Ukrainian Designer Jean Gritsfeldt On His Powerful fall 2022 Show At Berlin Fashion Week

Kyiv-based mostly designer Jean Gritsfeldt was planning his slide 2022 collection for Berlin Fashion Week when the Russian invasion of Ukraine started. Listed here, he explains why he went ahead with his exhibit just three months afterwards, with a wholly distinct collection. 

I applied to reside in the center of Kyiv, but when the war began I left my flat to remain at my mother’s condominium [on the outskirts of the city]. Of training course, we had ideas about no matter whether we really should depart Ukraine or at the very least shift from the city, but I just felt that we essential to keep we required to be below. I’m seeking to do the most I can, personally, to support neighbors and to volunteer in the spot. However, it feels like it is not sufficient. We’re all hoping and praying that things will change in the in close proximity to future—we’re genuinely hoping.

I assumed about cancelling my fashion clearly show at Berlin Fashion Week, but I felt this electrical power within me—I really do not know in which from but I designed the decision to go on to do what I do. I was conversing a lot with my crew and I’m grateful to them simply because they gave me this self esteem that we wanted to do it. It was crucial for the reason that for the duration of fashion month you saw plenty of fashion manufacturers entirely disregarding what is going on in Ukraine. Fashion has a power, and by means of our local community it should really chat about quite significant things.

Ahead of all the things transpired, we ended up getting ready a entirely distinct selection. [After the invasion began], we ended up producing decisions incredibly promptly. We experienced one particular day to do the sketches, to finish the temper boards. My colleague who aided me was sitting down in a bomb shelter the lights would switch on and off. Now pondering about it I do not even know how we made it transpire.

I was pondering that we required quite fundamental garments to place these [slogans] on the products in Ukrainian and English, this kind of as “love”, “independence”, “freedom”—things we’re now wearing as a protection. We made a decision to consist of a product [painted in red] this is symbolic of us shelling out for peace with our blood, due to the fact the title on the T-shirt was “peace”. I got this idea that we desired a flag gown to end, but it was so prolonged we resolved to have the types carry it instead and have this religious minute as a result of the finale.