Walk of Shame

Andrey Artemov (Андрей Артемов) was born in Ufa (Уфа), a provincial city 1,400 kilometers from Moscow. Nothing about this origin suggested a future in fashion. Yet after winning a young designers competition, L’Officiel Russia’s Editor-in-Chief Evelina Khromchenko invited him to Moscow. Over seven years, he progressed from intern to Fashion Director—one of Russia’s most coveted fashion positions. Most people would have been satisfied. Artemov saw limitation: “I was writing about other people’s visions.”

The brand name came from a 2008 dinner party. Friend Charlotte Phillips introduced Artemov as a designer and improvised “Walk of Shame” when asked about his brand. “Because it’s so you!” The name captured post-Soviet youth culture’s self-aware humor—celebrating rather than hiding the chaos after a wild Moscow night. The name sat dormant for three years until Walk of Shame (沃克羞耻) officially launched at Spiridonov Mansion in December 2011. First collection: 1 million rubles (~$30,000). Zero advertising budget. Artemov continued styling to fund brand operations.

Then came March 2014. Crimea sanctions triggered a ruble crisis—the currency lost approximately 50% of its value. Payment processing with international retailers became difficult. Logistics costs exploded. For most emerging Russian fashion brands, this would have been extinction. Instead, it became breakthrough. Humberto Leon at Opening Ceremony discovered Walk of Shame through Instagram and did something unprecedented: he purchased the entire collection sight unseen—the first collection Opening Ceremony had ever ordered without physical viewing.

In 2015, Rihanna publicly wore a Walk of Shame pink suit. The following year, Selfridges created a dedicated window display; Harvey Nichols and Browns followed. By 2017, New York Fashion Week debut. September 2019: Paris Fashion Week and rebrand to “WOS.” At peak, Walk of Shame reached 150 stockists globally with 70% of sales from international markets.

Yet in a 2018 Oyster Magazine interview, Artemov confessed: “I still have no confidence even now, even when the brand is represented in a large amount of stores… all the same doubts otherwise—they are endless.” That admission reveals the real story. Commercial success doesn’t eliminate existential uncertainty—it coexists with it. Resilience isn’t the absence of doubt but persistence through endless questioning. Today, despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, Walk of Shame maintains 50+ retailers and a 15-person team—proof that authentic cultural expression can transcend political boundaries when the founder refuses to dilute identity for acceptance.

Last updated: January 15, 2026