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A Moment with Irina Kulikova
It’s not all that often that you travel across the globe to explore, and you’re greeted by a Russian super model. In my life, it will be the first and last time this happens. To further the anomaly, she’s down to earth, raw yet refined and down to hang with the homies as we skated and drank around Russia. Irina Kulikova hails from Moscow, but has spent the last decade traveling the world modeling for houses such as Moschino, Prada, Marc Jacobs and graced the cover of Harper’s Bazaar. Note that she wore a hoodie and Levi’s the whole time she hung out with us in the streets. I sat down with Irina to get to the bottom of all of this - and yes, Irina smokes dirt’s occasionally.
What’s a woman like you hanging out with a bunch of dirt bag skateboarders like us?
Well, as long as I can remember, I was always surrounded by boys. I have my old crew - from my area, who I’ve been friends with for a long time. Then I met the skateboard crew through my boyfriend who skates too and they turned out being super sweet, funny, smart and awesome guys.
Your gig as a model takes you around the globe, do you find that Russian street culture is in tune with other influential cities?
Yeah I see it a lot. Russian street culture is hot shit now. I just came back from Shanghai and it was really surprising to see Chinese fashionistas here and there wearing t-shirts with Russian words on it and the clothes of Russian designers.
What’s your favorite city in the world to visit and why?
I love Moscow the most, but I also enjoy traveling to London and working there. I love the English mentality, accent, lifestyle and basically everything about it.
I found your group of friends to be very connected to global trends, music and art. What are Russia’s greatest cultural exports for the youth?
If we talk about fashion - all that Soviet sadness became a big trend in the last 2 years. It was an inspiration for a lot of people in the fashion and art world. I’m not sure if someone listens to Russian music in any foreign countries, so we really should improve it.
What are you listening to right now?
I’m back to Linkin Park since Chester’s sad suicide.
If you were a liquor that could only drink itself, what would you be?
Champagne!
A tent or The Ritz?
The Ritz, I have a discount there.
What are the top 5 things you’d like to do before
you die?
What’s a woman like you hanging out with a bunch of dirt bag skateboarders like us?
Well, as long as I can remember, I was always surrounded by boys. I have my old crew - from my area, who I’ve been friends with for a long time. Then I met the skateboard crew through my boyfriend who skates too and they turned out being super sweet, funny, smart and awesome guys.
Your gig as a model takes you around the globe, do you find that Russian street culture is in tune with other influential cities?
Yeah I see it a lot. Russian street culture is hot shit now. I just came back from Shanghai and it was really surprising to see Chinese fashionistas here and there wearing t-shirts with Russian words on it and the clothes of Russian designers.
What’s your favorite city in the world to visit and why?
I love Moscow the most, but I also enjoy traveling to London and working there. I love the English mentality, accent, lifestyle and basically everything about it.
I found your group of friends to be very connected to global trends, music and art. What are Russia’s greatest cultural exports for the youth?
If we talk about fashion - all that Soviet sadness became a big trend in the last 2 years. It was an inspiration for a lot of people in the fashion and art world. I’m not sure if someone listens to Russian music in any foreign countries, so we really should improve it.
What are you listening to right now?
I’m back to Linkin Park since Chester’s sad suicide.
If you were a liquor that could only drink itself, what would you be?
Champagne!
A tent or The Ritz?
The Ritz, I have a discount there.
What are the top 5 things you’d like to do before
you die?
- Parachute jump (Cliché - done already and never again.)
- Adopt a kid (Being pregnant seems really boring.)
- Figure out my real mission.
- Build or buy a large house so I can invite all my friends there.
- Open my own bar.
