As much as I love reviewing New York fashion week, I probably enjoy more seeing collections from across the globe - Mumbai, Kiev, Bangkok, Tokio, and other cities that don't necessarily get wide coverage in the foreign press, but often more unique and inspiration than anything you will see on Michael Kors runway.  

Moscow has a soft spot in my heart because of my Russian roots, so I'm especially curious about their fashion week, which started just about 15 years ago (almost the same time I left the country).  

Since then, with the rise of democracy and opening of the commerce channels, many new Russian names make it to the global market - like Terexov who is presenting his clean modern vision in New York for the last two seasons, and Denis Simachev who was the first Russian designer to debut on the coveted Milan catwalk seven years ago. 

These are some of the highlights of the last week seen on Moscow runways, which hopefully will provide a glimpse into this still mysterious culture. 

A model presents a creation by Georgian designer Bakur Bakuradze during Moscow Fashion Week March 28, 2008. REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin (RUSSIA)

A model presents a creation by Ukrainian designer Olga Linnik during Moscow Fashion Week March 28, 2008. REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin (RUSSIA)

Models present creations by Ukrainian designer Olga Linnik during Moscow Fashion Week March 28, 2008. REUTERS/AlexanderNatruskin (RUSSIA) 

A model presents a creation by Russian designer Antonina Shapovalova during Moscow Fashion Week March 27, 2008. Picture taken March 27, 2008. REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin (RUSSIA)

A model shows a creation by Russian designer Natasha Glazkova during Moscow Fashion Week March 24, 2008. (Alexander Natruskin/Reuters)

A model shows a creation by Russian designer Natasha Glazkova during Moscow Fashion Week March 24, 2008. REUTERS/AlexanderNatruskin (RUSSIA)   

A model shows a creation by Russian designer Natasha Glazkova during Moscow Fashion Week March 24, 2008. REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin (RUSSIA)

Sabina Gorelik                                       Natalia Valevsky

  
Svetlana Tegin                            Sergei Moskalenko