Francesca pía - Where to start. I'm just embarrassed... Interviewing you. (Laughs)
LUKA' - Why?
Francesca pía - Well, I don't know, it's somehow, officially. You know.
Working and spending time talking about everything is one thing, but here... It's too serious! I already regret that I agreed.
LUKA' - This is a whole opportunity to gossip, just like you love! How we discussed people over an iced latte in Piazza Navona... Do you remember that time in Rome? When we first met. We didn't know each other at all, but that didn't stop us from spending time together, as if we had known each other forever.
Francesca pía - What were you doing in that store anyway?
LUKA' - Versace?
Francesca pía - In this paradise of kitsch.
LUKA' - I told you so. I came to look for a talented 3D designer, and at the same time to die this belt... With a jellyfish.
Francesca pía - But you always did the design. (Smiles)
LUKA' - I just draw a little with a pencil. If it weren't for you, there wouldn't be any jewelry.
Francesca pía - You're exaggerating!
LUKA' - Not at all... Okay, I'll pretend to believe you. As usual. And also pretend that you're seeing me for the first time and that we met not in that distant '18, but only today. Ask any questions, and I'll try to be sincere.
Francesca pía - Agreed. Where are you from? Where were you born?
LUKA' - In Siberia, in dark and cold Siberia. Where hungry wolves run along the street and a bear plays the balalaika...
Francesca pía - What year were such miracles there?!
LUKA' - In 1986. March 9. But you understand, I myself have not seen either the balalaika or the bear. But my mother told me.
Francesca pía - And what else did my mother tell me? (Laughs)
LUKA' - That a huge owl could take me away at night. And I believed her, until I was 4. Until I saw my mother knocking on the back of the bed. Since then, I have not been used to trusting women. But I believe my mother!
Francesca pía - Almost all creative creative people take a nickname. Are you an exception?
LUKA' - Partly. My name. I had to partially change my last name. I would even say better - adapt.
Francesca pía - Are you ethnically Russian?
LUKA' - I have different genes. Israel, Caucasus, Russia.
Francesca pía - Were you a good student at school?
LUKA' - No. After nine years, I firmly decided to become a hooligan.
Francesca pía - And how long did you act like a hooligan?
LUKA' - Until I graduated from university. And then a little bit more.
Francesca pía - How did you manage to do it being a hooligan?
LUKA' - I don't know, it just happened.
Francesca pía - Really?
LUKA' - No! My family is in medicine, so I didn't really have any options. Then I just wanted to walk around and enjoy life, without thinking about the future.
Francesca pía - So you didn't have a goal to be creative?
LUKA' - I was into painting when I was very young, I also drew caricatures while sitting in class, but it was more for fun. Nothing serious.
Francesca pía - Then what's the point of higher education if you're not going to work in the profession. Especially medical school...
LUKA' - School, education, work - these are all social sandboxes. We learn to live in them, overcome something, go somewhere. That's why I don't regret this experience, it was useful in any case.
Francesca pía - And what happened next?
LUKA' - And then, I did things that are not usually talked about, even to a beautiful girl like you.
Francesca pía - Accumulating initial capital?!
LUKA' - You could say that.
Francesca pía - Well..!? Tell me, tell me, I'm very interested! (Smiles coquettishly, clapping her hands)
LUKA' - I've always been drawn to distant countries, their culture, their way of life. At first it was Asia. Thailand, China... Then there was India, South Korea. The Caribbean.
Francesca pía - All this requires money, what did you do while traveling?
LUKA' - I just lived, listening to culture, design, fashion...
Francesca pía - And about the first point?
LUKA' - I had some savings. And a little stream.
Francesca pía - I wish I had a stream like that. (Laughs loudly)
LUKA' - You don't need a stream like that, believe me. It relaxes, forcing you to be content with little, it lulls your vigilance... It draws you into laziness, idleness...
Francesca pía - What's wrong with celebrating life?
LUKA' - Nothing bad, but not much good either. When idleness accompanies success, yes. But no more. It should be the highest point, after a new ascent, but not the meaning of existence. It's like dessert, you know?
Francesca pía - It seems so, but for me it's too complicated. (Laughs)
LUKA' - At that time I was into various jewelry, rather their shapes, design. I was interested in everything, hot enamel, diamonds, topazes, production technology. From the sketch to the final result. I bought, wore different interesting things, then parted with them just as mercilessly.
Francesca pía - And you never felt sorry to sell them, give them away...
LUKA' - No, it's just a thing. It can please you for a while, and then it's better to get rid of it. At least in order to see, to see something new. Since the places where you can wear all this suddenly end. After some time, I wanted to make a design myself. And I started with a massive silver bracelet. It was a product weighing about fifty grams in the form of a rope, and all this beauty was complemented by a massive lock stylized to match the general concept. Then the whole product was covered with 24-karat gold.
Francesca pía - So your creative path began with jewelry?
LUKA' - yes, but there was a lot more. And luxury men's shoes, clothing design and women's clutches... But if with clothing design something worked out, but only exclusively for myself, then with shoe production things didn't work out from the very beginning. Having bought a certain amount of caiman skin for production, these are small crocodiles...
Francesca pía - I know. (Smiles)
LUKA' - So, having made sketches of models, mainly men's loafers, a new vision of the classics, something else, I started looking for production. But since I was not familiar with Italian manufactures at that time, even through a handshake I found a single master working for himself in Siberia.
Francesca pía - In Siberia... Model shoes...?!
LUKA' - Yes, that's right. I have always preferred good, elegant, high-quality and stylish shoes, giving preference to Fabi, Fratelli rossetti, later Santoni and many others. Mainly Italy, because style is in their DNA. But we got distracted! Having given all my sketches and materials, I began to wait for the first results, but this was not destined to happen... This "master" simply ruined everything, literally everything! Not a single skin was left, everything was destroyed by this miracle man.
Francesca pía - I don't even know what to say.
LUKA' - There's no need to say anything, it just didn't go well from the very beginning, you need to feel this moment, so as not to waste your energy in vain. After some time, I left for Rome, a city of ancient beauty, artists and poets...
Francesca pía - And also chic restaurants, cozy trattorias and great coffee!
LUKA' - Yes...
Francesca pía - That's how our story began, but to be honest...