Alisa Ruzavina is a sustainability-driven fashion and textiles designer, activist and researcher, who was raised in Moscow and is currently based in London. Her holistically-minded explorations focus on creating ways in which clothing and textiles can serve as catalysts for co-design, positive social change and increased care for the environment. She is about to embark on the journey with MA Material Futures and has graduated from BA Fashion Print, both at Central Saint Martins.

Alisa’s signature colorful and upbeat style uses bold relatable imagery to break down complex spiritual and ecological concerns of our time, encouraging the use of clothing and textiles as a tool for activism accessible to all. 

Her sustainability-focused approach is also reflected in carefully sourced and treated materials for all of her work, only using either discarded or organically grown materials.

Collaboration with artisans has become a big part of her practice, working towards rethinking design systems and hierarchies that exist in the sector, as well as seeing how traditional craft can be used as vehicle for environmental awareness and conservation initiatives for both the makers and the viewers. Alisa has been working on a social development project with indigenous artisans in Guna Yala, Panama and has also been collaborating with sustainable brand Oshadi in Tamil Nadu, India, which works towards reviving artisan communities and bringing back traditional weaving and dyeing techniques.