It takes a lot for jaded New Yorkers to look twice, but a few weeks ago, on a sunny—albeit chilly—afternoon, a pair of models set foot in downtown New York City and affected their landscape. By nature, the genetically blessed beget the second look, but this had to do with the sartorial—decked out in crimson and aubergine and graphic cutouts of black and white, the immaculate silhouettes were as crisp as a fall day—and every bit as forward thinking.
Our latest Opening Ceremony editorial, "The Innovators," seeks to capture that élan. Focused on four Ukranian designers—Yulia Yefimtchuk (who nabbed Opening Ceremony's Honor Award at the 2014 Hyères Festival), Bevza, Litkovskaya, and Masha Reva—Brianne Wills photographed the collections in an effort to highlight fashion's burgeoning, surprisingly sophisticated presence in the capital city of Kiev. The American-born photographer, who spent a few formative years in Ukraine, was particularly moved by the ubiquity of local fashion: "In almost every restaurant, there's a television, and playing on that television is some generic fashion channel. It's everywhere," she says, noting that in recent years, she's "seen more and more hip trendsetters walking the streets like they are in their own private fashion show."
It would be remiss not to acknowledge the current strife and turmoil in Ukraine, but the thoughtful spirit of both designer and her appreciator is nothing if not inspiring. Earlier this month, Kiev held three days of fashion shows sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, with the support of American influencers like Julie Gilhart and Sarah Mower. What's more, "Fashion for Peace" has become a slogan and a social media hashtag for many of these designers. "There's a sense of patriotism in Ukraine, especially in the country's youth," says Wills. "They are making political statements with their clothes."
View the editorial here ![]()
L-R: Yulia Yefimtchuk+
Our latest Opening Ceremony editorial, "The Innovators," seeks to capture that élan. Focused on four Ukranian designers—Yulia Yefimtchuk (who nabbed Opening Ceremony's Honor Award at the 2014 Hyères Festival), Bevza, Litkovskaya, and Masha Reva—Brianne Wills photographed the collections in an effort to highlight fashion's burgeoning, surprisingly sophisticated presence in the capital city of Kiev. The American-born photographer, who spent a few formative years in Ukraine, was particularly moved by the ubiquity of local fashion: "In almost every restaurant, there's a television, and playing on that television is some generic fashion channel. It's everywhere," she says, noting that in recent years, she's "seen more and more hip trendsetters walking the streets like they are in their own private fashion show."
It would be remiss not to acknowledge the current strife and turmoil in Ukraine, but the thoughtful spirit of both designer and her appreciator is nothing if not inspiring. Earlier this month, Kiev held three days of fashion shows sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, with the support of American influencers like Julie Gilhart and Sarah Mower. What's more, "Fashion for Peace" has become a slogan and a social media hashtag for many of these designers. "There's a sense of patriotism in Ukraine, especially in the country's youth," says Wills. "They are making political statements with their clothes."
View the editorial here
L-R: Yulia Yefimtchuk+