International fashion designers to watch; three to stand out

It is not only Meatpacking District that prospers, inhibits and buzzes with fashion aspirers, muses and designers. It’s just happened that only a few international locales posses the widest pool of designers and models and they are Milan, Paris, Tokyo, London, Moscow and New York.

Japan always amazed me. Japanese are like from another planet – just look at how far they’ve gone in technology, fashion and cuisine? In Tokyo alone, there are more than 12 million people sitting on 837 square miles, but that does not stop the Japanese to invent, invent, and invent. If anything, it should be Tokyo that invents the Time Machine.

In the flow of my thoughts, and to follow up on recent fashion weeks that took place across the country, here are a few international designers who are worth to take a notice of. These are not just the next Zac Posen, these are the next Diane Furstenberg and Yves Saint Lauren.

Limi Feu, Tokyo, Japan

Limi Feu (born Limi Yamamoto) is a Japanese fashion designer. She started her label in 2000 and showed her clothes at Tokyo Fashion Week between 2000 and 2007. She made her Paris Fashion Week debut in October 2007 and was greeted with praise from fashion critics.

She is both classic and rock and it is reflected in her designs.

Sacai, Tokyo, Japan

Designer Chitose Abe spent 10 years as a knitwear designer for Comme des Garçons (French for "like some boys") and Junya Watanabe. In 1999 she launched her own line, Sacai. Her style is casual yet elegant made from luxurious raw materials. She wants every piece of her collection to be wearable in daily life.

Igor Chapurin, Moscow, Russia

There have been quite a few stereotypes still floating around that Russian fashion is all about embroidered scarves and furry coats, the elements of which have been incorporated by some of the well-known designers, such as Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Lauren before. But in the last few years, Russia has been making bold statements of individuality and high fashion, which have been already recognized and appreciated in the circles of Prêt-à-Porter lovers - just ask Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue.

Russia has been inspiring and sharing it’s resources and culture with the worldwide known designers who recognized the potential of trends and took inspiration from Russian urban and suburban culture. Take, for example, Yves Saint Laurent iconic ‘Russian’ collection that has been fully inspired by 1970s Russian peasants and Ballets Russes.

However, it took quite a few years for the Russian designers to take advantage of its own culture and talents and introduce Russian Prêt-à-Porter to the world.

Igor Chapurin, now 39, was involved in the world of fashion from a very tender age. His grandfather was the first person to open a linen factory in Russia. His father reorganized sewing enterprises and his mother directed a caps factory. In 1992, Chapurin took part in a competition of young fashion designers in Paris, which he won. In 1993, he created the dresses for the Miss Europe, Miss World and Miss Universe contests.

(Chapurin's Spring-Winter 2009 collection, featured during Fashion Week in Moscow)

Chapurin showed his first "To Russia with Love" collection in 1995. From 1996 to 1998, he was invited by Duchess Irene Galitzine to rework the first line of the Galitzine House in Milan. From that point and on, he is not only a wanted guest in Paris, Milan and New York, but he is also a favorite among the Russian and European celebrities.

Chapurin’s designs again proved to be immaculate and fashion-forward, causing quite a stir in Russian and European circles of fashionistas during the Fashion Week in Moscow last October. Check out the runaway photos and more here. Not once but many times top model Natalia Vodianova came to Moscow to support her fellow ‘comrade’, often seen walking the Russian runaways in Chapurin’s designs. Check out for more information on Russian participating in the fashion week designers online.

You can find these designers' cloths:

Limi Feu: Limi Feu online

Sacai: Yoox, ShopStyle, Browns Fashion

Igor Chapurin: Igor Chapurin online

And since these are the designers who are not widely available at the stores in U.S.A., you can always find them on eBay.