Robert Kalinkin is one of the fastest growing designers of the new generation in Lithuania, known for his complex silhouettes, bright colours and bold details. Kalinkin describes his style as expressively raw elegance with a militaristic edge for a confident spin and his newest collection - the third to be presented in Paris - Spring / Summer 2016 - has been inspired by the loneliness of the summer in the city: ‘The streets are empty, the metro stations are abandoned and the gust of wind on the platform is your only companion for the day’, - narrates the designer.
Robert Kalinkin’s spring / summer ’16 season is divided in four sections by colours. White represents the stillness of the urban summer and that morning latte Robert’s woman takes away every day, while yellow is reflected in those graphic road signs and the ripe late summer sun heating up the sidewalk. Dusty pink is the colour of a hazy sunset, endless cosmopolitans and faded neon lights after dark, and in this collection it takes the form of transformative evening dresses and structural jackets. The final section - prints - is inspired by the complexity of urban metaphors - cracked pavement, hot asphalt, rusty barbed wires and the ever-changing dynamics of the rush hour.
Bright colours is not the only tell-tale feature of Robert Kalinkin’s collections. Robert continues to explore sharp, geometric shapes of shirts and fitted skirts, and merge them with sensual, ethereal silk dresses and loose yet elaborately cut pants. Slightly oversized structural jackets bring in the balance when paired with delicate dresses and their just-over-the-ankle length is a fresh take on the eveningwear. Those vivid hues make colorblocking a breeze and the airy layers of clothes leave the room for imagination. There is a notion of movement in every piece of the collection, and that movement is conscious - the designer’s woman moves in her own pace and at her own comfort.
As a successful set and stage creator for large-scale movies and concerts, Robert Kalinkin launched his career by creating couture stage outfits and red-carpet gowns for musicians and artists in Lithuania and abroad. Entirely self taught as a designer, Robert then discovered a passion for making clothes. He soon concluded that ready-to-wear was what he really wanted to create, ‘A contemporary collection that a strong, modern woman can wear right then and there – and feel powerful in it. It’s fierce luxury with a rebel attitude“ - and this shows in every piece of his collections. The designer’s couture roots are ever-present in his fierce-luxe ready-to-wear line - Robert brings the power of a polished seductiveness to the next level.
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