On July 20, 2020, within the discussion club of the XIII International Summer School of Ukrainian Studies «Step to Ukraine», there was held an online meeting of school students and Anastasia Vasylyk, designer, founder of Chycheri brand, winner of the International Young Designers Contest within Milan Fashion Days, participant of fashion shows in Ukraine, Poland, Montenegro and Barcelona.
The conversation with the guest was moderated by Iryna Kliuchkovska, Director of the International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations (IECDR), initiator of the creation of the School of Ukrainian Studies «Step to Ukraine». She introduced Anastasia Vasylyk as a multifaceted personality who is successful in her profession: she is an Associate Professor of Translation Studies, PhD, author of many scientific articles and, at the same time, – a talented contemporary artist with an individual vision of Ukrainian motives.
Anastasia Vasylyk told us what the basis of her professional interest as a designer is: «I thank God for being born into a family where Ukrainian culture is not just a word written in a passport or a Kobzar on a shelf. In our family, Ukrainian spirit and culture is something sacred, something you can dedicate your life to and even die for it, as many of our ancestors were repressed for being Ukrainian. It so happened that the seeds were planted in childhood and at one point they sprouted. Then I realized that I want to create things that are not just in ethnic style, but would show real Ukrainian culture with a rich history, and not what was customary – Ukrainians in sharovary, wreaths, with lard and vodka.
She also told about her clothing collections, including interpretations of costumes from the Hetman era, ornaments of black embroidered Borschiv shirts, Hutsul and Bukovynian patterns, as well as collections with original floral ornaments in the Art Nouveau style. Students of the School became the first viewers of an exclusive video about the designer’s works, which was presented by Anastasia Vasylyk.
The meeting with the guest was very informative and interactive. The designer showed her technique, which she developed on the basis of work with wool, demonstrated her works from different collections, and told how she chooses colours for them. The conversation turned into an informal one, where students expressed words of admiration and asked questions. What will the Ukrainian clothes of the future look like? Why is Anastasia Vasylyk’s brand called Chycheri? What collection does the designer like the most? When will the show be in Brazil? – These are some of the questions which interested students, and to which the designer was happy to answer. After a five-minute break, students went to their virtual classrooms, where in groups with the teacher they discussed what they heard during the meeting with the designer.
