Untrendy Eastern European Teenage Dream

A KALTBLUT exclusive menswear editorial: Untrendy Eastern European Teenage Dream. Or Anti-Post-Soviet Youth Join The Forces. Photographer Elenah Kruk captured Lithuanian garage rock band Frank Fitts. Fashion by AXY Origin and Dr. Martens. Styled by Dominykas Levanas. Models are Gintas Bagdonas, Dominykas Babikas, Zygimantas Verba

When the majority of Eastern European artists try to build themselves upon the Gosha, Demna and Lotta’s legacy, some go against the wave and look for different inspiration in their surroundings.

It’s a sunny summer day in Vilnius, Lithuania, and when the whether outside is warm, people tend to unite. Pool lovers gather by the pool, beer lovers hang out in pubs, and local rebels team up for new projects. A group of anti-fashionistas: an emerging photographer who goes by on Instagram as Elenah.jpg, a young stylist Dominykas Levanas as well as local garage band Frank Fitts and a menswear label AXY Origin crash the world with an unusual photoshoot that stands up against the crooked Post-Soviet trend. The trend that is currently being abused by any upcoming brand born in the Eastern Bloc countries.

The photographer Elenah Kruk states: “With this photoshoot we want to show people that there is more to Eastern European fashion and surroundings than just Soviet blocks of flats. Old furniture and carpets on the walls do not define Eastern Europe anymore. There is so much more to that. Look at those colours. We’re not all gray stereotypes.”

AXY Origin’s manager Agne Puckoriute joins her by saying: “I know we have used the Post-Soviet aesthetics before, and this was how we actually felt back then. Such style reminds of our childhoods in the 90s Lithuania and we wanted to pay a tribute to this. But we should not focus on some shit that used to define us. Let’s create new things and new aesthetics based on how we feel now.” She adds: “when the photographer [Elenah Kruk] introduced us to the Frank Fitts, I immediately thought “Yup, this is it”. Their music, social media and the fact that they just released a tape recod made me feel like this is what AXY stands for: doing the shit you love, daring to go against trends and being true yourself. I already knew that our points of view matched and that we could create a great project. So we did!”

Being a rebel itself, AXY Origin fights young people’s fear of going against the stream and following the old-fashioned norms. When asked what inspires her, Puckoriute tells: “When I was little, I could not understand why teachers and grandparents wanted me to dress and act based on some standards. All I wanted was for them to shut up. So I started acting the way I was supposed to. It was terrible but I continued. A whole lot of time passed before I started being myself again and feeling comfortable. And I don’t want anyone else to feel obligated to be normal.” She adds: “I hate it when instead of expressing ourselves and showing our real attitudes we dress in logos and let them define who we are supposed to be today. No, it’s time to stop the bullshit and be proud of who we are and how we really feel. Let’s stop being normal. Let’s be weird!”