Karina Bondareva
Central Saint Martins
BA Fashion Print
Hailing from Russia, Karina arrived to England at the age of 9 and before learning the English language, the easiest way to express herself was through art and music. After being accepted on the fashion-print pathway at CSM, she began developing her style. In love with handcrafted, painted intricate prints, and over the top, dramatic silhouettes, Karina took on a internship on Savile Row at Gieves and Hawkes with renowned Head-Cutter Davide Taub. Following her internship and the commencement of the national lockdown which halted her New-York intership with Jason Rembert.
Karina participated and became one of the winners of Vogue’s MET 2019 Gala Challenge, recreating Thom Browne’s dress for artist Cardi B. Using only paper, clingfilm and hot glue, the dress became a viral sensation, leading to interviews with BBC, the MET Museum, Insider and more. Karina's graduate collection is a love letter to craftsmanship, using the techniques learnt through her internship and the arduous period of solely using materials like hot glue, felt and matchsticks (20,000 of them to be exact), all in the pursuit of creating her own eclectic world.
