An important event took place on 1 March – Fashion for Freedom – where posters of our students were displayed in the centre of Milan, demonstrating the power of art and design as a tool of resistance in times of war.
The posters, which became part of the international Fashion for Freedom project, were created by Olena Soroka, Yana Shtets, Yuliia Shtets and Kateryna Lakusta, students of the Department of Visual Design and Art (VDA) at the Institute of Architecture and Design, Lviv Polytechnic. Their task was to convey through fashion and illustration what can make you feel happy even during a war.
We interviewed Yuliia and Yana Shtets to find out more details, and also spoke to Kateryna Lakusta and Olena Soroka, who shared their experience of participating in the event.
– How did you manage to take part in the Fashion for Freedom project in Milan?
Yuliia: I have been participating in such projects and workshops for several years in a row, including last year in Italy. So, perhaps, my reputation has already worked for me, and I was invited to the project. But I think my interest in fashion and fashion illustration in general played bigger role. For me, it is not only art, but also a powerful tool for conveying important social ideas and values. That’s why I believe that both my vision and style attracted the attention of the organisers of Fashion for Freedom.
Yana: – My participation in Fashion for Freedom became possible thanks to the organisers of Vitaworld, Vitaukr and Fashion Globus Ukraine, who have been involving students in joint projects for many years, as well as to the faculty of the VDM Department, in particular Roksoliana Kvasnytsia and Oksana Melnyk, who become creative mentors and inspire us to participate in international projects. For example, this autumn, my posters were presented at the World with Women exhibition, the main theme of which was to show art as a means of combating violence.
– Was there a selection process for this project?
Yulia: Yes, the selection of works was quite thorough. The teachers and organisers of the project looked at the concepts, visual language and the idea that each poster conveyed. The goal was to choose works that combine fashion and social messages.
– Please tell us more about your posters and the ideas behind them.
Yulia: – My posters addressed the theme of freedom by combining traditional Ukrainian motifs with contemporary art. They are inspired by the Ukrainian Carpathians, a place that for me is a source of strength, harmony and human connection with nature. Through the symbolism of mountains, colours and graphic elements, I tried to convey the idea of nature as an eternal inspiration and vital energy.
Yana: – My posters are made in the style of naïve art. I wanted to show purity and simplicity as important trends in modern life. In fact, Ukrainians who have faced the war today dream of very simple things: a calm blue sky, a peaceful sleep at home and small daily joys. Through simple shapes and bright colours, I wanted to demonstrate the hope of Ukrainians for recovery, the strength of Ukrainian culture and the indomitable spirit. Naïve art often ignores academic canons, compositions and perspectives and focuses on emotionality, symbolism and deep meaning. That is why simple shapes, bright colours, etc. dominate in my posters.
