All images in this article appear as a courtesy of Studio Vladimir Karaleev.
Special thanks to Compose PR and Kristina Hellhake for their help in the creation of this article.
During the most recent Berlin Fashion Week in February 2026, Ukrainian designer Vladimir Karaleev presented his new exploration of classic shirts in a non-conventional format: instead of opting for a traditional runway, he set up his showcase as an art exhibition. Konzulát Studios at Leipziger Strasse was transformed into a museum where each piece told a story, all encompassing a narrative of what is truly important and beautiful for Vladimir as a fashion creator and artist.
This exhibition, aptly titled SYSTEM:SHIRT, offered an experience where guests could see a capsule collection consisting of 50 one-of-a-kind shirts that explored innovative ways of creating, wearing and understanding this fashion staple. When asked about this particular choice of releasing a collection composed only of shirts, Vladimir candidly answers: “I wanted something essential, but it was also an emotional decision. I like working with shirts and there’s no logic behind it, just my feeling.”
Opening event of SYSTEM:SHIRT by Vladimir Karaleev on February 1st, 2026. Image: Ben Mönks/Fashion Council Germany
By using upcycled and deadstock textiles, Vladimir proposes a perspective where transformation, even if not entirely clear, is an ongoing and uncertain, yet fun process. “It was really fun to experiment during this creative process. I like going to places, trying things and not really knowing what might happen. In life I know what I’m doing next week, but after that I don’t, so when I start something I like seeing where it’s going and just go with the flow. Being able to work freely and not worry about reproducing the garment was interesting because I always think about how it could lose its originality during the production process. This was very important for me.”
After being in Berlin for over 15 years, Vladimir states that he couldn’t be who he is as a person or a designer if he had chosen another city to relocate. “I moved here because of the creative freedom and I don’t think I could afford to do this in any other city. From day one it felt like home. Here I have more opportunities to evolve and grow, and I’ve been very lucky to be here through these 15 years.”
Following this sense of creativity and originality as a primary motivation through his life as an artist, Vladimir finds inspiration from sources that other fashion creatives rarely, if ever, explore. One of them is podcasts: “I really can’t work with music in the background, so I listen to podcasts, but sometimes they’re about reviewing albums. When I go back home after a day of work, I like listening to the same song on a loop, for example with ASAP Rocky’s new album. I recently watched One Battle After Another and I really enjoyed it.”
While SYSTEM:SHIRT isn’t a Vladimir Karaleev commercial collection per se, this presentation was an excellent way of getting into his creative universe. All the pieces felt like works of art in themselves, and they could perfectly fit in an gallery or in an avant-garde fashion collector’s closet. Furthermore, they serve as a testimonial of Vladimir’s technical evolution, where embracing the unknown isn’t only a crucial, but also enjoyable part of the journey of being an artist.
Lookbook of SYSTEM:SHIRT by Studio Vladimir Karaleev
