Mindful, Healthy Moscow Spaces

It’s only been about 20 years since Russians have had the opportunity to freely buy and sell domestic spaces. Now, more individuals strive for originality and aim to express style through their properties and their interiors.

Lofts have become popular in Moscow, though they are more often than not new construction made to look industrial, rather than reclaimed warehouse spaces. A symbol of original style for young, urban professionals, many buyers are on the lookout for them.

While it’s still not easy to furnish a newly purchased apartment in Russia, there is a recent wave of interest in vintage furniture, as well as online furniture shops. The Furnish targets a style-conscious audience and offers furniture pieces and accessories from both well-known and up-and-coming designers and producers from all over the world. It also offers same-day delivery.

Archive Store brings Scandinavian design to Moscow, including 20^th century vintage items. And there are companies that make stylish furniture to order, like Ukraine-based Woody.

Together with individual spaces, public spaces, such as parks, now serve as much more than places for walks and fresh air. Sokoloniki and Gorky Park have almost become brands themselves, and are in friendly competition with one another, offering different activities and events. The parks give Muscovites an opportunity to practice sports for free, offering various yoga classes, running and Nordic walking groups. The rise of interest in sports has also triggered a demand for fitness apparel and equipment.

While Russian people traditionally wear well-known, international sports brands, like Nike, Adidas and Reebok, Russian brand Forward is now a big contender in the fitness apparel space. Forward outfitted professional Russian sports teams, and has now begun producing lines for the public.

Another Russian brand, the glamorous Bosco, dresses the Russian Olympic team. They have been illegally copied so much that their clothing is perceived as more of a souvenir for foreigners visiting Moscow. But with the winter Olympic games on the horizon, the brand will still have its share of the marketplace.

As new sports, like Nordic walking, become increasingly popular, there will be potential for new players to enter the market. With winter season coming up, there is also a niche for professional, utilitarian ski clothing brands. Sportmaster, a major Russian sport retailer, only carries male ski clothes from Japanese Descente brand, and female products made by Italian Colmar, with fur hoods, and the American brand Columbia.