5 times homeless wanderer Slavik turned fashion muse for designer labels

Would you believe that some of the world’s top fashion brands took inspiration from a homeless man? Meet Slavik, a Ukrainian street wanderer who had no money or a lifestyle but never once repeated his outfit and had a one-of-a-kind style. Creating bold looks from items found in trash bins or shelter homes, he met fashion photographer Yurko Diakishin, who eventually started an Instagram page for Slavik to showcase his creativity, which inspired top fashion labels like Balenciaga and Prada to imitate his designs. However, they never gave him any credit, and soon, in the year 2000, he disappeared into thin air. Let’s take a look at his 5 best looks till date that made the internet go into a frenzy.

Slavik’s fashion is an inspiration to many designers and labels across the globe. However, no one has accepted him as their inspiration or muse, but look at the uncanny similarities between Slavik wearing a tight-fitted, feminine pink zippered cardigan with subtle flowers and pockets at the front and a Balenciaga look. He teamed it with a pair of black tailored pants and simply completed the look with a pair of washed-off black formal shoes. Soon, Balenciaga released a tight-fitted pink high-neckline cardigan for men and teamed it with black tailored pants with formal black shoes, leaving you to take the final judgement.

(Image Credits: Instagram)

The Swiss luxury fashion brand VETEMENTS got inspired by Slavik’s cardigan picks and released Slavik’s favourite sweater in their 2023 collection. Where Slavik wore a white oversized cardigan with a black botanical print on the front, he teamed it with contrasting red baggy parachute pants, which looked different and quirky. Vetements did not shy away from copying the exact botanical design printed on their oversized cardigan and sweatshirt collection. Instead of teaming it up with red bottoms, the model opted for a bright green pair of pants and walked the ramp.

(Image Credits: Instagram)

Do you know who inspired VETEMENTS to release their popular black oversized hoodie in 2016 with the ‘Titanic’ print at the centre? Yes, it was none other than Slavik. He wore an oversized black hoodie with fine red lining on the sides and the faces of the lead characters of the superhit film ‘Titanic’. In 2016, the Swiss brand copied the whole thing with absolutely no changes, which soon became a hit in the fashion world.

(Image Credits: Instagram)

The collection of VETEMENTS went from uncanny resemblances to far-fetched similarities, as the VETEMENTS SS25 collection featured a model wearing a grey shirt with a quirky hole in the middle, which looked similar to Slavik wearing a dark green hoodie, which was torn from the middle. Well, one thing needs to be said, it looked better on the OG, but definitely not on the model.

(Image Credits: Instagram)

Milan-based luxury brand Sunnei’s SS25 collection by Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo featured a model walking the ramp in a sleeveless red top, teamed with a pair of black baggy pants. Wonder, where have we seen this first? Surely, on Slavik’s Instagram account, the man of the hour wore a sleeveless red cardigan-top and teamed it with a pair of baggy blue jeans, which soon became a modish inspiration for Sunnei.

Slavik’s story thus proves that fashion is not all about money and lifestyle, but it’s about owning your style, having originality, and carrying it with utter confidence.

(Image Credits: Instagram)