Design. Art. Inspiration.
Award-winning fashion designer, founder of KHAVAARAPIEVA. Laureate of the international competition Russian Silhouette, runway participant at Volvo Fashion Week Moscow, and a creative force across the premium and luxury fashion segments since 2009.
Khava Arapieva was born on April 2, 1988 in Grozny, Russia. In 2005 she entered the Moscow State Textile University A. N. Kosygina at the Faculty of Applied Arts — a rigorous foundation that shaped her exacting approach to cut, material, and construction.
In 2009, the same year she founded her eponymous brand KHAVAARAPIEVA, Khava was named a Laureate of the International Competition of Young Designers "Russian Silhouette" for her collection "Sensual Plexus" — an early declaration of her signature voice: restrained, sensual, structurally precise.
In 2010 she launched the flagship KHAVAARAPIEVA showroom in Moscow and made her runway debut at Volvo Fashion Week Moscow. From 2009 to 2015, she was a regular participant at Fashion Week Moscow, and simultaneously served as Chief Designer for Maria Morozova, Mercedes-Benz Russia's Director of Marketing and Communications.
In 2015, she ventured into international markets through collaboration with the Belarusian brand Fashion Lux, and opened the monobrand boutique KHAVAARAPIEVA in Brest, Belarus. She has since collaborated with major corporate clients including Gazprombank, Arleccino Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and Gerry Weber. She is currently based in McLean, Virginia.
"Remaining true to her artistic vision, the designer builds a thoughtful, timeless wardrobe for a woman who values personal style above fleeting trends — someone who treats fashion as an ongoing, expressive game that highlights her individuality."
KHAVAARAPIEVA — Design philosophyRussian Silhouette — International Young Designers Competition · Laureate
The award-winning debut collection that announced Khava's singular voice. A meditation on interlacing, texture, and emotional tension — earning the Laureate title at Russia's most prestigious young designer competition.
View Collection →Runway Debut · Volvo Fashion Week Moscow · March 2010
Inspired by the organic architecture of Antoni Gaudí, this debut runway collection translated curved structural forms into wearable silhouettes. Layered textures, flowing wool and silk, and an interplay of rigidity and movement defined the collection.
View Collection →Volvo Fashion Week Moscow · Photography by Andrey Revenko
A refined ready-to-wear offering built on Khava's core principles: clean lines, restrained luxury, and material integrity. Executed exclusively in high-quality wool, chiffon, and natural silk.
View Collection →Volvo Fashion Week Moscow · CPM / Collection Premiere Moscow · October 2011
Inspired by travels through Southeast Asia, this collection drew on the lotus flower's subtle colour palette and the craft of local artisans. Hand-woven hemp jackets, silk and chiffon dresses with hand-sewn interlacing, and skirt silhouettes echoing the lotus form. Also showcased at CPM / Collection Première Moscow.
View Collection →KHAVAARAPIEVA · Moscow, Russia
A confident ready-to-wear statement anchored in structural precision and the brand's signature use of natural fabrics. Clean silhouettes and meticulous tailoring underpin every piece.
KHAVAARAPIEVA · Paris, France
Shot in the streets of Paris — alongside Notre-Dame and along the Seine — this collection brought Khava's vision to an international stage. Rich fabrics, architectural coats, and delicate layering captured the duality of Parisian elegance and Russian rigour.
View Collection →MEGA Fashion Day · Sunday Up Market · Moscow, November 2013
Drawing its inspiration from pointillism, this Spring/Summer collection filled the runway with vivid, airy looks — silhouettes radiating energy, romance, floral nuances, and the tender freshness of spring. Presented at the fourth MEGA Fashion Day in collaboration with Sunday Up Market.
View Collection →KHAVAARAPIEVA Brand · Moscow · Multi-brand stores across Russia & CIS
Six years of consistent seasonal output across the premium and luxury segments. Each season reinforced the brand's identity: refined minimalism, exceptional tailoring, and a reverence for natural materials — distributed through multi-brand stores across Russia and the CIS region.
Runway presentations, editorial shoots, and fashion events — Moscow & Paris.
2009–2012
A creative partnership with the renowned Manuel Revert Factory in Valencia, Spain. All collections during this period were crafted using exclusive fabrics designed by the factory's own creative team — a period of exceptional creative synergy.
2009–2015
Chief Designer for Maria Morozova, Mercedes-Benz Russia's Director of Marketing and Communications. Responsible for creating personalized, high-end wardrobe solutions combining elegance, functionality, and a distinctive sense of style.
September 2013
Participated in the Moscow International Automobile Salon at Crocus Expo in collaboration with Russian Silhouette. Collections were showcased inside Hyundai's futuristic pavilion — a spectacular fusion of fashion and automotive design.
2016–2018
Served as project manager and designer at Arleccino, contributing to high-profile events in Moscow. In 2017, developed the corporate clothing concept for all company employees — cohesive, functional, and aesthetically refined uniform designs.
2017
Invited as the exclusive designer for Gazprombank's New Year Show. Developed the concept and design of the event's invitations and created an exclusive capsule New Year collection.
2019
Collaborated with the prestigious international brand Gerry Weber in Moscow, showcasing a diverse skill set at the intersection of premium ready-to-wear and contemporary fashion.
VIII International Competition of Young Designers
Named Laureate for the collection "Sensual Plexus" — Russia's most prestigious young designer competition. The award launched KHAVAARAPIEVA onto the national fashion stage.
National Fashion & Photography Festival · Sports Palace, Minsk
Khava represented Russia alongside Alexey Vlasov and Denis Doroshenko at the final of the national festival-competition "Fashion Mill 2012." The gala show presented collections from Belarusian and international guest designers. Russia's presence was united by a shared history of winning Russian Silhouette and presenting at Volvo Fashion Week.
2nd Annual Ceremony · Neskuchny Sad Restaurant, Moscow
At the second Annual Glent in Mirror Award Ceremony, hosted by Andrey Malakhov, Khava Arapieva received the "New Look" award — recognizing her creative vision and contribution to contemporary Russian fashion.
16th Edition · 41,000 m² · 1,350 Collections · 30 Countries
Participated in one of the largest and most influential fashion exhibitions in Eastern Europe, presenting KHAVAARAPIEVA to an international audience of buyers and professionals and strengthening the brand's global recognition.
Runway presentations, TV appearances, and coverage from fashion events featuring Khava Arapieva's collections. Click any video to play.
A curated selection of collections, sketches, and runway looks spanning over a decade of KHAVAARAPIEVA — from the award-winning debut "Sensual Plexus" (2009) through collaborations in Moscow, Milan, and Paris. Available as a downloadable PDF.
For collaborations, press enquiries, or commissions, reach out through any of the channels below.