On 21 May 2020 Ukraine celebrates Vyshyvanka Day

There are things in any culture, which vividly reflect special national traditions. In Ukraine, such a symbol is vyshyvanka, a shirt or dress decorated with vyshyvka (embroidery) that embodies a distinctive unique code of Ukrainian people with encrypted protective symbols and signs. Vyshyvanka Day is a non-official and relatively new national holiday. It is intended to promote unity and cultural reassertion of Ukrainian people. It is celebrated on the third Thursday of May. In 2020, Vyshyvanka Day falls on 21 May.

STORY BEHIND

Vyshyvanka Day was first celebrated in the city of Chernivtsi in 2006. It was initiated by Lesia Voroniuk, a student of Yuri Fedkovich Chernivtsi National University. She was supported by other students and teachers who put on vyshyvankas.

Vyshyvanka Day becomes more and more popular every year. People wear vyshyvankas not only in Ukraine but also abroad.

INTERESTING FACTS

The largest number of people (6,570) in vyshyvankas who gathered in one place was recorded on Independence Day 2011 in the city of Rivne.

Not only people but even monuments are dressed for Vyshyvanka Day. For instance, in 2016 four Kyiv founders on Maidan Nezalezhnosti tried on embroidered shirts. Once, even Manneken Pis in Brussels tried on a Ukrainian outfit.

UKRAINIAN EMBROIDERY ON THE RUNWAY

For the last decade, many world-famous designers have been inspired by Ukrainian traditional motifs. For instance, Dolce and Gabbana established a project to support family values, and a family from Ukraine in traditional embroidered clothes was chosen as its identity. Jean Paul Gaultier used Ukrainian embroidery in 2005 collection inspired by his visit to Ukraine after the Orange Revolution. Gucci used Ukrainian motifs in fall-winter 2008/09 collection created by Frida Giannini. Valentino prepared embroidered dresses, shirts, vests and caftans for that year’s spring-summer collection. Sportmax used wide and large ornaments reminiscent of Ukrainian black-and-white embroidery.

The designers opened a new perspective on Ukrainian vyshyvanka and made it an ethnic fashion trend. Today vyshyvanka is chosen not only for public events in Ukraine but also for throughout the world.

EXHIBITORS AT BABY EXPO AND CHILDREN’S FASHION FAIR WHO PRODUCE EMBROIDERED CLOTHES

PICCOLO L

DIBROVA

DENCHIK

MALVI

SVARGA