United by a common goal, the designers become a powerful force, which is continuing to grow. This fall-winter 2024/2025 season the Ukrainian Women’s Fashion Industry Alliance (UWFIA) has expanded its participants to support more female creatives.
The Alliance now consists of eight Ukrainian brands: CHERESHNIVSKA, DELEGAN, EVOLVE, GRIE, MONETRE, NADYA DZYAK, SAYYA, and TAMAR KEBURIA, showcasing their new FW24/25 collections at the VETEMAZE showroom during Paris Fashion Week.
The project’s main goal is to support women in the fashion industry, regardless of their location, age, or focus. Special attention is given to women’s entrepreneurship, leadership, and promoting the works and ideas of designers.
On March 1st, the Alliance hosted a press cocktail in Paris where guests explored the new brands’ collections. The team of Haute Couture News had the pleasure of discovering the latest looks and exchanging with the designers about their vision and future.
The designers emphasize the importance of working in their home country despite the harsh conditions. A photo installation was created for the event, depicting the story of each brand, and showcasing the teams, production, and creative journey.
The initiative also reminds us that everything great starts small. This time, their symbol of unity is a tiny ceramic fragment pendant, a reminder that small efforts, when combined, can have a significant impact and change the world around us.
Quoting the official UWFIA manifesto: “The fearlessness and initiative of Ukrainian women propel us forward; the sense of unity enables us to overcome any boundaries. We want to be the voice of entrepreneurs, leaders, creative women – everyone working for the future of Ukraine and inspiring others to new victories.”
Photo credits: @UWFIA
What does it mean to be a fashion designer in Ukraine today?
“To be a Ukrainian designer today means hiding from bombs in shelters at night and, despite everything, going to work in the morning to create the most beautiful dresses in the world,” says designer Nadya Dzyak.
“Being a designer in Ukraine now is not just about creating beauty. It’s about fighting for the preservation of our culture, and identity; it’s about the unbreakable spirit of our people in every stitch. During the war, design is not just aesthetics; it becomes a means of expressing support, solidarity, and love for our country,” comments designer Alisa Grishaeva.
“Being a designer in Ukraine means resilience and the ability to constantly adapt, emotionally supporting the team, and never giving up. Our goal is to remind the world about the war in Ukraine and introduce the global community to Ukrainian culture,” notes Anastasia Rozava, designer of the brand CHERESHNIVSKA.
“Today, being a Ukrainian designer is about making the world more beautiful, despite everything. It’s our way of contributing to a more harmonious world,” says Tamriko Keburia.
“Being a Ukrainian brand now means having powerful energy that inspires us to create better and better. It nurtures the core within me, the team, and the brand,” shares Luba Makarenko, designer of the brand SAYYA.
“Being a designer in Ukraine today means embracing the dream and challenging oneself simultaneously. It’s reviving Ukrainian art to share these treasures and inspiration with the world. Despite all the difficulties, sincerely believe that Ukraine is ready to become a new fashion center for manufacturers and modern brands,” says Oksana Delegan.
«Fashion is not just accessories or clothing; it’s our voice, our identity. In peacetime, it vividly reflects the culture and beauty of our Ukraine, while in wartime, it becomes a symbol of resistance and hope. Evolve’s team in Ukraine is not just a collective; they are my family, my strength, and my heart. By supporting them, I not only support our business but also express my love and support for this land, its people, and the struggle for freedom!» – Olena Kovalchuk, brand Evolve
“Being a designer in Ukraine today means continuing to be inspired and inspired, even when it seems impossible,” concludes Olena Batyreva, designer of the brand Monetre.
Read our previous article here: When the Alliance of Women Appear in Fashion