Sabina Bilenko is a brand borne out of an appreciation of history, ancestry and art, with a simple yet profound hope of inspiring beauty and confidence in women for generations to come. Amongst many, celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Kat Graham and Kaya Scodelario have paid homage to the brand, gracing parties and premieres in beautiful Bilenko couture, and cementing its position in the fashion sphere.
Words by Tatiana Summer.
Song at M+P Models photographed by Morgan Shaw. Styled by Ashley Conor.
Make-up by Emily Engleman. Hair by Takumi Horiwaki using Windle Lab London.
A female-founded brand, the inception of Sabina Bilenko was as recent as 2021. The brand was originally started in Uzbekistan and moved to London over 15 years ago. The Founder and CEO Sabina, along with her twin sister and Creative Director Diana, was inspired to start her journey into the fashion industry because of two things; the women in their family and an admiration for the Uzbekistani dedication to tradition and cultural craftsmanship. “I’ve always been passionate about the heritage of craftsmanship in Uzbekistan. It was exposed to such a wide influence of cultural and artistic customs that its own visual language is completely unique. I’ve also always been inspired by the powerful matriarchs in my life. My mother and grandmother both used fashion as a means to endure and dream. My grandmother managed a textile factory in Uzbekistan at a time when women weren’t common in the workplace. She has always been such an inspiration for me to start my own couture brand.”
Craftsmanship and skill are central to Sabina Bilenko’s philosophy and ethos. The brand’s designs are intended to last, to survive as their own individual pieces of art and hallmarks in history. “The craftsmanship and tradition of our heritage most influence our designs. Our 2023 couture collection was our most personal yet. We travelled and explored the mountains, cities and traditions of the ancient regions of Uzbekistan as it was a major stop on the Silk Road.” Alongside Bilenko is a team of skilled craftspeople, handpicked across Europe, all with a fierce dedication to preserving this promise of integrity to their customers and yearning for design.
This devotion to design and quality of materials is foremost in her latest Spring Summer 2024 Couture Collection. In 19 looks, the essence of the ocean is eloquently captured, carrying with it a sea of colours, textures and emotions that evoke the artistic interpretations of the ocean throughout history. From Turner’s stormy colour palette to Botticelli’s ethereal beauties, it’s almost impossible to separate Bilenko’s collection from the influence of these artistic masterpieces. “The sea – and how artists throughout the centuries have conjured its likeness but also imagined its depths was our inspiration for the Spring Summer 2024 collection. In particular, the movement of water and how to capture those movements through couture techniques.”
A particular favourite of Bilenko’s is a look that encapsulates her attention to detail, intricacy and unparalleled creative exploration; a gown adorned with an ornate mosaic of crystals that mimic the delicate dance of sunlight on water, the dress recreates the shimmering reflections and sparkling mirages that mesmerize sailors at sea.
Meanwhile, a deep indigo blue, bejewelled corset from the collection is carefully juxtaposed by a hand-crafted tulle skirt that captures the fluidity of water, the breaking of the ocean’s waves and the tumultuous yet captivating spirit of the sea.
Currently based in Greenwich but with a showroom in Knightsbridge, the future continues to promise hope and success for Sabina Bilenko. Having recently launched her ready-to-wear collection, the brand also welcomes an exclusive eveningwear capsule with Net-a-Porter this Spring. We eagerly wait for what wearable art and stunning creations are to come and can only fathom a future for Sabina Bilenko that is filled with unprecedented beauty and creativity.
Discover this piece inside the Central Asia Chapter at The Silk Road Issue 12
Purchase your copy here.
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