A new website is celebrating the coming of age of Baltic fashion
Currently the toast of Paris, fashion from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania has crossed the Channel and is now on sale in the UK.
Madame Kuku is the brainchild of Latvian Baiba More who has recruited some of the best-known and up-and-coming designers from the region including Karaliene, Freak Factory, Peony, Varkki and Amoralle.
It is the first website of its kind to sell Baltic womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, accessories and beauty products to the UK market.
Baiba came up with the idea for an online fashion site when she realised she was being constantly complimented on her outfits and jewellery, most of which had been made or bought in the Baltics.
“Our aim is to provide a global stage for exclusive, handmade designs from the Baltic region,” says the 28-year-old, originally from Latvia and who is now based in the UK.
“The sheer wild creativity and attention to detail of Baltic designers is hard to beat and I really wanted to do something to promote this niche market to a wider audience.”
Baiba, who runs Madame Kuku along with business partner and fashion designer Liene Gavrilova, says the collections reflect the search for identity of the region’s designers.
Freak Factory’s signature look embraces architectural cuts with folklorist and goth-aestethics elements which, say the ranges creators, ‘reflect and comment the rampant fetishisation of femininity’.
While, for Amoralle, founded by designer Inese Ozola, cheeky bodysuits and nightwear and loungewear combining silk and chiffon with lace, velvet, crystal and pearl embroidery are all about luxury and decadence.
Describing Baltic fashion Baiba says: “We sell very elegant and sophisticated clothes, but at the same time each piece has something a little bit exciting and daring about it which makes it very special.
“Also because the clothes are all handmade by the designer means each piece is made with love and attention, something you will struggle to find with many brands available in the UK.”
Visit Madame Kuku at: madamekuku.com.