About Creators: Mari Siviakova

'From Ukraine to LA: Mari Siviakova's Stylish Journey Unveiled.'

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Join us on a captivating expedition as Mari Siviakova, a renowned stylist in LA, unveils her unique journey. Through an exclusive interview, Mari shares her experiences, navigates through challenges, and celebrates triumphs in the realms of fashion, music videos, commercial projects, and celebrity styling.

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Who are you and what do you do?

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"Hello! I'm Mari Siviakova. I'm a stylist based in LA. My main areas of expertise are fashion, music videos, commercial projects, and celebrity styling."

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Tell us how moving to another country affected your career path?

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"I had long desired to work with foreign agencies, which was uncommon in Ukraine, and to engage in international projects. When the war in Ukraine began, I relocated to Berlin and swiftly commenced my search for talent agencies. Almost immediately, I collaborated with Collective Interests, resulting in my first major international campaign for La Mer. My career strategy always involves networking, and I spent six months in Berlin working with diverse producers and clients, gaining valuable international experience.

Moving to Berlin was comparatively easier than my move to the United States. Even after a year, I still feel like I'm in the process of adjusting. Shortly after arriving, I began scouting for agencies, connecting with local stylists, and sending emails. One of the agencies I had long aspired to work with reached out to me, leading to a fruitful collaboration."

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How has networking and your international contacts impacted your career?

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"In any move, networking and building contacts are vital, as you never know who might recommend you for a project. I have contacts in Ukraine, Germany, and America. Even in Los Angeles, I receive offers from Ukrainian acquaintances. For instance, Ukrainian director Artem Shapxo contacted me and invited me to style a music video for Chris Brown and Tyla Yaweh.I also use Facebook groups for networking, which recently led to an opportunity to work on a Nike campaign."

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Please tell us about the most difficult or stressful project you've worked on.

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"The most stressful shoot for me was for Nike. Due to my move and pregnancy, I had a considerable break from such large-scale projects, and it was my first American commercial shoot. The production system in America works a bit differently. I had to assemble all the outfits in a single day. A significant portion of Nike's clothing didn't arrive for the fitting, so we had to go shopping to put together the necessary outfits, and we only had three hours after the fitting for that. During the actual shoot, both photo and video shoots were happening simultaneously at different locations, so we had to constantly switch between them. I'm satisfied with my work and styling on this project, but due to the limited preparation time, I didn't pay enough attention to project management. However, since it was my first major shoot in America, I gained invaluable positive experience."

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Who is your dream collaboration or who have you already worked with that was once your dream job?

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"My dream job is working with artists, which is why I moved to Los Angeles, as it's the perfect place for this field. Recently, I had a fateful and very important shoot with James Blake. When I moved to Berlin, it was emotionally and physically challenging, as it was for everyone fleeing from the war. One evening, a friend couldn't attend James Blake's concert and gave me her tickets. I gladly went, as I adore his work. It was an incredible show! At that moment, the concert seemed to breathe life back into me, as James infused it with his boundless energy. So when his team selected me as the stylist for the cover (which should be released soon), I was overjoyed. He's a very open and cool guy. Of course, I thanked him and shared this story with him."

What do you want to achieve in the near future?

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"My plans for the coming year are to continue expanding my portfolio with fashion, music video, and commercial projects. I also want to venture into celebrity styling and start working with a celebrity. Currently, I am working with an agency in the Los Angeles market, but I hope that in the near future, we will travel to New York, which is my dream."

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