Grishko
Factory - Moscow
through AFASA
Nov. 22, 2017
(below, excerpt from http://grishkoshop.com/page/about-grishko)
Grishko Ltd. was founded in 1988 by a talented businessman Mr. Nikolai Grishko.
Nowadays, the Grishko Ltd. is a major enterprise which is known for reliability and manufacture of high quality products that are desired all over the world.
The manufacturing complex includes 4 factories. The factories produce hand-made ballet pointe shoes, shoes for other dance genres, ballet tutus and theatrical costumes, practice, fitness and yoga wear, as well as clothes for an active life.
All in all, there are over 1000 different products.
The constantly modernized variety of goods, made under the trade-mark of Grishko, consider customers with different income levels.
In addition to mass production, the company also accepts custom orders, which include various intricate orders for tutus, costumes and shoes coming from the biggest ballet and dance companies.
The demand for Grishko products is steadily increasing.
Thus, by 2011 the increment of its goods had amounted to 11 per cent. The output of footwear in 2011 has reached 571000 pairs, sales volume of knitwear amounted 154000 items, and the output of ballet costumes has reached 17000 items.
Grishko Ltd. has established long-time partner relations with the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres, other leading ballet and dance companies in Russia, the USA, Western Europe, Japan, Korea, etc.
The guarantee of the company's success is its continuous research work for further improving the quality of its products, application of the newest production methods and maintenance of the inseparable ties with traditions.
The stable process, well considered selection of the personnel and high demand for goods made by the company give the Grishko Ltd. a confidence in its steady development for many years ahead.
see video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6wgZ7B7KHo
Today, I had another unique opportunity to join the AFASA ladies on an excursion to the famous Grishko Factory in Moscow. I just LOVE love love these interesting activities - things we would never be able to do back home in Canada. Thank you to Nina from Finland for organizing this for us!
On the yellow line (metro) we all met at Ploshad Ilicha and then walked about 20 minutes to the factory with Tatiana (Tanya) our guide.
Above is the sign outside the doors of the old factory.
Inside the executive office area
The founder, Mr. Grishko
1st area of production we went into was where they cut all the burlap, cotton and satin fabrics used in the production of the pointe shoes. Little did I know at the time I would be part of the production. Every aspect of these pointe shoes is done by hand - not automated machinery.
The large white square above is hundreds of layers of satin to be cut - I believe she said - into 1000 pairs of pointe shoes
Some of the various cut pieces that go into the making of pointe shoes
Layers and layers of burlap that go into making the hard part of the toe area of a pointe shoe.
Part of a pointe shoe cut on the diagonal to show the various layers.
This is the hundreds of layers (I can't remember how many she said) of satin that she cuts with extreme precision. One mistake and she ruins hundreds.
Then she asked for volunteers to try cutting! Nobody else volunteered, so I did!!!
Here I go... with a little trepidation. 😬
She did provide a little correction and guidance... it's amazing though the ease this machine cut through so many layers of fabric!
I couldn't see that well, so I asked to borrow her glasses, but then she couldn't see, so I borrowed someone else's and gave hers back so she could help me!
Daniela was good to take a short video of me cutting the fabric! Awesome! Thank you so much Daniela or Maya, I'm not sure which one of you took it with my camera, but thank you! In hindsight, I probably should have taken off my dangling necklace while cutting with this saw!
Nobody asked what these were, but they appear to be the patterns used to make each piece - of various sizes.
The drying room - to dry the glue. I believe she said 12 hours at 45-50 degrees. Sorry for the blurry picture.
The various types of soles that get hand-stitched to the rest of the pointe shoe - from the inside. The ones you see above with the holes are to make it easier to get up on the pointe.
layers on layers... SO much work goes into each and every pair, it's amazing. I wish I could remember more about the process to explain it - I should have had a little notebook darnit!
He's demonstrating that each completed pair must stand on pointe - it cannot lean to either side or it is no good.
This was the vats of glue. The resident cats like to nap on top because they're nice and toasty warm. Cats are welcome in the factory... no doubt to keep the mouse/rat population low.
The ladies were lovin' the very happy cats!
Even when she opened up the lid, the cat didn't move
Tubs of the glue they made that is used to make the pointe shoes.
As you can see... all hand-made. I felt rather sorry for all the workers in cramped quarters working very hard. This particular part involves turning the fabric back right-side out and takes a lot of strength. All workers are very skilled and good with their hands.
This machine and those black/white devices create custom arches for pointe shoes.
This guy and many other workers have these small little stools they sit on all day working on whatever portion of the pointe shoe they are responsible for. Sometimes, they told us, one master works on the shoe from start to finish, but most are done in several stages by various workers.
The sewing area... brutal. Wouldn't want that job!
The various forms for different widths and height of arch. The one on the far right is considered, by the Russian guide explaining to us, to be the most idea and beautiful shaped foot. The orange one to the left is the most common with, as you can see, a very large and flat "pointe" area to make dancing on pointe easier. She considers it ugly though.
Tons of cut fabric ready to move on to the next stage of production.
Detailed, skilled work involved, especially with the folding over of the layers. If done wrong, it would be very bulky and painful for the ballerina.
It was just a simple tote bag, but we all wanted on with the name of the company and some tulle for the tutu. Unfortunately, we cannot buy anything at the factory... will have to go visit one of the shops!
Mr. Grishko likes working with circus performers also - very high quality clown shoes!
I need to get one of these little pouches, so cute!
Now we're in another part of the factory where they make some of the garments for dance. Not the costumes, but the rehearsal active wear. It's all computerized machine-made.
They also do some silk-screen printing for merchandise like t-shirts, etc.
Look! A box being shipped to Canada! Cool! Most seemed to be to Asia - we saw a lot of boxes going to Japan & Korea
Mr. Grishko's office area - well, his assistants just outside of his office.
Above is the prestigious "golden mask" plaque usually reserved for theatres, but because this company and Mr. Grishko are SO involved in the community providing quality products to the performers, he was also given this award.
I had a wonderful time on this excursion and will definitely get Craig's ballerina niece, Kaitlyn here when she visits us in May.
The gang for the tour + Nina (not in picture)
Cool shot - interesting perspective
And then they were off on part II of their Russian adventure to St. Petersburg.
