FROLOV Introduces STUD, A New Genderless Line

“SOMETIMES PEOPLE PRONOUNCE FROLOV AS FOR LOVE – AND THERE IS NO MISTAKE. CAUSE THE FIRST THING WE CREATE AS A BRAND IS LOVE, AND EVERYTHING WE DO IS WITH LOVE. THAT'S WHY ANATOMICAL HEART IS OUR LOGO, AND WE PUT IT OUT ON EACH OF OUR PIECES.”

Ivan Frolov’s Ukrainian brand returns with a brand new line, STUD, a collection of genderless tailoring pieces, for 2021. Founded in 2015 in Kyiv, Ukraine, FROLOV describes itself as an exploratory couture-to-wear brand, touching on notions of comfort, provocation and social responsibility. Drawing inspiration from BDSM and fetishism aesthetics, FROLOV offers a unique take on corsetry and shapework, focusing on creating fits that respect the unique measurements of each client. With a clientele that boasts names such as Dua Lipa, Doja Cat and Gwen Stefani, FROLOV’s newest venture is set to join an already promising lineup.

Perhaps most excitingly, the STUD line moves towards a more silhouette driven approach, distancing itself from the embellishment and crystal work seen in previous collections. This move allows the pieces to feel accessible, a move away from rigid definitions of gender and sexuality, and towards a more free-flowing ensemble of garments. As such, the collection draws its name from the word “studying”, and is dedicated to the exploration of self and sexuality. FROLOV’s newfound approach to minimalism is also emphasised by the designer’s choice of fabrics, having opted to produce the collection predominantly in shirting fabrics. Really, STUD is a far cry from the eccentricity of previous mesh-driven collections, with a focus on colour and experimental pattern cutting to introduce and maintain the tension found in collections like AZUCAR and LOVE AIRLINES.

Ultimately, STUD feels like the cool, fresh older sibling to FROLOV’s previous collections, and succeeds in creating an exciting vantage point for collections yet to come.