Ukraine has been under Russian attack for more than three weeks. Many designers, stylists, and writers who have opted to stay in Ukraine have spent their evenings in bomb shelters or beneath parking lots. Regardless of the situation, the creative community has banded together to exchange knowledge and donate to causes, whether they are in Ukraine or not.
Some people have chosen to remain in Ukraine and help in any way they can. Svitlana Bevza, who recently debuted her autumn collection at New York Fashion Week, has chosen to remain in Kyiv and has begun posting donation links on her Instagram. (We were on FaceTime at the time, and she hung up due to an explosion.) She and Julie Pelipas, the stylist and founder of the label Bettter, who fled to Greece, have mobilized to urge fashion stores to boycott Russian goods.
Anna October, a designer, has taken refuge in a forest while attempting to evacuate her staff and their families. Masha Reva, an artist, and Nadiia Shapoval, a ceramicist, are both currently in western Ukraine, exchanging information with their communities.
Some people living near the Ukrainian border are attempting to assist individuals attempting to pass into another country. Luka Vynnychok, a consultant and creator of the Tender & Dangerous glove company who was born in Ukraine but now lives in Poland, is delivering supplies to several locations in Krakow, including medical supplies and food. “We went to the refugee office since we had leased an Airbnb for our family, but they didn’t come because the line at the border was too long,” Vynnychok explains.
“We wanted to offer it to someone who could use it.” Tanya Ruban, a Ukrainian model who has been living in Barcelona with her two children for several months, is arranging supply drives at her children’s school, which will be sent to the Ukrainian and Polish border for children and moms who have come across. “I’ll start with one school,” she says, “and perhaps others will follow.”
Anyone can share resources, fundraise, or deliver an optimistic message thanks to the power of social media. As a plume of black smoke rose from a field close to his house, LVMH Prize–nominated designer Anton Belinsky gave a message of peace with an image of his hands in a peace sign. Olya Kuryshchuk, the Ukrainian founder of 1Granary (an organization that promotes emerging talent) in London, has been posting messages from Ukrainians all over the world and directing the fashion community to charities, pro-bono legal services, and awareness posts for those attempting to flee Ukraine.
She just sent out a letter to the fashion industry titled “Fashion Unites Against War,” in which she asks the industry to use its platforms to raise awareness.
Others have raised money for certain charity using their platform. Yelena Yemchuk, who was born in Ukraine, has established an art sale in New York to raise money for a variety of causes. (Buyers can choose which charity they want their money to go to.) Natalie Fedner of Los Angeles, a refugee from Kyiv who arrived in America more than 30 years ago, is raising money for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.
Anastasiia Gutnyk, a stylist, and Sonia Kvasha of Baby Productions, a former Vogue Ukraine editor, have been trying to communicate beneficial information among their friends, family, and wider groups in Paris. Gutnyk, who was born in Lviv and has lived in Paris for the past three years, has been working nonstop for five days to support her motherland. “I’m always on the phone,” she explains. “I’m heading to the demonstrations.”
Everyone is putting forth every effort to reach out to others. I know where all of my Ukrainian pals are. I’m aware of the locations of all the bombs. All of this is familiar to me. We tell everyone everything we know and our information if someone needs to get from one city to another.”
To donate: Doctors Without Borders
Kvasha, who grew up in Kyiv, says she and her friends and coworkers have been helping one another and their loved ones back home on a micro and macro scale. Kvasha is now participating in about 80 group conversations addressing a variety of issues. “Someone needs a hundred euros, someone needs a car, and someone wants to launch an art initiative,” she explains.
She is currently collaborating with Pelipas to identify companies who supply deadstock clothing to Ukrainian migrants. “You don’t think about what you put on when you have a rocket in your flat.” It’s still freezing outside.
“People are departing in their current attire, and other people do not have anything to change into,” she says. “The strain caused my friend’s 70-year-old parents to forget everything.” Finally, she emphasizes the importance of every detail, no matter how minor. “Really, it’s whatever you’re capable of.” “It’s all about baby steps,” she explains. “There is no such thing as you.” “This is a team effort.”
To donate: IRFC
