A Grand Finale in Moscow, the Exhibition's Final Stop

Luigi Maramotti, Chairman of Max Mara, stated, "Russia, a country that needs our brand's symbol, the 'coat,' the most, and where coats are depicted in so much literature, is the perfect place for the climax of the 'Coats!' exhibition. When many creators think about coat design, they likely envision the Russian winter."

Behind-the-Scenes of the Photo Series “ALBATROSS” Revealed

The “Coats!” exhibition, which has been updated with new pieces at each stop since its premiere in Berlin five years ago, now features a new work in its art-themed section by Valery Katsuba, a renowned artist from St. Petersburg. Created especially as an artwork for Max Mara's 60th anniversary, it is the photo series “ALBATROSS (When memories are awoken by birds),” which uses the legendary Max Mara coat “101801.”

For the shoot, Katsuba chose the Spiridonov House, a 19th-century stone mansion next to the Bolshoi Theatre, and visited its rehearsal rooms multiple times to observe the choreography and movements of the corps de ballet. During one rehearsal, he met ballerina Anna Nakapetyan, whom he cast as the protagonist. The three male co-stars were selected from the corps de ballet: Yuri Baranovsky, who plays the lead in "Spartacus," and rising Bolshoi stars Maxim Surayev and Anton Savichev.



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The storyboard depicts a heroine returning to her childhood home, now a desolate ruin, after living away with her family. As she wanders through the house, she finds a coat in the bedroom. Donning the coat triggers a flood of childhood memories, bringing forth images of her past—innocent and worldly—alongside friends and a first love.

Katsuba commented, "Achieving a strong result with perfect aesthetic balance was physically very challenging. For the shoot, the dancers repeated each movement more than 50 times to capture shots with that perfect balance."

To commemorate the “Coats!” exhibition in Moscow, a gala dinner was held at the "House of Literature," a members-only club built in the 1880s and known as a gathering place for literary giants. This historic venue, once frequented by prominent figures of Russian literature, hosted numerous leading Russian personalities. A surprise performance by a Ukrainian folk dance troupe captivated the guests.



Max Mara's "Coats!" exhibition, a testament to the "quiet giant" of Italian fashion, runs until January 10, 2012.