Chanel, Balenciaga, Gucci and other fashion world giants are publicly expressing their support to Ukraine. Many of them send money to charities that help Ukrainians. May Musk wears dresses by Ukrainian designers, and the first collections about Russia’s aggression against Ukraine have already appeared on world runways.
On March 1, Vogue Ukraine published an appeal to the beauty and luxury industry with a request to impose an embargo on exports of goods to Russia. The following brands were mentioned in the post: LVMH, Kering, Richemont, Prada Group, Swatch Group, Puig, Chanel, Hermès, Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara, Burberry, Valentino, Versace, Hugo Boss, Calzedonia and Shiseido.
1Granary founder Olya Kuryschuk is collecting signatures for a letter asking “the fashion business and its leaders to stand by Ukraine and strongly condemn Russia’s invasion.” And designer Svitlana Bevza shared her personal experience of life during martial law in Kyiv, her story was published in American Vogue.
Ukrainian designer Jean Gritzfeldt presented a collection of clothes at the Berlin Fashion Week of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. This time Berlin Fashion Week began with a minute of silence. On the clothes were inscriptions: “Ukraine”, “palyanytsia”, “song”, “love”, “respect”, “voice”, “beauty”, “will”. In the end, a large flag was carried to the podium, and the guests were shown footage of famous Ukrainians and celebrities around the world who support Ukraine.
“Fashion is not a reflection of the present, it always looks to the future for years to come. Today, my weapon as a designer is fashion tools. Today I am fighting for our freedom tomorrow, hoping for freedom for Ukraine and for all people on planet Earth. This is my strength and my mission. All people have the right to live freely and safely in their homes on their land, “said Jean Gritzfeldt.
Maye Musk wore one of the embroidered dresses by designer Yulia Magdych, who donates all the proceeds to the Ukrainian army, expressing her support for Ukraine.
Maye Musk also wore an embroidered blouse by the Edelvika brand. In Ukraine, Edelvika continues to manufacture fabrics for army needs.
Chanel has publicly expressed support for Ukraine. The company donated two million euros to help refugees. They also said they would work closely with their partners to provide future critical support to Ukrainian women and children. The company also collects financial support from employees.
Capri Holdings, the parent company of Versace has decided to make donations to support migrants and victims of what they call the “tragic crisis in Ukraine.” The donation will be transfered to the United Nations World Food Program, which is fighting hunger around the world and is currently launching a campaign in support of Ukrainians abroad that were affected by the war.
Georgian designer and creative director of Balenciaga Demna Gvasalia publicly supports Ukraine. He wrote a letter, which he published in the story. It reads:
“The war in Ukraine has caused the pain of the past trauma I have borne since 1993, when the same thing happened in my home country, and I became a refugee forever. Forever, because that’s what’s left in you. Fear, despair, the realization that no one needs you. But I also realized what is really important in life: life itself, human love and compassion. That’s why working on this show at that time was incredibly difficult for me. Because at this time fashion loses its relevance and its actual right to exist. Fashion Week looks absurd. For a moment, I thought about canceling the show. But then I realized that it would mean giving in, giving in to the evil that has hurt me for 30 years. I decided that I could no longer sacrifice a part of myself to this senseless, heartless ego war. This show needs no explanation. It is a devotion to fearlessness, resistance and the victory of love and peace. “
In the end, the show of the fashion house took place, and Ukraine was also mentioned there: yellow and blue T-shirts were spread out on the chairs for the guests, and two images in the colors of the Ukrainian flag were added to the collection.
The Tapestry Foundation has announced that it has donated $ 100,000 to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and is doubling and donating to humanitarian aid raised by their staff. Kate Spade New York, one of the brands from the same company, said it would send an additional $ 25,000 to the International Rescue Committee, which deals with IDPs from Ukraine.
Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy promises to donate the “first emergency donation” of 5,000,000 euros to the International Committee of the Red Cross and organizes an internal fundraising campaign for the organization.
Renzo Rosso’s the OTB Foundation, a non-profit branch of the fashion conglomerate of the same name owned by Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni, Viktor & Rolf, Jil Sander and Amiri, and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNDM) work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). to help displaced Ukrainians.
In the notes to the Paris Fashion Week show, Acne Studios wrote that their brand “in solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine”, suspended its activities in Russia and donated 100,000 euros to UNHCR and UNICEF, according to a picture published by the executive director of Women’s Wear Daily Booth Moore.
Following similar statements by the International Football Association (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) on Tuesday, Adidas said it had suspended its partnership with the Russian Football Union and closed all its stores in Russia.
“We watched the shocking events in Ukraine with horror and disbelief. We have come to the conclusion that it is inexpedient and wrong to continue trade in Russia, and today we suspended sales there”, Asos wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. “We support the provision of humanitarian aid and our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine.”
GANNI suspends all business with Russia in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the brand said in an Instagram post. The brand is also donating 100,000 Danish kroner to the Danish Refugee Council to support aid to war-displaced persons.
Following the temporary closure of its stores in Ukraine, H&M Group – the parent company of H&M, COS, Weekday, Monki, & Other Stories, Arket and Afound – suspended all sales in Russia on Wednesday. “H&M Group is deeply concerned about the tragic events in Ukraine and supports all people who are suffering,” the company said, adding that it had donated to Save the Children and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees through the H&M Foundation. “H&M Group cares for all colleagues and joins all those who call for peace.”
Inditex, the parent company of Zara has temporarily suspended operations in Russia, closing its 502 stores across the country, CNN reported, explaining in a statement that “under the current circumstances (the company) can not guarantee the continuity of its activities and commercial conditions in Russia.”
In a statement entitled “Our humanitarian and business response to the crisis in Ukraine” Levi Strauss & Co. writes: “Given the huge disruptions in the region that make normal business unviable, LS & Co. temporarily suspends commercial operations in Russia, including any new investments. The company is committed to supporting its employees, partners and their families affected by this decision in the coming months.”
On the Russian version of the website, Nike announced the suspension of online sales in the country because “it can not guarantee delivery of goods to customers.” The company later temporarily closed its own and managed stores in Russia, but continues to pay salaries to its employees, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Jewelry brand Pandora donated $ 1 million to the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, which helps children in Ukraine, on the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Scottish brand Great Scot has registered a new traditional Scottish ornament in solidarity with Ukraine. This ornament in blue and yellow colours was called “Ukraine Forever“.
In addition to the mentioned companies, the following companies have closed their stores, suspended their deliveries or suspended their cooperation: Hermès, Cartier, Crocs Inc., Farfetch, iHerb, Marks & Spencer, Swarovski, Puma, Victoria’s Secret, Uniqlo.
The Hungarian company Nanushka is cutting financial ties with Russia, said the brand’s CEO Peter Baldasti, promising that the brand will not sign new agreements with wholesale partners, will not fulfill any unfinished orders and will not make deliveries in the country. “We respect the Russian people and our partners. We know that this is not their decision, but it is impossible to do business with Russia despite our moral values,” he said. The company also commissioned a string quartet to perform the Ukrainian national anthem at the presentation of Paris Fashion Week, and the models wore makeup in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Mango wrote about the sadness and concern about the situation in Ukraine. They initiated mentoring for employees and their relatives from the company’s local teams who left the country. They provide legal and financial support. Financial support is also provided to those employees who remain in Ukraine. Mango has donated one hundred thousand euros to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
“Given the responsibility we have to our 800 employees in Russia, as well as our franchise and partners, we tried to protect our activities in the country until the last moment. However, Mango has finally decided to temporarily suspend its activities in Russia, closing its branded stores and online platform, as well as suspending the delivery of goods to the country.
However, Mango also supports and assists their Russian employees at the headquarters. The brand says that their franchises and key partners will continue to operate in Russia, and marketplaces will be able to distribute clothing if it is available in stock.
Unfortunately, there are still many brands in the global fashion industry that in their public statements about Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine call it a conflict or crisis, take a neutral position and leave some of their franchises in Russia.
There are also cases when companies that initially refused to leave the Russian market changed their minds due to public condemnation and hatred. This position became reputational and – over time, they announced the termination of cooperation with Russia. Soon Russians will be left to wear only Belarusian knitwear and “mittens from Russian grandmothers.”
