Shoes Style and its Discoveries. An Interview with Anton Bazylev, Prize Winner of the International Shoe Design Competition

The international shoe design competition Shoes Style, held in Moscow this year, showcased many interesting footwear and accessory collections. Shoes Report recently published a story about the winners—third-year students from Kosygin Russian State University, Margarita Skvaznikova and Egor Lysov, who presented their "Retrospective" shoe collection at Shoes Style.

Also worth noting is the intriguing women's shoe collection created by Anton Bazylev, a first-year student at the St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design. The "Metal Shell" collection received numerous awards and positive reviews from the competition jury. The original approach to shoe design, striking heels, and details earned high praise.

Anton Bazylev - Shoes Style finalist

Shoes Report: Anton, you're only a first-year student at the Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design (SPbGUPTD) and have already won the Shoes Style competition in Moscow, presenting a collection of women's footwear. How did you do that? Typically, the Shoes Style competition is attended by second- or third-year students…

Anton Bazylev: Before entering university, I studied at the College of Technology, Modeling and Management (editor's note: the college at St. Petersburg State University of Industrial and Technical Design), where I studied shoe design and modeling.

SR : Shoes specifically?

Anton Bazylev : Well, I also sewed bags a little.

SR : Why did you choose this direction for yourself?

Anton Bazylev: Something like this: in seventh grade, I started drawing shoes, sneakers. I even drew them in class. It got interesting, so after ninth grade, I decided to go to college and studied there for three years.

SR : Please tell us what kind of disciplines were taught there?

Anton Bazylev: My first year was general education. Then I started materials science and design: first bags, then shoes. We made our first shoes according to a technical specification in our second year, and by our third year, we were creating shoe models entirely from scratch. I received a good recommendation for admission to our specialized university to major in "Shoe and Leather Goods Design." I took exams in Russian, mathematics, and composition.

SR : So, how was your first year of study at a university in your specialty?

Anton Bazylev: We didn't have any specialized subjects at all yet. Mainly chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The specialized subjects start in the second year.

SR: And this women's shoe collection, "Metal Shell," which you presented at Shoes Style—is this your first collection? So, you made it without any help from the university?

Anton Bazylev: Yes, before this collection, I only made bags. I designed the shoes for my first collection myself. First, I entered a competition at our university in St. Petersburg, won first place, and was sent to present the collection at Shoes Style in Moscow.

SR : People don't usually become designers just like that. You probably drew as a child, and perhaps even went to art school?

Anton Bazylev: Yes, I went to art school for about seven years, but there was no academic drawing there: we painted on fabric, on glass, and painted dishes…

SR : And now you both create sketches and sew the shoes yourself?

Anton BazylevYes, I do everything myself: I tighten and assemble the brake pads myself. I order the brake pads from the brake shop at the college, and there's also a store there where you can buy materials.

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SR : Did they teach you all this in college?

Anton Bazylev: Yes, they gave me the basics, and then I started delving into the process myself.

SR : So the college provides a good education, but where do the graduates go?

Anton Bazylev: Not everyone graduates; many drop out. There were about 30 people in our first-year class, but only six made it to graduation. Only I and one other classmate went on to university in my field.

SR : You have an unusual collection, with metal heels and other metallic elements. How did you produce all of this?

Anton Bazylev: I made the metal heels with my father. He got involved, found a welder, and we sawed the metal pieces ourselves at home with a grinder and bent them together.

SR: Is he somehow connected with metal by profession?

Anton Bazylev: No, he has no connection to metalwork; he just pitched in and helped. I got him hooked on this whole creative thing myself. He now makes his own leather belts: he buys scraps of leather and works with a welder to make the buckles.

SR: You have a women's collection. Do you prefer working with women's shoes?

Anton Bazylev: Yes, I wear my own shoes myself. The boots were designed for my thesis, but I prefer designing for women.

SR: To what extent are the shoes you presented at the competition wearable, or is this more of an idea, a basis for further development of the design?

Anton Bazylev: Only two pairs are wearable. The other two are more for the runway. But I also make custom items: bags and boots that people wear in everyday life.

SR : What designers do you like, where do you get your inspiration?

Anton Bazylev: My favorite brand is Dirk Bikkembergs, and I also like Japanese designer Kei Kagami; he also has interesting metal heels. I love Guidi.

SR : What are your plans for the future? Do you want to work in a large production facility or do more of your own work?

Anton Bazylev: I would like to open my own small workshop, my own brand, and continue to design and make shoes.

SR : Tell us about your impressions of participating in the Shoes Style competition!

Anton Bazylev: I enjoyed the competition: we spent three days in Moscow, staying in a dorm. It was a truly remarkable event, and I hope to return with a new collection next year.