How a Vitebsk designer created a fashion theater and showed a collection in Paris

At the age of 14, Yulia Kutepova was already sewing extravagant outfits for herself, and now she is a mother of many children, director, mentor, and the mastermind behind the Vitebsk fashion theater "Kostyumer," which is attended by young craftswomen from the age of four.

She has as many creative ideas as Cinderella had peas in her bag.

Golden Hands

Yulia grew up in Smolensk. From an early age, her mother dressed her in what is now called handmade dresses. Among her classmates, she was the only one who had a sewing machine at home, so it would have been a sin not to take the opportunity and learn how to use it.

By her teenage years, the girl was already sewing trouser suits and other ensembles for herself. Besides her mother, her labor teacher was a role model.

"If all girls had such mentors, they would all love sewing," Yulia is sure.

After finishing school, she faced a choice: to study choreography (she graduated from art school with honors) or to become a design engineer for garment production in Moscow or Vitebsk. After deciding in favor of the second specialty, her parents issued a resolution: they were afraid to let her go to the capital.

However, the Belarusian regional center was liked by both the applicant and her parents. So she settled here: after receiving her diploma, she got married and had three children. She admits that she likes Vitebsk more than Smolensk.

A Cup Full of Creativity

Yulia had been nurturing the idea of creating a fashion theater for a long time, but it came to fruition a little over two years ago when an acquaintance suggested opening a sewing studio together.

But she wanted not just to sew, but to pass on her skills and abilities to children.

A friend from the project of her own business eventually gave up, but the heroine of our publication did not abandon her idea. True, she intended to open a fashion theater after maternity leave for her younger daughter. But the desire to create was so strong that everything happened much earlier: with a 4-month-old baby in her arms, she welcomed her first students.

A correspondent for "Vitebskiye Vesti" personally became convinced: a warm atmosphere reigns at the classes in "Kostyumer". This is not surprising, because here bold children's ideas, not limited by frameworks, templates, and standards, are embodied, which Yulia sometimes takes note of herself.

The fashion theater accepts little girls from the age of four, who initially draw sketches, learn to choose colors, and then work with thread and needle.

There are among them those skilled craftswomen who later help the older ones. There are about 40 participants in the theater in total.

There is also a boy in this flower garden. He doesn't do needlework with the girls, he's shy, but he's making progress in acting classes – which, by the way, are also part of the fashion theater program. A similarly shy boy attended "Kostyumer" some time ago.

Everyone was surprised by his knitting skills: from the age of three, he begged his mother to teach him how to handle knitting needles, and at five, he supplied his grandmothers with more than one exclusive scarf. Yulia noted that there are indeed not enough boys, and therefore she invites future Diors not to be shy and to come to the fashion theater.

An atmosphere of ease

– We sing here, drink tea, and play games – we don't have the word "lesson", only "creativity", – Yulia explains. – To make it interesting and for the children to see the results quickly, we do simple embroidery, appliqué, and sew dolls. On average, this takes about one and a half to two months.

The girls also help in creating costumes: they select details and combine the entire look into one whole.

 Young craftswomen are also trying their hand at modeling. They have already visited Paris, Saint Petersburg, Suzdal, and Velikiye Luki with collections from "Kostyumer", and are soon heading to Vienna. It would take a long time to list all the Belarusian cities where they were welcomed as guests. At every competition, these stylish little beauties win prizes.

Recently, the girls debuted as independent designers. In Vitebsk, they presented their own collections, and four participants from "Kostyumer" were invited to a fashion competition in Moscow, which will take place in November. Yulia helps them draw sketches, and after purchasing the fabric, meticulous preparation for the upcoming competitions for young couturiers will begin.

Currently, the "Kostyumer" team is working on a new collection for the republican fashion and photography festival-competition "Melnitsa Mody" (Fashion Mill).

 As for creating a series of outfits, Yulia has no problems with that: sewing 10 white dresses in three days is not a challenge for her.

– I sew very quickly, three to four dresses a day, – she admits, and I immediately imagine Cinderella, who manages to fulfill an order for ball gowns for her stepmother and stepsisters overnight. – Personally, I like ethnic style the most, I often experiment: what happens if I combine different fabrics and styles. In short, I don't limit my imagination.

Of course, the creative process with the children takes longer, but it's worth it, Yulia notes.

A whole ocean of plans!

In addition to the aforementioned areas, the fashion theater director is also trying her hand in other fields. For example, not so long ago, together with some musician friends from Vitebsk, she wrote a song – a kind of anthem for "Kostyumer", and filmed a music video for it with the participants of the fashion theater. Everything went so cheerfully that it was decided to repeat the experience in the future.

Another passion is unusual bags and backpacks, which are the result of a collaboration with Vitebsk artist Tamara Prokofieva.

Yulia sews, and Tamara draws. Sliced fruits, cute animals, and now portraits of famous writers. And what is especially important for lovers of exclusivity, no model is repeated twice.

Yulia is currently pursuing her second higher education remotely at the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, majoring in "Organizer of Mass Events."

In fashion shows at competitions, she notes, fashion theaters often deviate from the classic catwalk, focusing on the show. And in order to compete with them worthily, while not forgetting the main goal – the demonstration of clothing, Yulia strives to grow professionally.

Of course, she has a whole ocean of plans for the future. And she is not afraid of possible obstacles to their implementation. We wish young talents and their skilled director good luck and victories in all upcoming competitions.