On the last day of London Fashion Week, the British Fashion Council together with Ukraine Fashion Week hosted a special runway show where designers Kseniaschnaider, Paskal and Frolov presented their Autumn Winter 2023 collections.
The three Ukrainian guest designers held a joint runway show in London as the 50th edition of the Ukrainian Fashion Week had to be canceled due to the ongoing Russian invasion.
At the start of the show, an audio message told viewers that the collections were designed and produced to the sound of air raid sirens and that they were “symbolic of the resilience and courage of Ukraine and its people.”
After the designers unveiled their FW23 collections, Ksenia Schnaider, Julie Paskal and Ivan Frolov walked the runway together wearing the Ukrainian flag with the United24 logo, the official fundraising platform launched by Ukrainian President Zelensky in support of Ukraine was called to life.
Kseniaschnaider
Founded in 2011 by husband and wife team Ksenia and Anton Schnaider, Kiev-based Kseniaschnaider kicked off the show with a collection made from sustainable materials and leftovers that celebrated “joy and positivity” despite the difficult circumstances under which it was made.
The reality of the ongoing war, marking the first anniversary this week of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was particularly evident through the use of leftover ties, an accessory no longer needed by Ukrainian men who now wear military uniforms .
“The pieces are intended to transport the wearer to a place of happiness and joy, if only for a moment,” explains Kseniaschnaider on social media.
Pascal
Paskal was founded in 2013 by Julia Paskal, who returned to the catwalk for the first time in three years with her ‘Out of Cocoon’ collection. Fluttering butterflies adorned voluminous tops, mini dresses and skirts.
“One look at the wings of a butterfly can change everything,” explains Paskal in the text accompanying the fashion show, because she uses the delicate insect as a metaphor for the beauty and fragility of life.
Frolov
Founded in 2015 by Ivan Frolov, couture-to-wear label Frolov presented its Song to Song collection last. She was inspired by Ukrainian folk songs and the human heart, the brand’s anatomical symbol.
The heart as a symbol of love ran through the entire collection, as seductive cut-outs on dresses, as Swarovski embellishments or as heart-shaped bags worn by the models.
“This runway show at London Fashion Week is our manifestation of will. This is the fulfillment of our strength and resilience. This is a reflection of the courage of all Ukrainians to make it despite everything. Despite working in the most unstable and difficult conditions, under the noise of warning sirens. Together with our teams we continue to work on the collections,” Frolov wrote on Instagram.
“We know that all this is in the interest of our common peaceful future. So that we can invite you all to our show in the liberated and free Ukraine next season. We will never destroy, but we will always create something,” it said further.
The presentations of the Ukrainian Fashion Week were made possible with the support of USAID’s Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine.
This article originally appeared on FashionUnited.uk. Translated and edited by Simone Preuss.