The first big event which grabbed my attention and much of my time was Russian Fashion Week. Despite recent report by a US-based trade consultancy RTW predicting a severe crisis in the Russian fashion industry, the top 6-day fashion event got underway in the Russian capital on April 1. By tradition, this anniversary 20th season kicked off with a show by Russia’s landmark designer, Slava Zaitsev (RTW, report rates him among the most well-known Russian fashion brands, along with Denis Simachev and Valentin Yudashkin). Once referred to as the “Red Dior” by the Western media, a 72-year-old designer remains a guru of the Russian fashion, known for his timeless style associated with quality, tradition and respectability.