Resilience and Restraint at Ukraine Fashion Week

Fashion has always been a mirror of the times, but in Ukraine, it has become something even more: a weapon of resilience, a quiet act of defiance, and a manifesto of hope. Ukrainian Fashion Week A/W 25, held in Kyiv from 14 to 17 February, was a testament to the country’s unwavering spirit in the face of war. More than 40 Ukrainian designers presented collections that balanced innovation with a deeper sense of responsibility. Restraint was not just a creative choice but a necessity—yet within those limitations, Ukrainian fashion found new ways to express its unbreakable will.

This season’s theme, 'Hope for the Future', underscored the determination to create, live, and dream in an independent Ukraine. Founder and CEO of Ukrainian Fashion Week, Iryna Danylevska, puts it best: ‘Fashion is an integral part of national culture that shapes our common vision of the future, and the Ukrainian fashion community has joined the voices of the nation fighting for its freedom and identity.’ For Ukraine’s creatives, fashion is a statement of survival, a testament to defiance, and a vision of a future that refuses to be silenced. Here are the key shows that embodied that spirit.

FROLOV

Already a favourite among today’s pop stars—counting Beyoncé and Dua Lipa among his fans—it’s no surprise that music would be Ivan Frolov’s ultimate muse this season. Looking to Ukraine’s rock divas of the ’90s and early ’00s, à la MTV Unplugged, he blurred the line between performance and fashion. Emo and goth motifs were resurrected through gleaming Swarovski-studded belts, corsets, and elongated Gothic silhouettes. More than just aesthetic nostalgia, Frolov transformed these references into a source of strength, tapping into personal and cultural memory to reimagine creative armour. The show pulsed with the energy of a generation that refuses to be erased—each look a tribute to the past, yet defiantly charging towards the future.

KSENIASCHNAIDER

Looking to the pixelated world of our encroaching digital reality, Ksenia Schnaider reimagines the boundaries of silhouette. Jeans, jackets, t-shirts, and caps are restructured into rigid, blocky forms, reminiscent of avatars in Roblox or early computer graphics, where low-poly and pixelated shapes were dictated by technical limitations. Here, that constraint is transformed into an artistic statement, extracting the essence of digital fashion and making it physical. With humour, artistry, and an uncompromising will to create, Schnaider demonstrates that even within the tightest constraints, there is space for play, creativity, and hope.

Andreas Moskin

While Andreas Moskin looked to the sartorial codes that defined Ukraine’s cultural elite in the 1920s, the A/W 25 collection was anything but traditional. Adaptive designs reimagine classic tailoring for men with prosthetic limps, highlighting the brand’s commitment to inclusivity. Removable jacket sleeves and hidden zippers allow for easy adjustments, ensuring comfort and functionality without compromising style. This innovative approach not only addresses the practical needs of those with prosthetic limbs but also challenges the conventional boundaries of fashion, blending utility with high-end design.

TG Botanical

Designer Tetyana Chumak has been a favourite of ours for her innovative approach to materiality. With sustainability and innovation at the forefront, this season TG Botanical drew inspiration from moonlit walks along the Costa Brava coast. This serenity is reflected in the brand’s exploration of texture, with pieces resembling waves on the shore and the richness of underwater life. Flowing fabrics, evocative of seaweed in high tide, and the collection’s dark, moody hues—achieved using eco-friendly dyes—convey the mystery of the sea at night, barely illuminated by moonlight.

SIDELSTKIY

Designer Ihor Sidletskiy focused on restraint, harmony, and balance this season in a collection that defied the never-ending trend cycle. Minimalist silhouettes explore the delicate interplay between construction and deconstruction, with each piece finding balance between architectural structure and natural fluidity, sharp lines juxtaposed against soft textures—reflecting the designer's belief that simplicity is not a rejection of form but a reinterpretation of it. Through handcrafted techniques, traditional weaving, and the use of high-quality natural materials, Sidletskiy remains committed to authenticity, craftsmanship, and simplicity.