In March 2019, I was actually pretty much stunned when my mom told me we would go to Tunisia in June. Back then, I had never been to any African country. To say that I was excited would be quite the understatement.

Honestly, Tunisia was simply nothing like I had expected it to be. Poverty and some reminders of the recent revolution? Yeah… Sahara and azur beaches? Yes, I saw those too.

In fact, northern Africa is very different from what we usually imagine when we think about life on this continent. As we drove from the airport to our hotel, we saw some absolutely amazing scenery. On the one side, olives grew there and the blue stripe of the Mediterranean Sea could be seen. However, this place is far from the luxury resorts of southern Europe.

Large plantings of olive trees were soon replaced by abandoned houses in the color of light sand, slightly damaged buildings standing along the road running through the desert. These were reminiscent of those American action films about Arab states, which often seem too clichéd. When we arrived at our hotel and met our guide, we learnt from her that those were in fact the footprints of the revolution that took place in the country in 2011. Since then, not all residents have been able to return to their previous way of life.

It's probably worth telling a little about the history of Tunisia. Firstly, it was the territory of this country that was part of the homeland of Hannibal, the great Carthage, which fell under the onslaught of the Roman Empire. Secondly, Tunisia was also part of the Ottoman Empire and the French colonial system until 1956. Now the former French colony faithfully preserves the features of the culture that left it. Here you can find both those cities that can be confidently called exclusively Arab, and those that can not be immediately distinguished from typical European cities.

When I came to Tunisia, I was sure about what exact places I wanted to see there. So let me share my experience with you.

The ruins of Carthage are definitely a sight to visit. It is a surprisingly accurate reminder of the former greatness of the once flourishing empire. It also resembles the familiar ruins of Italy and Greece. There is a lot to see and discover. We visited it as a part of the excursion to the famous cities of Tunisia.


Our next destination was Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. To be honest, the city is truly remarkable. This is a perfect example of the fusion of Arab and French cultures. Here, along with beautiful buildings reminiscent of old Paris, you can find European narrow streets filled with Arab traders, where you can buy everything that the Arab world is so loved for: spices, fabrics, Turkish delight, goods made from camel skin.

However, this city has another striking feature. Its upper floors are full of beautiful ornaments, elegant balconies and strict columns, but if you look down you will see overflowing trash cans, bags littering the roads and even people simply lying on the steps of some beautiful building. Yes, it is the main city in the country, its main street, but no one is bothered by the chaos that can be observed here.

Finally, we reached Sidi Bou Said. The incredibly picturesque blue and white town really seems unusual. In some ways it resembles the Greek Santorini, however, some “wear and tear” of the stairs and roofs of the city can be spotted. In addition, it is easy to observe the Arabic touch here, but this only makes the visit more interesting: you can buy pretty fascinating souvenirs here.

Reflecting on those city tours, I can state that, yes, Africa is hot. You can try to dispel this stereotype in Tunisia, but if you come here in July or August, you will not be able to do this. In fact, the weather here is amazingly strange. The horizon is always in a kind of haze, which dissipates only as you raise your head, wanting to look at the blue sky. In general, there is always a certain feeling of “fogginess”. However, the weather is truly desert-like. Despite the fact that during the day it can reach +45 degrees Celsius, in the late evening it will boldly fall to +20 degrees Celsius and will not dare to rise. It’s also funny that the rain here seems to be just trying to fall. The drops are very heavy and sparse.

If you think that with an impeccable knowledge of English you can defeat any foreigner, then I’m afraid that Tunisia will disappoint you. Here residents speak both French and Arabic. Of course, the second one is more preferable, and French is more like the language that the older generation speaks fluently. Young people only study it in schools and universities. Therefore, I can only advise you to learn at least a few basic phrases, because otherwise you will find yourself practically paralyzed in your language capabilities when in a public place.

After this remarkable journey, I think it's worth noting that Tunisia is a wonderful way to explore the exotic in somewhat familiar surroundings. Don't be afraid to come here. This is a place of warm sunsets and endless horizons.

On the final day of Moscow Fashion Week, the prestigious closing show featured the creations of St. Petersburg’s designer Ianis Chamalidy was honored to close the show. Amidst the bustle, thundering music and volunteers running back and forth, the runaway showcased silhouettes reminiscent of Greek Gods. However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that these figures weren’t gods, but models dressed as Greek heavenly warriors descended from Olympus.

They stood poised, each model holding their breath, waiting for the designer’s command. And afore came God himself, the black tall figure, with rings on his fingers and a starlike symbol on his head. Ianis Chamalidy. Magnificent and mighty. 

Since its inception in 1997, the fashion House of Ianis Chamalidy has been a pioneering force in fashion industry, showcasing how a Russian designer can win the hearts of customers amidst tough competition with French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and brands from other countries.

What is the place of fashion in the modern world?

“Many people think it’s just a human need, but I believe fashion is art. And fashion is  philosophy. The philosophy of fabrics,” enthusiastically explained Ianis.

Where did such unique philosophy come from? Why is it relevant today?

Humans today do not have time to live, sometimes they don’t have time to go home and change their clothes. In an era where time is scarce and mobility is the key, Ianis Chamalidy draws inspiration from his heritage - Greek mythology and images. He has introduced a revolutionary multiway clothing concept: At different times and different situations, clothes can be greatly transformed. Every shirt can be turned from classic to avant-garde.

“It all started with my Grandma,” Ianis Chamalidy recalls. As a child, Ianis spent summers with his grandmother, who was a seamstress making all types of outfits for her clientele. Sewing, fitting, cutting was Grandma’s magical world, where Ianis was first an observer, then a helper and one day a tailor himself.

Ianis has always tried to create something unique for his clients, and most importantly to unite people with one idea. He remembers his eighth birthday when he gathered his brothers and sisters at the table, asking them to cut out flags for a new game that he invented. Later, this desire to unite people under the same vision will give birth to what we now know as the Ianis Chamalidis brand.

Ianis Chamalidy’s brand emerged alongside iconic names such as Valentin Yudashkin, Tatiana Parfenova, Andrey Sharov and many others. Prior to the 1990s, Russia's fashion scene had been dominated by a single house: Vyacheslav Zaitsev.

It was in the 90s, a period when everything was falling apart. Ianis had just completed the courses of American makeup artist Joe Blasco and got a job as a consultant at Yves Saint Laurent. In Russia, partially nobody knew this brand back then. Ianis was the first expert who brought Yves Saint Laurent to Russia.

The history of the Chamalidis brand began when Ianis opened his own workshop and worked on individual orders. He sewed dresses and costumes for actors and actresses. Then he collaborated with the Mariinsky theater and the Jacobson theater in St Petersburg. Ianis’ breakthrough came when  fashion pioneer Isabella Blow, renowned editor of Vogue and Tatler, — introduced him to Vogue, propelling him into the spotlight.

“I am always on the lookout for inspiration, new colors, motifs. This is very important for a designer. Therefore, when I look at my favorite artists and listen to musical works, I understand that their authors created not just masterpieces, but meanings. I want to do the same thing, but through clothes,” the designer pointed out.

Inspired by various artists and composers, Ianis never stopped search for meaning in the paintings by Malevich, Kandinsky, Rodchenko, Tatlin, Larionov and music by such masters as Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov, El Greco, and Dürer. The influence of painting was reflected in Ianis’ graduation collection, which was devoted to the Russian avant-garde, including Malevich and with it began a new and totally unfamiliar avant-garde in fashion. The same colors and shapes Ianis wanted to give to his future collections.

It is worth noting that of Ianis' clothing concept partially echoes the philosophy of Japanese designers.

“I was certainly very influenced by the Japanese school of Yoji Yamamoto. I was also very close to the aesthetics of Issey Miyake,” Ianis shares.

Inspired by designer Yoji Yamamoto, designer, Ianis now incorporates laser-assisted cutting into his designs — a technique which reshaped European clothes, encouraging designers to be bold with fabrics and cuts.

Now 48, Ianis describes his main purpose as “to allow young people to express themselves through clothes in this cruel modern world, full of stress and chaos”. According to Ianis, this will foster a journey of self discovery and inner harmony.

“We want to create a completely new industry, develop as creative people and show that dreams can come true if you put your heart, desire and emotions into it”.

Austria is an incredibly beautiful country. There are quite a lot of tourist places that are worth visiting because of their beauty which fascinates the spirit. Today I will tell you about the five most interesting and entertaining sites.

Vienna
The Austrian capital is one of the country's attractions, namely the so-called old town. It has preserved the layout and architecture of the past centuries. The old town was founded in the first century (scientists range between 881 and 976), and now there is a unique opportunity to feel the atmosphere of that time: cozy squares, cathedrals, cobbled narrow streets. Vienna's main attractions are located at the main square of the old town. St. Stephen's Cathedral is considered to be the main tourist site. It was founded more than 800 years ago. St. Stephen's Cathedral is one of the ten tallest cathedrals in the world, its height is 136 meters. The cathedral has 13 bells located in various towers surrounding. The double-headed eagle of the imperial and royal courts is depicted on its roofs, as well as the coat of arms of Vienna. The remains of the Habsburg emperors (for example, Frederick the Second) are kept here. Entrance to the cathedral is free. The old town is also known by the Hofburg Palace, the Habsburg residence. The Hofburg is now an art and history museum. Another attraction is the Vienna State Opera, the beauty of which is admired to this day. It was built in 1869. The first production was the play “Don Juan” (Mozart). The opera was completely destroyed in 1945, and only by 1956-1957 it was restored. The Vienna Opera is considered to be the guardian of the traditions of the classical school, in particular Mozart.

Salzburg
Salzburg is one of the cities in western Austria. Literally, Salzburg translates as “salt fortress". The second name of the city is Rome of the North. This name was given because of the architecture of the Italian character. The city was founded in 1077. Mozart was born here and nowadays you can visit the famous house. Architecture, history and mountain landscape are intertwined (mountains surround Salzburg). In this city the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located, for example, the oldest restaurant in Europe and a fully preserved fortress, which is more than 900 years old. The symbol of Salzburg is the unique Hohensalzburg fortress, founded in 1077. The princely chambers and the famous “golden hall” is open for public visiting all year round. The fortress opens an incredible view of the Alps.

Helbrunn, the summer residence of the archbishop, is also located near the city. Helbrunn was founded in 1612-1615 by Italian architects. The world's only functioning funny fountains that spray water on passers-by have been saved here. There is a park within the residence with statues of unicorns and other mythical creatures. Another attraction of Helbrunn is two theaters – mechanical and stone. The first one is a theater of toys activated by the water. This theater was created in the middle of the 18th century. More than 250 wooden figures are set in motion to the sounds of a water organ, depicting scenes of a medieval city. The Stone Theatre is the oldest open-air stage in Europe, carved right into the rock.

Graz
Graz is considered to be a student city, as most of the country's universities are located here. Graz differs in many ways from other cities in Austria, in particular with its special atmosphere, energy, and the mixing of new generation buildings with historical architecture. In the old part of the city historical monuments such as the Cathedral of St. Aegidi (Graz Cathedral, made in the late Gothic style), a museum with a huge collection of historical weapons, a mausoleum with the ashes of Emperor Ferdinand II and many others are located. But the town is famous not only for its architecture and monuments, but also for the road to the city. It is an amazing railway with a beautiful view. The train follows the Semmering mountain railway, the oldest in the world. It was built in the middle of the 19th century. Ancient tunnels, arched bridges are still saved here, and the mountain landscapes with Austrian villages opening from the railway are breathtaking.

The Krimml Waterfalls
The Krimml Waterfalls is one of the wonders of Austria. The Krimml Waterfalls is the highest waterfall in Europe. Its height is 380 meters. It is located in the national park “High Tauern". Every second the waterfall drops tons of water, and a rainbow often appears in the spray. There are hiking trails along the waterfall, which leads you to the source of the Krimml Waterfalls. Along the way there is a view of the waterfall, which can be viewed from observation decks, and the trail passes through a forest with pines and ferns.

The bridge in Bad Gastein
The frenzied heartbeat and adrenaline are felt when you first approach the bridge in Bad Gastein. This is a pedestrian bridge located in the Alps. It is located at an altitude of 2,300 meters. Sometimes the bridge swings because of the strong wind. In clear weather, it offers views of the Austrian Alps and the country's highest mountain, Grossglockner, and in cloudy weather, you feel like a tightrope walker walking above the clouds.