ESTEL & Russian Silhouette 2026

To inspire, guide, and open new horizons — these are the values that have united ESTEL and the Russian Silhouette Charitable Foundation for many years. The wonderful tradition of bringing costume design and hairdressing together continued in 2026. On June 4, Moscow hosted the semifinal of the 14th International Competition for Young Designers, with ESTEL serving as the official stylist.

This year, representatives of more than 20 specialised universities, along with independent designers, competed for the opportunity to appear on the Moscow runway. After passing a rigorous selection process, 23 semifinalists presented their conceptual collections at the creative space of the AVM Media television centre.

The young designers boldly experimented with silhouettes, volumes, and textures. Their complex and expressive tailoring was masterfully balanced by the ESTEL stylists with sleek, glossy minimalism. Smooth, pulled-back hair with a mirror-like shine allowed the architectural structure of each collection to be fully revealed.

There were, however, some exceptions. Slavic mysticism and Eastern-inspired themes were complemented by luxurious textured curls and floor-length braids. In every case, the stylists skilfully gave each look its own distinctive character, clearly demonstrating how a hairstyle can transform a costume into a complete work of art.

As always, the PROART styling collection helped the professionals create flawless runway looks. Its wide range of products, reliable hold, and caring properties provided the perfect balance of shape and shine, highlighting the individuality of every look.

Precision was especially important that evening, as the designers behind the best collections were competing for a coveted place in the final of the Russian Silhouette 2026 competition.

Following the jury’s decision, Antonina Karapapas, Maria Vagacheva, Evgeny Kotov, and the creative duo of Lyudmila Marchenkova and Maya Narkevich were selected as finalists.

The young designers now have the season’s grand finale ahead of them. ESTEL congratulates the finalists on their well-deserved success and wishes them a bright and exciting journey in the world of high fashion.