Slavia Zaitsev Fragrances

Russian designer Slava Zaitsev was originally born Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Zaitsev on March 2, 1938, in the city of Ivanovo, located outside of Moscow. He studied at the Moscow Textile Institute and graduated with a degree in painting and design in 1962.

Slava Zaitsev is to Russian fashion what Gianni Versace is to Italian fashion, or what Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior are to French couture. In fact, it was during his tenure in the 1960s as artistic director of the Dom Modi — a leading Soviet fashion house in Moscow — that Slava Zaitsev first earned the nickname the "Red Dior." At other times, he has been affectionately referred to as the "Saint Laurent of the Steppes."

Zaitsev was the first Soviet couturier whom the state allowed to put his own label on his clothing, and the evening dresses and other women's wear that bore the Zaitsev label were extremely popular among Politburo wives, famous Soviet actresses, and other elites. Soviet President Mikael Gorbachev's wife Raisa was an admirer of Zaitsev, and the champion ice skating duo of Natalie Bestemianova and Andrei Bukin also wore creations designed by Slava Zaitsev.

Slava Zaitsev released its first fragrance after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1992. Dubbed Maroussia, a popular woman's name in Russia, this perfume is a floral intensive oriental with sweet notes. Other popular fragrances for women produced by The House of Slava Zaitsev include Nikkita and Lumia.