Haute Couture: Russian Kalashnikov Concern to Produce Clothing, Accessories

Kalashnikov Concern, the largest weapons manufacturer in Russia, is intending to release a clothing and accessories line by the end of this year.

By the end of this year in 60 different cities across Russia, Kalashnikov chain stores are set to open and they will sell traditional infantry items and fashion products, Director of Marketing of the Company, Vladimir Dmitriev, said in an interview with newspaper Izvestia.

The clothing and accessories line is under development. The presentation is scheduled for September and will be held in the framework of the forum ‘Army 2016’ in Moscow’s region of Kubinki.

The concern will also present a new line of small arms created for the Ministry of Defense and for the civil sector.

This effort for brand popularization was earlier done by the manufacturer of armored vehicles ‘Uralvagonzavod. In 2014, the corporation opened a sales point in Koltsovo airport in Yekaterinburg. The shop sells t-shirts with images of Russian armored vehicles, jackets and shoes in military style, sports bags and other souvenirs.

Earlier, the CEO of the concern, Alexei Krivoruchko said, “In addition to the development of new products, by 2017 we plan to double [our] sales of small arms to 5.8 billion rubles [165,000 pieces] and to start the mass production of not less than 10 new products,” Krivoruchko told reporters.

Kalashnikov Concern was created in August 2013, when the Izhmash and Izhmekh manufacturers were merged and formally renamed after the well-known Soviet assault rifle.