenue in Kazakhstan, and Shop at Sauce in Dubai.

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