This past New York Fashion Week, six Ukrainian designers jetset to New York to display bright and lively creations deriving from places of political hardship. Fluffy gowns and bright colors walked down the runways of New York Fashion Week, symbolizing creative freedom in times of tribulation. The displays were made possible thanks to fashion Alum Jen Sidary, who has made it her life’s mission to highlight Ukrainian fashion.
Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the business of fashion flourished from brands such as Valery Kolvaska, KULAKOVSKY, and TMosca. An industry worth 1.7 trillion as of 2022 is projected to be valued at 3.17 billion in Ukraine, with an annual growth of 8.23% (Statistica.) However, over the past few years, Ukrainian fashion was receiving a different amount of traction than it is now. Since the Russian invasion, international efforts by the fashion industry have gone into play to preserve creativity in Ukraine amidst struggle. More attention is now focused on Ukrainian designers and making sure their spot in the industry is secured.
Zappos and Vivienne Westwood alum Jen Sidary is a trailblazer for Ukrainian fashion with a career dedicated to gaining exposure for small designers and campaigns. Sidary started Angelforfashion.com, an e-commerce website carrying over 60 Ukrainian-based designers and brands, and has “dedicated” her life to supporting Ukraine (Instagram.) This year she helped bring six designers under Freedom Fashion Ukraine to New York fashion week.
“In 2020 during Covid I worked for Informa Markets and because of the pandemic the company had layoffs in October because no in-person events were allowed to take place. A month later I took a leap of faith which would change my life forever and embarked on my first journey to Ukraine in November 2020 buying a one-way ticket to Kyiv. It’s incredible to think if it wasn’t for this, I would have never discovered this extremely talented Ukrainian fashion industry or met all these incredible people who I now consider family.” (Jen Sidary for Fashion Week Online.)
Before dedicating her career to Ukrainian fashion, Jen Sidary’s three-decade career in the industry began with her work as Head of Zappos Couture and President of Sales for Vivienne Westwood. Sidary now has her own fashion-consulting-agency, e-commerce website and is also a Women’s Wear Daily keynote speaker.
“Angel For Fashion is an eCommerce website to support the Ukrainian fashion industry by helping the country’s most prominent fashion brands and designers to survive the war crisis,” Sidary states in her biography on jensidary.com. Through trying times in Ukraine, Sidary promotes her mission across all digital platforms, predominantly Instagram. On Instagram, Sidary can promote Ukrainian designers and give them opportunities to show in Paris and New York Fashion Week, which she has been doing for the past five years.
Over the past two years working with Angelsforfashion.com, Ukrainian designers have solidified their spots in worldwide fashion weeks thanks to efforts from Sidary. Products range from $100 jewelry and $1000+ custom-tailored pieces. With such a range, the e-commerce website has something for every type of consumer. Sidary’s mission of shining light on Ukrainian designers continues to be successful with high web traffic compared to other independently-ran e-commerce platforms.
The six Ukrainian designers showed for New York Fashion Week 2023 were Chereshnivska (returning from the Ukrainian Paris Fashion Week last year,) Kulakovsky, POCHÉ, Samokish, TMosca, and Valery Kovalska. The shows were held at the exclusive COTERIE trade show at the Jacobs Javits Center in Hudson Yards, New York City.
Fashion house Chereshnivska specializes in sustainable artistry and unisex upcycled fashion. Founded in 2016, creative director Anastasiya Rozava hand-draws prints for every collection. The house states, “We try to reflect the modern world and show it through the designs and prints” (Chereshnivska.com.) This past collection was inspired by the artists and sculptors native to Lviv, Ukraine, where the house is based. Chereshnivska and all brands below are available to purchase on Angelsforfashion.com.
Kulakovsky is a leather goods brand by Atrur Kulakovsky, who has been perfecting his leather craftsmanship for ten years in his family’s leather workshop. The brand aims to create long-lasting leather goods and outerwear that withstand rapid trend cycles. “KULAKOVSKY reimagines classic silhouettes into a new and original edit and encapsulates the synergy of distinct values: responsible sourcing, premium quality production and dedicated customer experience,” (Kulakovsky.online.) The brand has a “slow-fashion” approach, and each item is handcrafted with custom offerings available.
POCHÉ Jewelry was founded by Ukrainian designers Tati Brailova and Nadya Syomik in 2019. They launched their brand on the cusp of a pandemic and war and take pride in their success despite these conditions. POCHÉ takes an extravagant approach to jewelry, desensitized by millennial minimalism. None of their pieces are ever deemed simple and are always eye-catching. The brand is entirely vegan and sustainable, taking a conscious approach to jewelry design. Rapper Machine Gun Kelly, Katy Perry, and Christina Aguilera are just a few of the famous connoisseurs of the brand.
Samokish is a jewelry brand that began in 2010 by Kateryna Samokish, who used to create pieces purely as a hobby. “SAMOKISH brand is confidently conquering the Ukrainian market and not planning to stop at this. The plans are to enter the international market so that the whole world knows about the Ukrainian jewelry brand, which is proud of its origin, philosophy, and values” (Samokish.com.) All jewelry is handmade, embodying femininity with European quality and Ukrainian soul.
TMosca’s offerings include knitwear and everyday basics, consisting of only the highest quality cotton, wool, and mohair. Some of their signature silhouettes take suits and dresses and decorate them head to toe with feathers. TMosca prides itself on exciting pieces and upgraded attire.
Fashion house Valery Kovalska founded in 2010, produces explicitly “unique design prints, pleats, a commitment to playing with tuxedo architecture, sophisticated techniques and handicraft,” (Valerykovalska.com.) The brand dedicates itself to sustainability and anti-fur practices as part of the Fur Free Retailer community. In their past ready-to-wear collection, the brand explores the idea of “Neo-Couture,” a digital reinterpretation of the classic Haute Couture, offering consumers a more immersive experience.
Supporting Sidary’s mission and buying from Angelforfashion.com means encouraging creativity in Ukrainian designers. The brands above are only six of the thousands of creatives in Ukraine experiencing financial and emotional hardship. A purchase from Angelforfashion.com only solidifies an international support system through a common field of passion; fashion.
コメント