Varvara Vysotskaia's 'Imagined Archive' Explores Memory and Exile at Berlin Fashion Show

Designer Varvara Vysotskaia presented her graduate collection 'Imagined Archive' at ZK/U in Berlin as part of seefashion26, a showcase of emerging Berlin fashion. The collection is a deeply personal exploration of family heritage, exile, and memory, using textiles as vessels for fragmented pasts. Semi-transparent mohair knits symbolize dissolution over time, while floral prints from her mother's childhood dresses are obscured by black mesh, evoking anxiety and censorship. A final look features a 1960s photograph of her grandfather's geologist colleagues burned into fabric using the devoré technique. Vysotskaia incorporates Soviet-era resourcefulness, such as fabric-wrapped bead necklaces made from sewing scraps. Despite heavy themes, the garments are designed to be wearable and empowering. The show took place on the outdoor stairs and concrete of ZK/U, with models including Karl Klemens, Darya Trushkina, and others. Creative direction was by Sarah Ama Duah and Madlen Schmid, with production by Doreen Schulz and Madeleine Madej. The event was supported by the Economic Development Office of Berlin's Mitte District Council in cooperation with PLATTE.Berlin. Vysotskaia, a graduate of Weissensee, emphasizes trusting one's creative voice and creating ready-to-wear that allows wearers to feel confident and themselves. She calls for hugging family, asking hard questions, and resisting censorship, warning that comfort can become a cage from which dictatorship grows.