Alexandre Plokhov

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Alexandre Plokhov (born 1967, Naro-Fominsk, USSR) is a Russian-born American clothing designer. He designed for Cloak, Gianni Versace Uomo, Alexandre Plokhov, Helmut Lang and Nomenklatura Studio labels.

Early life and education[edit]

Plokhov originally trained as an interpreter at The Maurice Thorez State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages and served in the armed forces of the USSR. In 1990 he made the career switch to design and moved to the United States.[1]

Career in fashion[edit]

Plokhov worked first as a custom tailor and later as a pattern maker for Marc Jacobs.[1]

Cloak[edit]

In 1999, he founded the fashion label Cloak[1] known for an aesthetic merging elegant hand-tailoring with gothic, military-style detailing.[2]

Described as a cult success,[3] Cloak won the Ecco Domani award in 2003 and was the recipient of both the 2004 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Foundation Fund Award and the 2005 CFDA Swarovski Perry Ellis Award for Menswear.

As part of the CFDA/Vogue Fund Alexandre was featured in documentary,"Seamless" by acclaimed director Douglas Keeve.[4]

Versace[edit]

In March 2007 Plokhov was hired as the Head Designer for Gianni Versace Uomo in Milan, Italy.[5] Alexandre worked in Milan for six seasons hand-in-hand with the brand's Artistic Director Donatella Versace.[6] His last collection for the storied Milanese label was Fall Winter 2010.[7]

Eponymous Line[edit]

In 2011, Plokhov launched his eponymous line, Alexandre Plokhov, which showcased his signature dark, tailored style. Showing a presentation in Paris and a short video directed by Douglas Keeve (Unzipped),[8] Alexandre re-entered the industry with an offering targeted at his previous, now somewhat more mature, Cloak customers.[9] Plokhov's Spring 2013 collection included influences from the clothing of Russian Orthodox monks in Zimbardo's book "The Monks of Dust."[10]

The line received positive reviews from fashion critics at The New York Times[11] and Women's Wear Daily.[12] His collections were praised for their precision and modern approach to classic menswear staples.

Alexandre Plokhov's womenswear was introduced during Fall/Winter 2015 season.[13]

Deciding to focus solely on Helmut Lang, Mr.Plokhov released his last collection for his namesake label in Spring Summer 2016.[14]

Helmut Lang[edit]

In 2013, Plokhov was appointed the Design Director for Helmut Lang. During his tenure, he reimagined the brand's aesthetic, incorporating elements of sportswear and haute couture into his designs.[15][16]

While at Helmut Lang, in 2017 Mr. Plokhov spearheaded a collaboration with the American hip-hop artist Travis Scott.[17]

Nomenklatura Studio[edit]

In 2018 Plokhov launched a direct-to-consumer line called Nomenklatura Studio.[18]

The brand's collections consistently showcase functional and trend-resistant apparel, focusing on high-quality materials and craftsmanship. The Fall/Winter 2018 collection introduced utilitarian pieces emphasizing layering, neutral tones, and subtle graphic accents.[19] The Spring/Summer 2019 collection, "Product Release 002," expanded this foundation with lightweight jackets, hoodies, and pants made from premium textiles like Japanese cotton and Italian leather.[20]

Nomenklatura Studio continued to evolve its design language in the Spring/Summer 2020 collection, blending functional details with a contemporary edge. Key pieces included slim-cut cargo pants, tactical vests, and multi-pocketed outerwear, maintaining the brand's emphasis on practicality and style.[21] The Fall/Winter 2020 collection further refined this approach by incorporating heavier fabrics and more robust silhouettes while staying true to the brand's core principles of utility and durability.[22] All seasons are limited with hand-numbered editions.

Collaboration with Uniqlo[edit]

Plokhov's collaboration with Uniqlo began with the Designers Invitation Project in 2006-2007, where he brought Cloak's design sensibilities to a wider audience through affordable, ready-to-wear collections.[23][24]

This relationship was later revisited in 2014, with Plokhov this time bringing his aesthetic to a collaborative line of "Uniqlo Urban Sweats". Publications like GQ[25] and W Magazine noted the collaboration's balance of comfort with an avant-garde "architectural edge".[26]

External Links[edit]

Alexandre Plokhov Official: https://www.aplokhov.com/

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "CFDA". cfda.com. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  2. ^ "Cloak - New York Fashion Designer - Full Frontal Fashion". nymag.com. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  3. ^ Remsen, Nick (2018-06-20). "Exclusive: Alexandre Plokhov Debuts a New Endeavor Called Nomenklatura Studio". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  4. ^ "Seamless | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  5. ^ Blanks, Tim (2007-06-23). "Versace Spring 2008 Menswear Collection". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  6. ^ Ilari, Alessandra (2009-03-16). "The Versace Man". WWD. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  7. ^ "Milan Fashion Week: Versace menswear Fall 2010". Los Angeles Times. 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  8. ^ ALEXANDRE PLOKHOV FALL/WINTER 2011 Directed by Douglas Keeve. Retrieved 2024-05-24 – via vimeo.com.
  9. ^ "Alexandre Plokhov Men's RTW Fall 2011". WWD. 2011-01-22. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  10. ^ Blanks, Tim (2012-09-10). "Alexandre Plokhov Spring 2013 Menswear Collection". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  11. ^ Pask, Bruce (2011-02-03). "Alexander the Great". T Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  12. ^ Staff, W. W. D. (2011-01-22). "Alexandre Plokhov Men's RTW Fall 2011". WWD. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  13. ^ Phelps, Nicole (2015-02-14). "Alexandre Plokhov Fall 2015 Ready-to-Wear Collection". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  14. ^ Badia, Alex (2015-07-16). "Alexandre Plokhov Men's RTW Spring 2016". WWD. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  15. ^ Palmieri, Jean E. (2014-02-13). "Helmut Lang Expanding Men's Line". WWD. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  16. ^ Martin, Matt (2016-11-10). "The Brand That Helped Make Menswear Cool is Making Great Sneakers Again". GQ. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  17. ^ Woolf, Jake (2017-01-30). "Travis Scott's Helmut Lang Collection Is Here". GQ. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  18. ^ Remsen, Nick (2018-06-20). "Exclusive: Alexandre Plokhov Debuts a New Endeavor Called Nomenklatura Studio". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  19. ^ "NOMENKLATURA STUDIO's Militaristic FW18 Collection Draws Influence From William Gibson". Hypebeast. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  20. ^ "NOMENKLATURA STUDIO Unveils Its "Product Release 002" Collection". Hypebeast. 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  21. ^ "NOMENKLATURA STUDIO References Glam Rock & 'Scarface' for SS20". Hypebeast. 2019-07-11. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  22. ^ "NOMENKLATURA STUDIO's FW20 Collection Blends Military Codes With Refined Tailoring". Hypebeast. 2020-01-17. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  23. ^ Lam, Wendy (2006-11-10). "UNIQLO Designers Invitation Project - nitrolicious.com". nitro:licious. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  24. ^ "9 of the Strongest Uniqlo Designer Collaborations". Hypebeast. 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  25. ^ Woolf, Jake (2014-09-05). "Alexandre Plokhov and Uniqlo Made Sweats You'll Share With Your Girlfriend (Maybe)". GQ. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  26. ^ "Alexandre Plokhov x Uniqlo". W Magazine. 2014-09-17. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
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