Fashion 4 Ukraine 2025
Olga proudly rocked a custom red corset dress by Mary Witch Corsets: Designer Maria Dusheiko
Photographer: Marty Gottlieb
By Olga Ivanidi
Amidst the glitz and glamour of New York Fashion Week, the Fashion 4 Ukraine (F4U) show announced itself as a platform supporting Ukrainian designers and models while helping those affected by the war. F4U was launched in September 2024 as a sold-out show with over 200 guests and invitees, including press and influencers.
On February 15th, the "Love and the City", F4U second show, brought together eight talented designers at 55 Broadway, near Wall Street, to celebrate Valentine's Day and express love for Ukraine, New York, and each other. The event was a true collaboration, featuring Ukrainian and American makeup artists, hair stylists, media professionals, volunteers, and models- some traveling as far as Texas.
One designer even joined from Switzerland. In these challenging times, Fashion 4 Ukraine's mission of unity shone brightly.
“It’s all about creating a fashion experience rather than just a runway show,” says Olga Ivanidi, F4U Founder and Executive Producer. At the recent show, during Valentine’s Day weekend, the guests were welcomed into a venue adorned with hundreds of live roses, setting a romantic ambiance. They enjoyed top-notch Ukrainian champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries while exploring curated pop-up shops featuring sensual designs from Ukrainian designers and artists, all to the soothing sounds of a jazz band during the cocktail hour prior to runway show.
Fashion 4 Ukraine
Also returning for the second season in a row was the stunning Anhelina Smith, Miss Ukraine World 2024, adding even more glamour and star power to the event.
A standout moment came with Anastasiia Chernova, Miss Ukraine Universe 2012, who now calls Dallas home. As a special celebrity model, she dazzled the crowd while strutting for renowned designers like Anna Yudaeva, Olya Mak, and Goya Concept.
The Show is dedicated to making a meaningful impact
With net proceeds from ticket sales going to the Bird of Light Foundation. This incredible initiative supports children whose lives have been devastated by the war in Ukraine. Additionally, the funds raised will also benefit New Horizons Hub, an organization offering vital IT training for military personnel returning from the frontlines, while aiding their mental health recovery. By attending Fashion 4 Ukraine, guests were not only treated to a fashion spectacle, but also helped create a brighter future for those who need it most.
Ivanidi has ambitious plans for Fashion 4 Ukraine. "In addition to strengthening the network between our media team, models, and beauty professionals, we’re also creating an invaluable platform for dialogue between retailers, buyers, and our designers. This is especially crucial for those designers who are restarting their careers in the U.S. after fleeing the war. We want to help them open doors and make their mark in the fashion world."
Her vision extends to empowering Ukrainian designers by facilitating and sponsoring their travel to New York City, giving them the opportunity to showcase their collections on the global stage, which might happen as soon as the third season.
"I truly believe F4U represents the perfect blend of my educational and professional background in business and journalism," says Ivanidi. "Creating dynamic promo videos and conducting interviews with our designers has been an absolute joy. It's all about telling a story and giving a face to every design!"
In the spirit of supporting designers in her show, Olga proudly rocked a custom red corset dress by Mary Witch Corsets designer Maria Dusheiko, turning heads at the event!
Ivanidi extends a warm invitation to Ukrainian, American, and European designers eager to share their stories. Connect with her on Instagram @openyournola or through the F4U page @fashion4ukraine to be part of the exciting third season in September 2025 during NYFW.
Team work certainly made F4U dream work, and Ivanidi wanted to thank team members who helped create the show: Executive Producer of season 2 Peyton North, Media Director Olha Kovalchuk, Communications Director Anna Karahodova, and also Veronica Cooper and Olga Zalizovska. Special thanks to sponsors: Ukrainian restaurant Veselka (Jason Birchard), Flowers Central Jersey, GEOMETRIA Media Company, Livein Magazine, JRF Studio, Ukrainian.US, the IBFA (International Beauty & Fashion Association), Salvini Flow Florist, Natalis Art Cakes, and Vivasan USA; as well as participants - jazz quartet of Markiian Krysa, DJ SteezGeek Productions, Los Angeles-based singer and actress Riley Lai Nelet, Street Frame NYC.
Fashion 4 Ukraine
Fashion 4 Ukraine
Fashion 4 Ukraine’s pop-up shops brought a dynamic fusion of artistry and culture
Fashion 4 Ukraine
Highlights included Harna’s hand-embroidered hats with Ukrainian poetry by Oksana Sydorchak, LONZA’s Kyiv-to-New York footwear, and Sarasvaty Lingerie’s bold lingerie and stage designs. Vivasan introduced natural cosmetics, while returning designers Ira Lysa and KATERYNA showcased standout collections. Bilka’s hand-painted T-shirts and hoodies by Khristina Vasilevska added an artistic touch. A true celebration of fashion, innovation, and Ukrainian resilience!
"For me, F4U is about building a community that goes beyond borders, cultures, and countries," says Ivanidi. "Ukrainian fashion isn't just for Ukrainians—it's for the world to enjoy. That’s why we partnered with American-born artist and designer Peyton North on the production side, worked with an incredible mix of American and European talent behind the scenes, and even had a designer from Switzerland join us. It’s all about sharing our story globally."
Help the most vulnerable during war with fundraising efforts
Fashion 4 Ukraine 2024
The mission of Fashion 4 Ukraine is to introduce Americans to Ukraine's rich culture and its freedom-loving people, showcasing the nation beyond the narrative of war, military struggles, and hardship.
By Olga Ivanidi
Photography courtesy of Torry Sledge
FASHION 4 UKRAINE PREMIERS DESIGNERS AND MODELS FOR FASHION WEEK SHOW DEBUT AT TRIBECA’S MRIYA GALLERY
BENEFITING CHILDREN IMPACTED BY WAR IN UKRAINE
Fashion 4 Ukraine
Among the multitude of events during New York Fashion Week, there is a new semi-annual fashion show to watch out for - Fashion 4 Ukraine (F4U). On September 14th, 2024 Ukrainian-born and American beauty and fashion industry professionals came together for the first time in Mriya Gallery, the first Ukrainian gallery in NYC located in trendy TriBeCa neighborhood, to celebrate Ukrainian fashion and help the most vulnerable during war with fundraising efforts. The idea behind Fashion 4 Ukraine is for Americans to know more about Ukraine, its culture and its freedom-loving people, but not only through the lens of war, military struggles and hardship. The team at F4U wants to show that Ukrainians still appreciate and have the ability to create LOVE and BEAUTY. The first event started a movement that will host fashion shows during each New York Fashion Week - a Ukrainian Fashion Week. The next show is scheduled for Saturday, February 15th, 2025 in a NYC Financial District location.
Fashion 4 Ukraine founder and executive producer, Olga Ivanidi, is a model with more than 10 years of experience, who’s graced major runways all over the country, from NYC to L.A. In February 2024 when she took part in fashion shows during NYFW she noticed the lack of representation of Ukrainian designers. She decided to put her modeling experience, business education and Ukrainian heritage to work and produced the Fashion 4 Ukraine fashion show in order to give a platform to Ukrainian-born designers. She also wanted the event to be the cultural bridge between the United States and Ukraine, and invited a couple of American designers in the show, as well as American-born hair and makeup professionals.
Although Olga has been in the States for almost 15 years, she still has strong ties with her homeland. Her mother currently resides in the South of Ukraine, in the city of Kherson, which has been under Russian occupation. Keeping in touch with her mother, Olga was able to observe the atrocities happening in her home city during the past couple of years. There, since 2022, Russian soldiers have systematically kidnapped and tortured many innocent people, destroyed buildings and infrastructure, and spread terror. She felt powerless and wanted to somehow help her homeland on a bigger scale.
With Fashion 4 Ukraine she got a chance to do so by donating hundred percent of ticket sales to an organization the Bird of Light Foundation (BOL), a 501(c)(3) that has been deeply involved in providing humanitarian assistance in Ukraine since the start of the war. The charity is focusing now on addressing the urgent needs of Ukrainian children who have been forcibly kidnapped by Russia. According to Ukrainian sources, 19,546 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by Russian forces to date, with only 446 successfully returned. When they return, the children often require temporary housing, medical care, educational support, clothing, food, and other essential humanitarian needs. The event raised about $7 thousand to address such needs. It was sold out and strongly supported by the local Ukrainian American community. And it’s just a start. Olga and BOL co-founder, Zhanna Galeyeva, have partnered up for the next season and F4U will continue supporting BOL initiatives.
Besides being charitable in nature, Fashion 4 Ukraine is first and foremost a representation of up and coming, as well as established Ukrainian brands and designers. Olga Ivanidi was fortunate to not only produce the show, but also walk as a model for two brands: Anna Yudaeva and Olya Mak. It was a hard choice for her, as all the brands represented were worth the praise.