Alena Kuklycheva, a costume designer in figure skating, shared on social media that Alena Kostornaya returned certain costumes after performances. The designer recounted that the items were placed in a bag bearing the words “You are a mouse.”
She described the packaging as inappropriate and noted that Kostornaya was rude, telling her to cover the costs of her own outfits. The post suggested a tense interaction surrounding the handling and payment for costumes that had been used on the ice.
On January 3, Kuklycheva announced via social networks that she would no longer collaborate with Kostornaya. The designer included a screenshot of her chat with the skater, implying that Kostornaya had not paid for some costumes, raising questions about financial arrangements and responsibility for wardrobe items and repairs.
Later, Kuklycheva mentioned in an interview with Match TV that Kostornaya owed as much as 240,000 rubles for sewing a costume. Kostornaya disputed the claim, stating that she did not owe any money for that particular garment or service. This dispute highlighted the friction between the two professionals over billing and accountability for design and production work.
In competition, Kostornaya and her partner Georgy Kunitsa finished ninth in the pairs event at the most recent Russian Championships held in Chelyabinsk, a result that reflected the ongoing adjustments in their performance and preparation.
During the 2023/24 season, Kostornaya and Kunitsa rejoined Russian competitions, marking their first appearances of the season. At the Grand Prix stage in Omsk, the pair placed fourth, with the event won by Anastasia Mishina and Alexander Gallyamov, underscoring the high level of national and international rivals in the sport.
There had been previous statements from Kuklycheva indicating that she might pursue legal action against Kostornaya, signaling possible remedies through formal channels if disputes over payment or contract terms continued to escalate. The situation underscores how disputes over costume design, production, and associated costs can intersect with an athlete’s career and a designer’s professional expectations, especially in a sport where attire plays a crucial role in both performance and presentation.