Russia's best seamstress is being chosen in Nizhny Novgorod.

      September 11, 2025 13:25

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      Society NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Polina Zubova The federal stage of the All-Russian professional skills competition "Best in Profession" in the category "Best Seamstress" (18+) kicked off at the Nizhny Novgorod Fair on September 11. The organizer was the regional labor and employment administration with the support of JSC "Meridian."

      Twenty seamstresses from various regions of the country are taking part in the competition. Among them are women with varying levels of experience, including a mother of nine children. The Nizhny Novgorod region is represented at the competition by Nadezhda Stepanova, who has 12 years of experience in the profession.

      As the NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" correspondent found out, the competition program includes two stages: theoretical and practical. Participants must take a 50-question test, solve case tasks, and complete a practical assignment. Their work is evaluated by experts from the sewing industry, lecturers from specialized colleges, and occupational safety specialists.

      In addition to the competitive part, a rich cultural and educational program has been prepared for visitors: master classes in embroidery, weaving and sewing, an exhibition-fair of light industry products, and runway shows of collections by Russian designers.

      As Sergey Yakovlev, Minister of Tourism and Crafts of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, noted, the holding of the competition coincided with two important dates: the 110th anniversary of the opening of the region's first sewing factory "Mayak" and the 15th anniversary of the championship movement in Russia.

      He recalled the outstanding contribution of native of Nizhny Novgorod Nadezhda Lamanova — a well-known Russian fashion designer who did away with corsets and laid the foundations of modern garment construction. Her works are represented in the world's major museums, and her approach to costume creation influenced the development of film and theater, as she became the first designer of theatrical and film costumes.

      "Today Nizhny Novgorod designers are also creating approaches to the future, drawing on authenticity and their own individual techniques in creativity, and creating not just clothing. Our clothing is our embodiment, our distinctive trait. And every day, by putting on a particular item, we want to communicate with another person through clothing. Therefore, this is an extremely prestigious profession. By creating collections, they create the future and amaze us. They are truly people of creativity, people of kindness, and people of the future," Yakovlev added.

      Elena Perenkova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, noted that the competition is also important for the education system. The venue will be visited by more than 2,000 schoolchildren and college students who will be able to see modern technologies and working methods in the sewing industry.

      Igor Pantyukhin, head of the labor and employment administration, noted that employers' interest in the profession is steadily growing. The profession of seamstress is among the most in-demand not only in the region but across Russia. The Nizhny Novgorod region currently needs more than 3,000 seamstresses, and if related light industry professions are taken into account — up to 7,000 specialists.

      He emphasized that the competition is intended not only to assess the level of skill but also to attract young people to the profession. Pantyukhin also reported that the region is actively working on restoring sewing production and is recording positive migration dynamics: over the past two years the outflow of personnel has decreased, and more specialists are arriving in the region than leaving.

      Recall that the "Best in Profession" competition has been held since 2012. In 2025 it underwent a large-scale reboot, becoming part of the national project "Personnel" initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The project's goal is to raise the prestige of working professions, disseminate best practices for training specialists, and attract young people to manufacturing industries.

      Earlier it was reported that the electronic constructor "Pechka Emeli" developed in Nizhny Novgorod won the All-Russian contest "Native Toy."

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