Dress Like A Ukrainian: 10 Cool Brands Made In UA
Ukrainians have been showing the world for the third consecutive year how to effectively resist the full-scale onslaught of Russian barbarians. While NATO generals are curiously studying and learning from the experience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces using various drones, ordinary Europeans and Americans can try to adopt the habit of stylish dressing from Ukrainian civilians.
Doing this is very easy, because despite the war and constant shelling of infrastructure, Ukrainian designers and fashion houses continue to develop and produce original collections that can be easily ordered by mail directly from Ukraine.
ETNODIM
Every Ukrainian's wardrobe contains an embroidered shirt with ethnic motifs, which everyone wears en masse on May 16 - Ukrainian Vyshyvanka Day. However, many people wear vyshyvankas every day because they go well with jeans, dresses, and even business suits. The Kyiv-based brand Etnodim has been specializing in embroidered shirts for 15 years. One of its most famous avid supporters is President Volodymyr Zelensky.
KSENIASCHNAIDER
Thirteen years ago, Ukrainian Ksenia Schnaider created her first model of jeans from recycled denim. Since then, upcycling has become the brand's signature feature, and its international breakthrough came in 2016. The real hit back then was a model of pants that look like regular tapered jeans from the back and like a skirt or culottes from the front. These so-called demi-denims were even bought by Celine Dion and Bella Hadid.
BEVZA
Svitlana Bevza is the matriarch of the Ukrainian fashion industry. The designer founded her brand back in 2006. On the eve of Russia's full-scale invasion, she debuted with an author's collection at New York Fashion Week. The war, of course, has had an impact on BEVZA's clothing, which was known for its combination of minimalism and luxury, as well as the realization of the concept of "white energy" in the "white dress" concept. Now, the designer pays more attention to exploring Ukrainian cultural heritage, reinterpreting ethnic symbols in a modern context.
HVOYA
The Kyiv-based brand Hvoya sources premium leather and suede from Italy, then handcrafts elegant women's footwear: boots, shoes, and sandals. The brand cultivates sophistication, minimalism, and femininity with its original models. So, if you love heels and the fashionable flair of the 80s and 90s, you'll definitely like the Ukrainian take on timeless classics.
O(FOURFOUR)
Once at the beginning of the 20th century, Japan, despite its modest size, defeated two out of three Russian fleets - the Baltic and the Pacific. Now Ukraine, which actually has no military ships of its own, systematically and with the help of aquatic drones targets the third Russian fleet - the Black Sea. It's simple - Ukrainians want to defend their right to swim freely in the Black and Azov Seas, access to which Russia is trying to block. For this purpose, Ukrainians have not only marine drones but also their own brand of eco-friendly swimwear O(FourFour), which uses ECONYL - regenerated material from oceanic plastic waste.
CIRCUL
Once a Ukrainian aviation engineer, Oleksandr Melnychenko, founded a footwear brand that emphasizes ergonomics, drafting precision, and meticulously planned orthopedics for each pair of shoes. For over 10 years, Circul has been synonymous with quality and always on-trend footwear that is comfortable to wear straight out of the box.
BROQ
Handcrafted jewelry made from silver and gold by Kyiv-based designer Anna Kharabukha doesn't resemble traditional jewelry. The Broq brand, as the owner says, is not so much about shiny brilliance as it is about scratches given by history. Unusual jewelry shapes are influenced by Ukrainian life itself, which has been marked by constant uncertainty, military catastrophes, and tumultuous shifts in mass consciousness since Russian dictator Vladimir Putin decided to revive the monstrous Soviet empire of evil. For example, each ring from Broq is like a small exoskeleton that helps navigate the chaos of the world and stay resilient.
FROLOV
The eponymous brand of Ukrainian designer Ivan Frolov is famous for its corsetry, hand embroidery, and couture-to-wear designs. It will appeal to anyone who appreciates BDSM aesthetics or identifies with the LGBT community. Provocative yet always elegant clothing allows the wearer to transmit boundless sexual energy, favored by numerous global stars such as Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, Kylie Minogue, Khloe Kardashian, and Gwen Stefani.
OCHIS
Who would have thought, but it turns out that coffee grounds are perfect for making... frames for sunglasses. The Ochis brand team came up with the idea of collecting coffee grounds from Kyiv coffee shops, then mixing it with natural oils, drying, pressing, and polishing to obtain a material with unique qualities. Durable, waterproof, with a specific pleasant matte texture unlike any other material you've touched. And of course, the main thing - Ochis frames will retain a light aroma of Ukrainian coffee for many months after purchase.
RUSLAN BAGINSKIY
Nearly 10 years ago, Ruslan Baginskiy started creating his first headwear inspired by railway uniforms he saw during a trip to Paris. Now, this Ukrainian milliner is essentially the country's chief hat-maker, crafting various berets, bowlers, panamas, baseball caps, fedoras, and his main acclaimed signature - glamorous baker boy caps. Baginskiy draws inspiration from traditional and avant-garde art, archival photographs, but always ensures the utility of his products, which is why his hats are loved by fashion stars like Madonna, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Miley Cyrus.