UKRAINIAN FASHION WEEK A/W 2025/2026

KARAVAY, SIDLETSKY, DARJA DONEZZ, SANTA, KATERINA RUTMAN, L’SHIYAN, CHUPRINA, MINT, VIKTORANISIMOV, UPSLOWUSE, NOVITSKA and C.ICON.

‘Hope for the Future’ Transcended Borders and Cultures as it Took Inspiration from Near and Far. Demure Neutrals Blended Effortlessly with Flamboyant Faux Fur and Feathers, All Existing in Perfect Harmony on the Catwalk.

Image Credit Ukrainian Fashion Week and Ukrainian Fashion Week on Instagram

The resilience of Ukrainian fashion designers was resounding in their fashion week offerings, the shows aptly entitled ‘Hope for the Future.’

(Incidentally, Ukrainian Fashion Week was the very first Eastern European platform of its kind, established in 1997. It has since gone from strength to strength (apart from its interruption over the past few years due to conflict) – in its heyday having showcased over 100 designers and 12 000 visitors per season.)

For A/W 2025/6 the physical shows have been presented alongside a virtual experience, as well as presentations. The ongoing focus was on sustainability, innovation and resilience.

We spotted various trends on the runways, some in line with the global 2025/6 A/W fads, others specific to this fashion week.

Colour wise black – unsurprisingly for winter offerings – was a colour trend that had prominence, but so was winter white, camel and sky blue (all seasonal colours for 2025/6). Ukraine Fashion Week injected a feisty oxblood red as a pop colour into many collections.

Lace was a favourite fabric, building on the trend for lingerie looks to take prominence, and to reinforce the ‘inner power’ narrative.

Without a shadow of a doubt the garment of choice at these shows was the classic bomber jacket – in wool, satin, fur or cotton.

Finally faux fur (a global trend) worked well with feathers that we spotted in many Ukrainian designers’ collections, making the looks not only cosy, but also adding a touch of glamour.

Let’s kick off with the ultimate barometer for the actual shows: what’s seen on the sidewalks. And streetstyle was indeed stylish, practical, somewhat quirky – and always super elegant.

Sit back and enjoy our hand-picked selection of the best of the best.

STREETSTYLE

THE DESIGNERS

KARAVAI

Perhaps our favourite frock in all of the shows is Karavai’s fabulously demure, beyond endearing cream wool dress with its red embroidered bows! It is so must-haveable it’s not true!

There were other equally wonderful pieces: double-breasted mini jackets, preppy monochrome bomber-jacket co-ords, ruched taffeta skirt & blouses and exquisite little coats.

As ever, it’s the signature embroidery touches, the attention to every detail and the impeccable tailoring of this brand that make the ensembles so chic, unique – and covetable.

KATERINA RUTMAN

These are epic pieces, make no mistake. Think of your favourite road movie – Wild at Heart , Thelma and Louise, Paris Texas… and you get the gist of Katerina Rutman’s A/W collection.

In this story the protagonist travels to the mystical island of Madeira: green mountains, black sand, vibrant flowers and beautiful beaches, which were the inspiration for the palette of this demi-couture collection: “The emerald hues of lush slopes, the deep black velvet of volcanic landscapes, the delicate tones of floral diversity, and the transparency of ocean waves.”

Floral motifs from Madeira’s famous Flower Festival also feature in some of the pieces. There’s even a tribute to Madeira’s legendary wine-making tradition, as showcased in the burgundy-hued dresses.

If this isn’t reason enough to pack the bags and head for Madeira… with some of these stunning pieces in your luggage, of course.

MINT

Mint presented their “Rebirth: Denim & Silk Symphony” collection to huge aplomb.

Recycled, rugged denim in all its wonderful guises and shades rubbed shoulders with sleek and elegant sea green, chocolate brown, mocha, vintage blue and deep red silk.

Voluminous jackets, asymmetrical skirts, capes and drapes mixed effortlessly with the upcycled denim in their architectural silhouettes.

This collection bears evidence that recycled fashion is a force to be reckoned with, and that sustainability doesn’t mean compromising in style. In fact – the opposite is showcased in this offering: old and new can bolster and compliment no end.

VIKTORANISIMOV

Voluminous, asymmetrical, comfortable – and exceedingly elegant – is one way of describing this sportswear-inspired range by Viktoranisimov.

These garments are quirky, versatile, multi-functional and can evidently be very easily be dressed up or down.

The concepts of multi-purpose use and multi-layering also come into play, with the designer commenting on how garments take on a different life in our wardrobes as time goes on. For example, “in childhood, a jacket that was initially worn on special occasions eventually became a casual piece, and later, a sports garment.”

We adore the colour blocking in the sea green, olive and camel track jacket/dust coat.

SIDLETSKIY

These beautifully harmonious and utterly timeless pieces by Sidletskiy are a study in minimalist perfection.

Constructivism and deconstuctivism interplay to create garments that are in perfect balance. Take the mid-brown, mid-calf wool coat with its oversized Peter Pan collar and skinny belt: it oozes sophistication and elegance without having to shout “look at me!”

The trench coats are simplistic and beautifully tailored, the jackets constructed with architectural silhouettes in mind, and the traditional hand-crafted techniques (like weaving) add an additional element of sophistication.

“I aimed to create a collection that not only reflects modernity but also reminds us of the essence of things. Simplicity is not a rejection of form, but rather its reinterpretation,” says to designer Ihor Sidletskiy.

DARJA DONEZZ

According to designer Darja Donezz this collection “tells a story of what lies beneath the surface, of emotions that cannot be explained in words but can be embodied in clothing. . This collection opens the door to the future, intertwining the past with the present, and creating looks filled with meaning and intuitive symbolism.”

A overwhelmingly feminine – and bold – range with its gathers, peplums, body-hugging contours and transparent fabrics, it’s a play between the past, present and future, between vintage silhouettes and motifs and futuristic ones.

There’s also a marine theme that runs through the collection: sea shells and fish swim over the designs, or are placed in strategic positions.

The collection has a lightness about it, achieved by the use of tulle, netting, chiffon and sleek satin.

We adore the body-hugging 1980s-inspired stripy top dresses with their exaggerated hips. Just what every mermaid wants!

L’SHIYAN

It’s perhaps the raw tactility of L’Shiyan’s pieces that is most striking.

There’s a flower theme that runs through these hand-crafted ensembles, and the use of chiffon, silk ribbon embroidery, signature 3-D flowers and satin creates a soft and feminine look.

To juxtapose the softness of the pastels and neutrals, gritty black leather is introduced to great effect.

YADVIGA NETYKSHA

One of our favourite collections at the A/W shows has to be ‘Garden of Gethsemane’ by Yadviga Netyksha. Good and evil, angels and demons are on display here.

Wool and eco-fur were used to create silhouettes that are out with the norm, with drooping shoulders and irregular proportions.

Raincoats with decorative trims, suits in transparent fabrics and sleeveless coats all got the Yadviga Netyksha treatment.

Black and white were symbolic in this collection, with the flimsiness of some of the fabrics creating an angelic feel as opposed to the heavy military fabrics of some of the pieces.

UPSLOWUSE

Natural shades reinforced Upslowuse’s connection with nature and sustainability.

Throughout there’s an interplay between clear lines and architectural shapes, and soft fluidity. The mocha vintage fur suit with its very structured leather shoulders and soft furry body, sleeves, skirt and boots is a perfect example of this.

Comfort and vanity meet in most of the pieces, their knitted elements effortlessly combined with stiff leather and denim – gloves, skull caps and ripped tights. Silhouettes are shapely and sexy, while at the same time cosy and sporty.

The reclaimed leather, fur, denim, wool and cotton speak of regeneration and underscore a commitment to the future.

C.ICON

Another one of our favourite collections at the shows is this one by C.Icon. It takes the classic puffer jacket and makes it sing!

C.Icon takes the traditional sportswear bubble coat and makes it into pieces that are playful and avant-garde, and even formal.

Sky blue, soft yellow, pink and deepest oxblood red combine to form gritty, gutsy and very covetable ensembles. Quilted suits, elongated coats, shorts, A-line mini-skirts and even bustieres looked super wearable, and combined very well with their faux fur counterparts.

CHUPRINA

The combination of cream and winter white has seldom looked as elegant as in this collection by Chuprina.

Again, a play on good and evil, the designer shows milky white ensembles to end the show, the message being one of dreams, hope and new beginnings.

We adore the simplicity, fluidity and classic beauty of these preppy bomber jackets, knee-length shorts, micro mini knits and V-neck jumpers.

NOVITSKA

Sleek and simplistic has never looked this effective. Luxe, elegant and sensual could be one way of describing these glamorous 1980s-inspired looks that are the perfect interplay between less-is-more and more-is-more.

Bomber jackets in sleekest bison satin looked just perfect for just about any occasion. The capes, jumpsuits and micro shorts in wool, cashmere, chiffon, silk and satin oozed sensuality.

This range is glamorous, luxurious, chic and above all, sexy and ultra-feminine. We adore the low-cut cowl-neck cream dress – wow, wow and wow!

SANTA

Lace may well be the ultimate statement of feminine strength – and this collection by Santa inspired by the legendary photographer Helmut Newton, presented a masterclass in the properties of the iconic femme fatale of 1950s Film Noir.

This is a collection for bold, passionate, strong women who know that inner power is key. Lace is combined with leather to reinforce the dialogue between strength and softness, suggesting the ultimate femme fatale knows and fully exploits the duality of her femininity!

Fur, feather and velvet further develop the theme of this divine collection, that happily jumps between eras, always prioritising glamour.

GOODBYE FROM THE UKRAINIAN FASHION WEEK!

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