Who has become the discovery among Ukrainian designers and received the award

On March 14, the winner of the The Culture of Design 2.0 Award was announced at the Mystetskyi Arsenal during Ukrainian Fashion Week. The prize — a joint initiative by INTERTOP Ukraine and Ukrainian Fashion Week — is aimed at supporting a new generation of Ukrainian designers and discovering emerging names in the contemporary fashion industry.

Designer Nika Kuznetsova received the award, which includes a grant of 150,000 UAH and a commission to develop and produce a collection that will be presented in the INTERTOP retail network.

“I still cannot fully comprehend the scale of this opportunity — to create a collection that will be seen across the whole of Ukraine. At the same time, I am confident that people will feel the subtle connection between freedom and one’s true self within it,” comments the winner, Nika Kuznetsova.

Nika Kuznetsova the winner

This year, The Culture of Design platform generated significant interest among emerging designers: over 30 applications were submitted, from which the jury selected a shortlist of five projects.

The jury panel included Serhii Badritdinov, CEO of INTERTOP Ukraine; designer and creative director of POUSTOVIT Lilia Pustovit; Head of Communications at Ukrainian Fashion Week Yelyzaveta Ushcheka; and CMO of INTERTOP Ukraine Anton Bokyi.

“For INTERTOP, it is important not only to respond to trends but also to shape the future of Ukrainian fashion. Supporting young designers is part of our strategic mission, as it is new names that create the meanings defining the development of the industry. The Culture of Design project offers an opportunity to connect creative ideas with real business and scale them. Our team will provide the full cycle of collection development,” notes Serhii Badritdinov, CEO of INTERTOP Ukraine.

The prize will allow the designer to further develop her own brand and produce an authorial collection in the format of a full-scale collaboration with INTERTOP. The concept of the upcoming collection is titled “All Is Full of Knit.” It tells the story of garments entirely created from knitted material, where each thread continues the direction of the next.

Within the collection, lines flow into one another, forming a unified composition and symbolizing freedom of self-expression. The idea is based on a simple thought: we are all made of the threads of our experiences, emotions, and choices — and it is we who shape them, creating our own style.

“The Culture of Design project is a unique initiative that connects the creative energy of young designers with the opportunities of major retail. After debuting last year, the award has already become an example of effective synergy between business and the fashion industry. This season we continue the initiative, expanding opportunities for young talents in Ukraine,” comments Iryna Danylevska, co-founder and CEO of Ukrainian Fashion Week.

The release of the collaborative collection by Nika Kuznetsova and INTERTOP is expected in autumn 2026.

The event was attended by Ukrainian celebrities, fashion influencers, and representatives of leading Ukrainian media, including Dasha Astafieva, Mila Yeremieieva, Iryna Danylevska, Serhii Badritdinov, Iryna Tatarenko, Yana Sterltsova, Anton Bokyi, Iryna Adonina, Anton Yeremenko, Kateryna Popova, and many others.

ФОТО: Катя Гагосова, Павло Блудовський