TORONTO FASHION MONITOR

Romanticism, femininity, mystery and strength are the words that best describe Desperately Different, a clothing line masterfully designed by Ukrainian born fashion designer, Katya Revenko.

Motivated by all different types of strong intelligent women, the main focus behind each collection is to establish a mold for the ever evolving woman, and to create clothes that evoke a certain effortlessness and feeling of relaxed, everyday luxury.

“I wanted the whole line to boast an aura of female sexuality, without undermining the strength and intelligence of the wearer,” says Revenko.

Katya Revenko’s precision of cut and detail is always evident in the construction of each individual piece, and her playful marriage of proportion and silhouette suggests different ways of dress that instantly carry a Desperately Different signature.

Born and raised in Kiev, Ukraine, Revenko completed her degree in fashion design and garment construction at the Ukrainian State Academy of Apparel Industry and upon graduating she freelanced as a costume designer and wardrobe stylist for several Ukrainian television stations.

In 1996, Katya Revenko nabbed first prize in the Rochas costume design contest for the launch of their new perfume, Fleur d’Eau.

After winning, Katya Revenko accepted a placement with Leo Burnett Worldwide, a Top Ten global agency network, and took part at Kiev Fashion Week.

Establishing herself as a force to be reckon within the Ukraine, Katya Revenko immigrated to Canada in 2002 and soon after became a costume designer for several independent feature films.

After privately developing a loyal clientele, Katya Revenko decided to establish her own clothing line and within the line’s first season, Desperately Different was picked up immediately by Holt Renfrew and featured in the World Design Lab.

Solidifying her design capabilities, Katya Revenko entered into the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s New Labels show - and won.

For her show-stealing Fall/Winter 2006 collection, Katya Revenko sources her inspiration for the Desperately Different collection from iconic historic female figures such as Joan of Arc, Catherine the Great and Marlene Dietrich.

“I like to inject a feeling of déjà vu into the clothes that bring back memories or references of different periods and historic figures,” says Revenko.

Each piece of the collection is well thought out and aptly named to reflect Revenko’s vision of women. For instance, the Joan of Arc jacket provides an armor of sorts for the modern woman who, with her strong exterior, can nurture and protect her soft vulnerable interior and the Isadora Duncan dress, a gorgeous swath of pleated lavish purple satin, is anchored by tweed on the torso but gives the wearer the freedom to move and sway away in satin.

Revenko’s usage of sensual and menswear inspired fabrics is counter poised by the hard severity of military details and gestures of volume.
Proposing femininity and strength, the fall/winter collection gives women the freedom and ability to be subversively sexual and to take control of her destiny.

Katya Revenko's spring/ summer collection available at Holt Renfrew’s World Design Lab in Toronto and Montreal, and in Boutique Le Trou on Queen Street West.

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