THE Ukrainian people have shown they are a nation of solidarity and resilience.
Their fashion designers are clearly no different.
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Three of them, Julie Paskal, Ksenia Schnaider and Ivan Frolov, came together for a show to close London Fashion Week yesterday, a year since Russia invaded their homeland.
Editors and influencers crammed on to benches to see these Kyiv-born shining lights present their autumn/winter 2023 collections, created while missiles flew.
The trio thanked the British Fashion Council for welcoming them to London but then told how they hoped to show their next season’s designs in a liberated Ukraine.
Each artist put on a stunning spectacle, with intricate, skilled and luxury designs to rival the most famous of brands, and each with their own powerful message.
Schnaider’s models took to the runway first, to an ominous soundtrack and wearing upcycled patch-work outfits imagined from repurposed denim, tracksuits and neck ties.
Ties were sewn together to create a skirt, making the point that men have now ditched their office wear to instead wear military fatigues.
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Julie Paskal, whose fans include singer Katy Perry and Hollywood actress Kerry Washington, sounded an optimistic note with her collection Out of Cocoon.
It featured floaty frocks and dresses appliqued with laser-cut butterflies and teamed with matching make-up and ballet shoes.
The butterflies symbolise Ukraine’s resilience after three years of living with the Covid pandemic then war.
Lastly, Ivan Frolov, who dressed Beyonce last month for her one-off gig at Dubai hotel Atlantis The Royal, and has also styled Rita Ora and Sam Smith, showed off his creations with a size-inclusive catwalk.
Defiantly in this time of war, his collection’s main theme was love.
Designs including a red dress with sparkly heart motifs, and white frock with cut-away heart patterns, echoed the heart-shaped corset Beyonce wore for her Dubai concert.
Finally, all three designers paraded shoulder-to-shoulder to a standing ovation, while holding a Ukrainian flag bearing the name of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s United 24 charity launched to raise support for his country.
The rousing finale was met with both cheers and tears, as to create such fashion amid bombings and blackouts is a testament to courage.
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Clemmie Fieldsend
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