Roman Zimogorsky is a Russian fashion designer who received a Bachelor’s degree in «Fashion Design» from the HSE Art and Design School (under the guidance of Maria Smirnova—founder of the Inshade brand). The designer primarily works with womenswear, exploring themes of feminism and female identity through avant-garde silhouettes. His work is characterized by the use of metaphorical imagery, among which the axe dresses are particularly recognizable.
«In my work, I often explore the relationship between conventional femininity and female rage; for the past year, I have been examining the phenomenon of so-called female rage from various perspectives.»
A novel for The Blueprint 100
Photograph of Roman Zymogorsky’s dress published in Vogue Portugal Source: HSE
Timeline
2024 Photos of Roman Zimogorsky’s dresses published in the October issue of Vogue Portugal. The shoot featured dresses from the Bloody Red Shoe and Suspiriorum capsules, executed in collaboration with a team of professionals, including photographer Abdullah Artuev and stylists.
June: The designer placed second in the «Sustainable Blazer» competition, hosted by the HSE Art and Design School in partnership with the RigRaiser project. In his project, he merged the aesthetic of vintage suits with feminine silhouettes and detailing.
2025 March: Roman Zimogorsky was included in The Blueprint 100 list in the «Fashion Industry» category. In the same month, his Female Rage collection became a finalist in the XVII «New Faces in Fashion» competition hosted by Sobaka.ru magazine.
April: The designer participated in the show for the finalists of the «New Faces in Fashion» competition at the DLT department store in Saint Petersburg.
July: Presentation of Roman Zimogorsky’s graduation collection during the HSE Fashion Graduation Show '25.
Bloody Red Shoe Collection, 2024. Source: HSE
«It’s difficult for me to say how much I contributed to what happened. We filmed in St. Petersburg for a very long time, from eight in the morning until eight in the evening. When the team realized they liked the intermediate result, Abdullah said he wanted to send the final materials to one of the global Vogue publications he constantly collaborates with. Soon, it became known that the Portuguese branch of the magazine would print our work.»
Roman Zymogorsky on the publication in the Portuguese Vogue
Photos of dresses by Roman Zimogorskiy, published in Vogue Portugal // Source: HSE
Main Collections
Bloody Red Shoe, 2024 A student capsule collection created as part of the «Specialized Design» coursework under the direction of Maria Smirnova; it employs an archival design approach and establishes the author’s personal aesthetic.
Suspiriorum, 2024 A dress collection from which two looks were subsequently adapted for a photoshoot published in Portuguese Vogue. The title references a classic horror film.
Female rage, 2025 Exploring the phenomenon of female rage, the designer interprets it through the metaphor of an axe—a symbol of feminine revenge and strength—packaged in traditionally feminine forms and fabrics. The collection juxtaposes elements of aggression and femininity. Sources of inspiration include both historical and cultural references, such as William Kass’s «The Straitjacket.»
Suspiriorum Collection, 2024 // Source: HSE
«My design interest was to give an aggressive form to what is traditionally considered ‘cute’ and ‘feminine, ’ resulting in the metaphor of an axe as an instrument of female revenge, packaged in ruffles, feminine silhouettes, and corresponding textile solutions.»
Roman Zymogorsky on Female Rage for Sobaka.ru
Female Rage Collection, 2025 // Source: Sobaka.ru
Media Mentions
Roman Zimogorsky’s Dress // Source: Instagram (social network recognized as an extremist organization and banned in the Russian Federation)
Contacts
• Roman Zimogorsky’s Portfolio • Roman Zimogorsky Instagram (The social network is recognized as an extremist organization and is banned in the territory of the Russian Federation)
Female Rage Dress // Source: Instagram (social network recognized as an extremist organization and banned in the Russian Federation)
