Daniel 
Elvira Bashanaeva: “I want to remind people how inner beauty is important and how it makes us feel glowing, especially when you are comfortable and confident in what you are wearing.”
Meet Elvira Bashanaeva, a 27-year-old from Russia who has studied Art & Design for 11 years in Russia, China and France. She is a fine artist, fabric designer, environmental designer, fashion designer and the founder of her fashion brand, ELVIENSE.
Q: You are a professor of fashion design at INTERMARK International Design College in Shanghai. What do you enjoy most about your work?
A: I really enjoy teaching. I enjoy sharing all the knowledge in a way that will be easy for my students to digest and make it useful. My favourite part is to see my students grow. It’s similar to gardening. Planting a seed, when you water it, nurture it and watch it grow, then the tree is blossoming and giving it’s fruits. It’s truly pleasant to see.
Q: Describe working as a foreigner and professor in China?
A: Honestly, I’m in love with China and Chinese culture, so it’s already such an inspiration to be here! Plus the international environment of the university makes it even better merging different cultures and backgrounds together. It’s a great opportunity for me to learn Chinese language and discover the history and the culture of this beautiful country.
Q: What advice would you give to people working within the industry in China?
A: The fashion industry in China is so powerful, especially production! It’s truly fascinating to see the quality and speed of manufacturing in China, so I believe that the industry these days requires the same abilities from the new people coming to work in it. That means you have to be creative, fast and efficient, being positive and trying to bring a better impact with your work.
