Through our Blue Mind Journal we aim to share incredible work and knowledge with our community. The hope is that by championing people who are creating things to better our planet, whether it be through sustainability, science or socially, we are able to make a difference. With the current war on Ukraine we wanted to share some of the incredible talent from this beautiful country. There are many designers working to create sustainable solutions in the fashion industry, bringing biomaterials to the forefront of product and furniture design, and those bringing their country’s rich craft to the world.

.

FAINA

FAINA by Yakusha is rooted in rich Ukrainian cultural heritage. Each piece is handcrafted in collaboration with local artisans. The brand has a sustainable approach with a traditional twist. A variety of materials are used but they are mainly clay, wood, willow vine or ztista – a sustainable blend developed by FAINA. One of their most popular designs is the SONIAH lamp, named after the word for sunflower in Ukrainian. Each lamp is shaped by hand from the ztista material – a blend of cellulose, clay, flax fiber, wood chips, biopolymer cover. Which decomposes in the soil within 9 months.

Instagram: @fainadesign

yakusha.design

.

KSENIASCHNAIDER

Kyiv-based husband and wife duo Ksenia and Anton Schnaider created the brand KSENIASCHNAIDER, with a focus on sustainability. Their clothes are all made in Ukraine and are mainly reworked, upcycled and patchwork denim pieces. They even had a collaboration with Ukrainian hemp textile production DevoHome, where they produced hemp fur denim jackets and vests.

Instagram: @kseniaschnaider

kseniaschnaider.com

.

GORN Ceramics

GORN is a ceramics workshop that specialises in creating unique objects. They are heavily  inspired by the ability of nature and how time changes objects. That is why they allow the material to “reveal itself at all stages of production” . Temples is a series of hand-made ceramic sculptures which document the uniqueness of creators. Reflecting humans’ place on the planet, and how they are a part of the ecosystem. The forms take inspiration from plants and flowers, while also having an association to the human body. 

Instagram: @gornceramics

gornceramics.com

.

Chereshnivska

Chereshnivska is known for its denim and white shirts. But the brand elevates basics with interesting cuts and prints. The company aims to be as sustainable as possible, with plans to have half of its production made using recycled materials by 2024. This year’s zero waste fall collection uses old stock Soviet fabrics from the 1970s-1980s. But its main feature is the use of genuine military parachute silk. While the other parts of the parachutes like bands and ribbons are used for belts and details. Each garment is also finished and dyed by hand, thus reducing damaging emissions and allowing each piece to be unique.

On their instagram the brand has shared the below information:

“Unfortunately, we have no other option but to shut down our only workshop in Lviv, Ukraine.

We still got limited stock in UK, which can be purchased from the website.

By the end of next week we hope to get the samples from New York and Paris show rooms back and put them up on the website as well.

All sale proceeds will be used to supply food and essentials to our employees in Lviv.”

Instagram: @chereshnivska

chereshnivska.com

References/Credits:

FAINA

KSENIASCHNAIDER

GORN Ceramics

Chereshnivska