Ukrainian Fashion Week Features War Veterans With Prosthetics

Ukrainian Fashion Week has returned with a poignant twist: war veterans, both men and women, showcasing their strength and resilience on the runway with prosthetic limbs. This marks the first Fashion Week in Kyiv since the onset of the full-scale war in February 2022. The event, highlighted on Tuesday, saw these veterans strut in designs by prominent Ukrainian designers Andreas Moskin and Andriy Bilous.

Unbreakable spirit of Ukranian fashion 

As the models paraded through the venue, their presence served as a powerful statement of endurance and adaptation. Bilous, reflecting on the show, emphasized the message of unbreakable spirit: “We wanted to show that Ukrainian fashion is evolving to include those with amputations. Even without limbs, they can remain stylish and deserve to be loved and respected as integral members of society.”

The event’s significance was underscored by grim news from Poltava, where a Russian missile strike claimed dozens of lives at a military facility and a nearby hospital. Despite the surrounding conflict, the Kyiv show aimed to spotlight the resilience of both the fashion industry and the nation.  

Inside the venue, models passed through a dressing room adorned with portraits of service members who contribute to the fashion world and a central display of military uniforms. Notably, designer Maria Starchak's black jacket featured an embroidered tribute to the Mariupol drama theater, which was used as an air raid shelter and targeted in a deadly 2022 attack.

Iryna Danylevska, co-founder and CEO of Ukrainian Fashion Week, highlighted the event's dual purpose: supporting the local fashion industry and amplifying the human cost of war. “We strive to keep Ukraine’s voice prominent on the global stage,” she stated.