Lydia Tachkov
Title: Princess of the Wolves – Princess Mononoke
Lydia Tachkov is an assistant designer living in San Francisco, California. She has an A.A in fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and was a finalist in the Her Universe Fashion Show 2016. She currently works as an assistant designer for the children’s wear brand, Gymboree. Her specialty in the company is wovens, which is primarily where she says her personal designs are. She learned about anime and manga when she was 9-years old and has been a fan every since. “I started cosplaying when I was 14, which drove me to learn how to sew,” she says. “ I realized that not only did I love the characters and being them, but that I loved figuring out how to put their outfits together and felt myself drawn to certain characters based off of their designs! My passion for sewing and cosplay is what started my love for fashion and couture and is the reason why I decided to pursue a career in it!”
Much of Lydia’s past work has been inspired by nature and organic forms. She has extensive experience in making silk flowers by hand, tambour bead work, silk dyeing and hand embroidery. “I love using a combination of heavier structures and light, elegant fabrics for the contrast,” she adds. “I primarily drape my garments and love creating asymmetrical pieces. My work can be described as a flower burst because I love incorporating silk fabrics in whatever way I can. I feel drawn to them and love the process of making them.”
Photo: Mark Edwards