Who would have imagined that a homeless man from Ukraine could make a profound impact on the fashion industry? Yet Slavik, a gypsy on the streets, influenced some of the biggest brands in the industry with his unique sense of style. From luxury fashion houses like Balenciaga and Vetements to streetwear giants like Supreme, Slavik’s eclectic mix of layers, patterns, and textures has allegedly been the inspiration behind some of the most iconic looks on runways and streets. Yet his story does not have the happy ending that one might anticipate.
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Slavik’s Rise To Fame
The fashion industry’s unexpected embrace of Slavik’s style all started with a chance meeting with photographer Yurko Dyachyshyn @yurkodyachyshyn on the streets of Lviv, Ukraine. Dyachyshyn saw something undeniably special in the homeless man’s unconventional appearance. After all, the 55-year-old gypsy was not what one might anticipate from a man with no fixed address.
Slavik had no dishevelled hair, no ragged clothes, and no shopping cart full of possessions. Instead, he was someone who still made an effort to keep his hairdo and beard perfectly groomed and who made sure to have an outfit change or two every single day. And how could someone with so little to his name pull off such chic looks? These were things that the homeless man would find in the trash or retrieve from shelters, and, boy, was he good at pairing the items together.
Slavik had a unique and eclectic sense of style, from bright red hoodies paired with fur coats and jeans to denim shorts worn over tracksuit pants, and Dyachyshyn chose to keep track of these trendy ensembles over the course of two years.
Between 2011 and 2013, more than 100 photos were snapped at random meetings, each one showcasing the homeless man’s eye for fashion. Needless to say, Slavik’s eclectic looks went viral, leading to several international brands allegedly emulating his looks for their own collections.
What Happened To Slavik?
But despite his sudden notoriety, Slavik was never paid or even fully acknowledged for his contributions to the fashion world. Even worse, the Ukrainian gypsy simply vanished in 2013, leaving no indication of his whereabouts or current state of health.
Even if we don’t have any more of Slavik’s famous outfits to admire, he will forever remain the most fashionable homeless man in the world. You can continue to follow his legacy through the account @slaviksfashion, which shares all the street-style images shot by Yurko Dyachyshyn that perfectly showcase the homeless man’s distinct sense of style.
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