It is a shame we haven't had the chance to write about a new edition of Ukrainian Fashion Week since 2021. As we’ve always said, fashion goes way beyond the lights, cameras, and glamour that is often perceived from an outsider point of view. The state of the fashion industry in each country is a reflection of their society, their context, and the current situation in which they are living. When a local fashion week is thriving, we can rest assured that the creatives that make part of it are experiencing optimal conditions that allow them to do their job without any concerns aside from their craft, but a sudden forced stop of activities on a fashion week that was one of the most promising ones results as concerning as the reality of the country. Three years later, with the same enemy still on their backs, but with a strength and resilience born out of the persistent and tenacious mindset that characterises their people, the Ukrainian Fashion Week is back to Kyiv, a symbol of hope and life.
The last two and a half years, Ukrainians have lived a never-ending tragedy that has changed their lives in indescribable ways. When there’s a full-scale invasion happening in your home, it makes sense how everything else becomes secondary when the main goal is preserving your and your loved ones lives. But an important lesson Ukrainians have learnt during these hard times is that fighting back is just as important as resisting, and while the heroes that are on the first lines of the war are giving their lives to defend their territory, the rest of the citizens are using their areas of expertise and crafts to oppose the regimen that wants to take everything away from them.
Art and creative disciplines are one of the most important and symbolically charged ways to not only express discomformity or portray the true and raw feelings of our hearts, but to also show how love and passion always prevail and creativity is still there even in the darkest time. Aside from the most poetic side of it, there is a whole industry behind it that depends on it, a whole chain that helps translate the ideas into reality, and what a better way to show strength than to go back to work, united by one common goal. For this reason, Ukrainian Fashion Week will return to Kyiv from September 1st to 4th, with more than fifty local brands supporting the decision. Some of these brands have had the chance to keep presenting their collections during this time thanks to the cooperation of other fashion weeks, including London, Copenhagen, Berlin, or Tbilisi, but showing in their home country once again is deeply significant and emotional.
“Despite missile attacks, air raid sirens, and daily challenges, our commitment remains to supporting our designers with their creativity and business growth. Our resilience is a testament to the strength and unbreakable spirit of Ukrainian designers. We highly appreciate the solidarity of the global fashion industry that has supported us in these challenging times. We aim to showcase the creative power and courage of the Ukrainian fashion scene to the world, bringing Ukrainian Fashion Week back to Kyiv. The voice of Ukraine has to be heard,” said Iryna Danylevska, Founder and CEO of Ukrainian Fashion Week.
Brands like Litkovska, Frolov, Bobkova, Paskal, Nadya Dzyak, Tg Botanical, The Coat, Gasanova, Gunia Project, and Kseniaschnaider will present in different formats, such as fashion shows, presentations, installations, performances, and trade shows, while the main location will be the historical Mystetskyi arsenal, where we can find an installation of designers’ creations that became a reflection of the Russian war and portraits of the Ukrainian fashion industry workers who joined the ranks of the Armed Forces. “The industry is developing, and therefor, life prevails, right here, right now,” says first lady Olena Zelenska on the promotional video for the fashion week, and for that we celebrate.