Ukraine Bound
I won’t lie, but I’m struggling to find any kind of inspiration in this current situation. Researching fashion is beginning to feel futile and pointless. But at the same time, I refuse to allow myself to fall into that trap, which I why I’m still trying to create outfits over on Instagram (which I will share on here too of course). We have to try and find some normality in the small things, no matter how silly that seems.
So with that in mind, I want to share the work of Ukrainian designer, Valery Kovalska. Valery gained her initial experience working as a stylist for various TV projects in Russia and Ukraine. She presented her first collection in March 2010 at the Ukrainian Fashion Week and a month later she was invited to participate in Russian Fashion Week.
From there, she was invited to take part in the Off-Schedule London Fashion Week, where she successfully presented in September 2010 her next SS collection, called ‘Professional Suicide’. A month later, Valery, already recognised as the most promising young designer in Ukraine, was closing the Mercedes-Benz Kyiv fashion days with the same collection.
In February 2013 she began focusing on her creating her own brand.
Valery combines old-world construction with a modern, sporty twist. All of her fabrics are from top French and Italian mills; handmade laces, jacquards, silk, and poplins, adorned with hand-worked beading, embroidery, and original prints.
In 2016, she made the conscious choice to discontinue the use of leather in the collection. Her handcrafted, intricate leather pieces were the most ordered and sought after pieces in her collections. She knew that this was a risky business move but decided that the fashion industry was in the midst of an evolution of ethical perceptions and innovative new fabrics.
The idea of sustainable development has found a place in every aspect of the label; accurate and thoughtful use of resources, minimizing waste, absence of production surplus, and the creation of high-quality designer clothing that is made to last through many years of vigorous wear.
Conscious consumption has always been a concept that has troubled and motivated Valery, and it has now become an integral part of the brand’s philosophy.
