New York, July 8, 2010 – As Fall Fashion Week arrives in New York City, so too does a world-premiere collection of fashions envisioned, designed, and meticulously executed by Russian-born designer Madina Vadache. This ethereal and graceful collection, which will make its public debut at the Vilcek Foundation Gallery on September 3rd, not only articulates Ms. Vadache’s sensibilities as an inspired and cutting-edge designer, it also represents her continuing emergence as an artist of note in the United States, her adopted country.
Ms. Vadache’s Spring 2011 collection, which will introduce New York’s fashion-conscious public to her ready-to-wear designs, marks the point at which her artistic vision meets its tangible creation. Through her experimental uses of fabric, texture, and finish juxtaposed with classic style, her clothing demonstrates a fluid movement of energy into matter. Her work is testimony to her keen understanding of these myriad materials, which she allows to guide her through the creative process. “I wanted to work with the nature of the fabric, not against it,” she explains. In this, her newest collection, she utilizes everything from leather and lace to feathers and beading as she explores the theme of “transparency” ¾ striving to find the balance between her original image of the work and the moment at which it is manifest.
Featuring a variety of designs, including a never-before-seen bridal gown, Ms. Vadache’s Spring 2011 collection has been described as a “fascinating and flawless intersection of modern art, architecture, and fashion,” by Atim Annette Oton, publisher of Calabar Magazine and former Associate Chair, Product Design Department at Parsons the New School for Design in New York City. She adds, “Vadache exudes mystery and drama with her abundant use of structured proportions and complex draping, folding, and gathering of her signature material, silk organza, to create provocative, sophisticated couture garments that define her notions of what the modern woman wants and needs.”
Born in Dagestan, Russia, Ms. Vadache grew up with very few opportunities or resources to express her ever-growing desire to design clothing. Eventually, however, she was able to earn her bachelor’s degree in fashion design from the Academy of Fine Art in the Republic of Georgia. Today, as a professional designer, Ms. Vadache is celebrated for her expert craftsmanship, attention to detail, and adventurous use of materials, as well as for her signature, custom-made bridal gowns. In 2000, not long after her arrival in the United States, Ms. Vadache showcased her premiere bridal collection, for which she received overwhelming praise and accolades. Since then, she has worked tirelessly in both New York and Seattle to create elegant and carefully crafted clothing, all marked by her dedication to hand-sown detailing, for an expanding community of patrons and supporters.
Of the artist and her design work, Rick Kinsel, Executive Director of the Vilcek Foundation, says, “Madina is informed by the rich history of European formalwear, and has the sophistication of designer luminaries such as Vivienne Westwood. Her Spring collection combines an Euro-centric artistic sense of elegance, with symmetrical structure, and whimsical modern fabrics to express her own personality.”
About Ms. Vadache’s personal journey, Mr. Kinsel notes, “Rising above the obstacles she faced as a child, and migrating to this country in adulthood guided only by her inspiration and determination, Madina Vadache is an extraordinary example of the many ways that immigrant artists, working across all mediums, enrich and contribute to American culture.”
The Vilcek Foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia. The mission of the Foundation, to honor the contributions of foreign-born scholars and artists living in the United States, was inspired by the couple’s careers in biomedical science and art history, respectively, as well as their personal experiences and appreciation for the opportunities they received as newcomers to this country. The Foundation hosts events to promote the work of immigrants, and awards annual prizes to prominent immigrant biomedical scientists and artists who make outstanding contributions to American culture.
To learn more about the Vilcek Foundation, visit www.vilcek.org.