Behind the Scenes

Getting ready for the upcoming Ukrainian Fashion Week SS25, which will take place in Kyiv from September 1 to 4, the UFW team reached out to the participating brands with a question: How is your brand coping with the full-scale invasion? In this article, designer Jacky Eromin, the founder of EROMIN, shares his reflections with the editors.

On the eve of the full-scale invasion, my team and I were in Kyiv, planning to move to a new office and expand production. We had many creative ideas, fresh sketches of the new collection, and a planned collaboration with the Italian designer Leonardo Valentini.

One of the most painful moments since the beginning of the full-scale war for EROMIN was the team scattered worldwide. Therefore, in the first months of 2022, we put the work on hold. I devoted myself to volunteering as it was the only right decision. I did not understand who would need designer hats, so I planned to close the brand altogether.

However, after a few months, motivation to resume work appeared due to the large number of people who wanted to buy EROMIN hats. There were difficulties with finding qualified employees, a need for finances, and a need for fabrics. Still, eventually, we restarted, gathered a new team, found suitable premises for production, and even opened a showroom in Kyiv.

The central part of the issues has been resolved at this point. Still, many tasks remain, such as expanding retail outlets abroad. As our brand grows, so does the responsibility for what we offer our customers and what we broadcast to the world. But the scale only inspires and helps not to stop.

Currently, EROMIN regularly participates in charity auctions and markets to collect funds for the military’s needs. We cooperate with the charity organization PORYAD UKRAINE and periodically provide the brand’s hats for charity raffles.

Thanks to this daily routine and specific actions, we have confidence in the future of Ukrainian fashion and, most importantly, the Ukrainian nation!