A journalist at the Mail Online is keen for views from fashion and business experts on how sanctions against Russia could impact the UK and global (high) fashion industry. The fallout is already evident in the way ASOS, Burberry and H&amp;M have all suspended trade with Russia.<ul><li>Could Russian designers see their trade hit?</li><li>Do you expect people to avoid buying Russian brands, and how long could this go on for?</li><li>Could Russian models find fashion houses are less keen to use them?</li><li>What other impact could the war have on the fashion industry?</li></ul>No need for an essay. A couple of paragraphs will do. Please ensure you have a hi-res jpeg of yourself in your media pack.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Russian sanctions and fashion industry

"The ability of such large fashion businesses to yield their ‘soft’ power will undoubtedly have some impact on the Russian high street, fashion industry and economy, but will Putin take note? It’s unlikely. My own nimbleness has allowed me to create a fundraising T-shirt, in aid of LGBTQ+ Ukrainians. I have friends based in Ukraine and was incredibly concerned for them as soon as news of the invasion broke and immediately wanted to help. I created a ‘Dove for Peace T-shirt’ within hours. I reached out to my friends asking what cause would best benefit from the £5 generated from each sale. They suggested Ukraine Pride, who are diligently trying to defend and support the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine. So far I’ve raised £340, a meagre but heartfelt amount, which I hope will support my queer siblings in Ukraine, who are especially vulnerable to the intolerance of Russia under Putin. Longer terms effects specific to the fashion industry are impossible to predict, but I do hope that we can separate Putin from his people. It’s clear many Russians are as appalled by his actions as I am. It may well be that people start to shun Russian brands, as we're already seeing, but it's important to note that not all Russians back Putin."

Paul Harfleet

Paul Harfleet is a London based artist, writer and designer, founder of The Pansy Project and Birds Can Fly. In 2005 Paul began planting pansies at sites of homophobia, he plants one unmarked pansy, names it after the abuse then adds it to his website, www.thepansyproject.com. Since 2005 The Pansy Project has been featured in exhibitions and festivals around the world, he has planted over 300 pansies marking homophobia and transphobia from London, Paris, and New York. 

He’s recognised as a queer street artist, guerrilla gardener and self-proclaimed ‘accidental activist’. In 2010 The Pansy Project Garden won a Gold Medal at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, in 2014 he won a Gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.  In 2015 ‘Les Pensées de Paul, a documentary about Paul’s work and was commissioned by Canal + was directed by Jean Baptiste Erreca and won several Best Documentary awards. 

In 2017 Harfleet wrote and illustrated a picture book, ‘Pansy Boy’ was published by Barbican Press and was short-listed for the Polari First Book Prize. The book tells a fictionalised origin story of The Pansy Project, it tells the story of a boy who loves birds and challenges his experience of homophobia in school by planting pansies. 

When the Pandemic struck in 2020 Paul was faced with cancelled exhibitions and festival appearances. Inspired by the illustrations he had made for Pansy Boy he asked is social media followers if he could draw them a bird. Over the following months during Lockdown this simple request evolved into a new body of worked called Birds Can Fly. To promote his illustrations he ‘gently referenced’ the birds he’d drawn garnering attention from thousands, including naturalist and campaigner Chris Packham. Birds Can Fly has developed into a small business supplying bird prints and nature themed garments inspired by the artists love of nature. 

As we slowly return to ‘normality’ Harfleet combines his work on The Pansy Project and Birds Can Fly with forthcoming exhibitions, projects and publications currently in development.

Russian sanctions and fashion industry

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Paul Harfleet

Founder at Birds Can Fly

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