I'm sure that when most Americans think of the USSR, images of the Cold War, gas masks, tanks, the KGB, bread lines, scared people walking around with their heads down, and an overall dreary atmosphere come to mind. However, there are multiple sides to every story, and while most reasonable people would not want to return to the Soviet era, many creative and well-designed products were created during this period.

I first became interested in Soviet vintage through my Russian husband. In 2010, I found several Soviet vintage items online and, intrigued, showed them to my husband (then boyfriend). He started to tell me about how he too had a plastic compass watch as a child, and how he was teased for looking like Lenin in the star-shaped Octobrist pin he wore in elementary school. Right then and there, I wanted to start selling Soviet vintage as well. However, we weren't able to go back to Russia until the summer of 2013. Once we were back, though, I hit the flea markets and started buying like mad! I fell in love with all the Misha the Bear memorabilia I saw, and decided to name my shop after him. (Misha was the mascot of the 1980 Olympics, which took place in Moscow.)

My goal with Misha the Bear is to showcase a different side of the Soviet Union - the beautifully designed, funky and retro, and sometimes downright adorable products that were created during this time - and to share them with you. I hope you like what you see!