On September 8, at TSUM Kyiv, the first business conference “Industry Challenges in Today’s Realities” took place, organized by Ukrainian Fashion Week and white rabbit agency. The event became a platform for open dialogue between leaders of the Ukrainian fashion industry, aiming to find practical solutions and unite efforts in the conditions of full-scale war.

“We have all felt how valuable it is to be together right now. The conference became not only a space for important dialogue but also the beginning of searching for new solutions. Only together can we overcome challenges and shape the future of Ukrainian fashion,” shared Iryna Danylevska, co-founder and CEO of Ukrainian Fashion Week.

Across three thematic panels, participants discussed the most pressing challenges for the fashion industry in wartime. During the “Production” panel, moderated by Iryna Danylevska, Lilia Litkovska (LITKOVSKA, School of Art x Craft), Tetiana Abramova (RITO GROUP), and Yelyzaveta Polich (FROLOV) focused on staff shortages, customs barriers, and security issues, while sharing examples of solutions — from internal educational programs to mapping production capacities. In the “Communications” panel, moderated by Mariia Mokhova (white rabbit agency), Tetiana Parfilieva (Cher17), Anton Yeremenko (Gunia Project), and Kateryna Motrych (Motrich Studio) spoke about the importance of transparency, ethical responsibility, inclusivity in brand communications, and preparedness for crisis scenarios. The final “Marketing and Sales” panel, moderated by Varvara Zikran (white rabbit agency), brought together Kostiantyn Putilenko (TSUM Kyiv), Nataliia Kinzerska (Kachorovska), and Volodymyr “Budda” Rudkovskyi (“Unbreakable”), who discussed effective sales channels, pricing strategy, omnichannel approaches, and practices of working with veterans as part of a new ethics of Ukrainian retail.

“This conference was not about presentations but about a collective conversation. The speakers set the tone, but then the whole room joined in. It was a lively, profound, sometimes challenging discussion — exactly the kind we needed. We had been waiting for this for a long time,” noted Mariia Mokhova and Varvara Zikran, founders of white rabbit agency.

TSUM Kyiv — a key Ukrainian retailer — not only supported the event but also joined the frank conversation about the realities and transformation of fashion retail. The department store’s team provided the venue and helped organize the conference, while TSUM’s Marketing Director, Kostiantyn Putilenko, personally participated in the panel discussion.

Special thanks go to Aromateque, the event’s sponsor. Guests of the conference had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of sophisticated fragrances, test new niche perfumes, and receive gifts from the brand — a reminder of a day devoted to meaningful conversations and genuine knowledge exchange.

The conference’s networking partner was ROSES Bar, which presented craft ready-to-serve bottled cocktails.

Participants of the conference outlined the first practical guidelines and directions for further work and agreed to continue communication to implement joint projects and solutions.