The vyshyvanka, Ukraine’s traditional embroidered shirt, is not just something for Ukrainian wardrobes anymore: it’s a fashion item.
Clothes with designs inspired by traditional Ukrainian patterns are now appearing in collections from top designers and brands like Valentino and H&M. The list of celebrities who have been spotted in vyshyvankas includes U.S. burlesque dancer Dita von Teese, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Australian actress Nicole Kidman, U.S. singer Taylor Swift, U.S. actress Halle Berry, and singer/songwriter and fashion designer Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of British singer Ozzy Osbourne.
And vyshyvankas are not just for the rich and famous, of course, so the Kyiv Post has checked out the best places in Kyiv where anyone can buy their dream vyshyvanka.
Ethnohata
Online shop Ethnohata (Ethnic House) offers a wide range of vyshyvankas with both traditional and modern embroidery patterns for Hr 190-3,000 ($8-120) at etnoxata.com.ua. Customers can choose shirts made from a range of materials, such as satin, batiste, viscose, flax and homespun cloth. Apart from vyshyvankas, Ethnohata sells women’s, men’s and children’s embroidered clothes and accessories (skirts, trousers, and even embroidered socks).
Delivery of an order worth over Hr 800 ($32) is free in Ukraine. Orders can also be picked up from Ethnohata’s office at 1 Elyzaveta Chavdar St., near Osokorky metro station on the left bank of Kyiv. Delivery to other countries, apart from Russia, is also available.
Ethnodim
Kyiv store Ethnodim offers trendy hand-made vyshyvankas for Hr 820-3,400 ($33-136). The store stocks a large selection of traditional vyshyvankas, along with modern blouses and shirts decorated with traditional embroidered patterns. Apart from clothes, Ethnodim has a full range of traditionally decorated accessories, such as embroidered towels, wallets, and cloth belts that women from central Ukraine used to wear on top of vyshyvankas in centuries past.
Some vyshyvankas can be bought online at etnodim.com.ua, but the store at 58/28 Verhkny Val St. in Kyiv’s historic Podil district offers even more choices. Orders can be delivered by courier or by mail. Deliveries abroad cost an additional $10.
Otaman Atelier
Otaman Atelier at 21a Mykhailivska St. has a great variety of exclusive vyshyvanka. Otaman refers to the leaders of the Cossack medieval state, Zaporizhian Sich, or hetmans.
The atelier, founded in 2012 by Ivan Slobodyanyk, offers only custom-made vyshyvankas and traditional clothes for Hr 1,200-6,000 ($48-240) and more. Customers can choose the material.
Vita Kin
Ukrainian designer Vita Kin gain worldwide popularity due to her original colorful vyhyvankas, inspired by traditional Ukrainian embroidery. Kin’s modern vyshyvankas catch the eye with their bright colors and large ornaments. Her list of star clients includes British singer Florence Welch, the vocalist of the band Florence & The Machine, and the editor-at-large of Vogue Japan, Anna Dello Russo.
Kin’s Vyshyvankas can be found in stores in the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Monaco, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, Australia as well as in some countries of Asia and Africa. The vyshyvankas can be ordered online at www.net-a-porter.com and www.matchesfashion.com. Prices start from Hr 25,000 ($1,000).
Foberini
Foberini, a Ukrainian brand of traditional clothing, offers stylish and bright vyshyvankas along with embroidered dresses. The brand combines traditional folk elements with contemporary design. Prices range from Hr 3,300 ($132) for an embroidered top, to Hr 15,000 ($600) for a dress. The shirts also go perfectly with jeans and sneakers.
Foberini’s shop is located at 30 Anny Akhmatovoi St., near Poznyaky metro station. Shirts and dresses can also be ordered online at foberini.com, and orders can be delivered by courier or by a delivery service. For more details, call +38098-723-9393.
Julia Magdych
Lviv-born designer Yuliya Magdych makes vyshyvankas using a range of embroidery techniques that she learned from her grandmother. She combines traditional embroidery patterns, each of which has a symbolic meaning, with loose-fitting blouses in bright colors. She usually decorates her clothes with flowers and songbirds.
Prices vary from Hr 8,000 ($320) to Hr 60,000 ($2,400). An online exhibition and shop can be found at yuliyamagdych.com. Delivery of orders is free within Ukraine.
Andryyvky Uzviz
Authentic vyshyvankas are also on sale on Andryyvsky Uzviz (Andrew’s Descent) in the historic Podil district of Kyiv. There, tourists can find a range of dressmakers offering vyshyvankas with both machine-made and handmade embroidery. Prices start from around Hr 700 ($28), but vyshyvankas with rarer embroidery patterns start at Hr 1,500 ($60). n
