In a conversation with Nikas Safronov, the Russian outlet kp.ru highlighted a call to relocate the funeral of fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev to the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow. The proposal speaks to a broader conversation about honoring cultural figures in a way that aligns with their impact on the national imagination and design history.
Safronov expressed a strong view that Zaitsev deserved formal recognition, including funeral rites worthy of a figure who shaped contemporary fashion. He said that a master of Zaitsev’s stature ought to be laid to rest in the center of the capital. The sentiment behind the proposal is that such a burial would symbolize national appreciation and acknowledge the designer’s lasting contributions to style and public life. Safronov emphasized that the burial site should reflect the designer’s prominence and the public’s connection to his work.
The painter noted that Zaitsev had repeatedly spoken of his wish to be buried in Moscow. Safronov criticized the decision to bury the designer in Shchelkovo as reckless, arguing that it detached the resting place from the heart of the country’s cultural life. In Safronov’s view, Zaitsev’s fashion work bridged minds and hearts across millions of people, leaving a legacy that transcends generations and geography.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev was laid to rest at the Zhegalovsky cemetery in Schelkovo, near Moscow. The farewell ceremony welcomed family members and notable figures from the arts and entertainment world. Attendees included the designer’s son Yegor, his granddaughter Marusya, stylist Sergei Zverev, singer Nadezhda Babkina, actress Tatyana Mikhalkova, music executive Bedros Kirkorov, director Avangard Leontiev, and designer Igor Gulyaev. The funeral took place at the Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity, a location that resonated with many who followed Zaitsev’s career and the fashion culture he helped shape.
Vyacheslav Zaitsev passed away on April 30 at the age of 85. Media reports indicated that the cause of death was internal bleeding. The news marked the end of a chapter in Russian fashion history, one that intersected with broader cultural movements and the country’s post-Soviet identity in the world of high style and mass appeal.
There have been ongoing discussions about public ceremonies and commemorations for Zaitsev, reflecting how such figures are remembered in the public sphere. The debate around burial location is part of a larger conversation on how cultural icons are honored, how their legacies are preserved, and how future generations encounter their work in museums, retrospectives, and fashion archives. The conversations also highlight the role that public figures play in shaping national pride and the way memory is curated through art, design, and public ceremony.