In the FW25-26 season, Ukrainian Fashion Week will embrace the inspiring theme of “Hope for the Future,” continuing its mission to discover new talent and support the growth of the creative industry in Ukraine. 

A key event for this season will be the launch of NewGen Lab, an innovative platform designed for experimentation and the development of new talent in the fashion industry. This initiative will take place at the Mystetsky Arsenal from February 14 to February 16, 2025.

NewGen Lab will become a platform for young designers aspiring to showcase their work on the main Fashion Week runway. Additionally, it will act as a forum for the leading industry experts to share their knowledge and experiences with the next generation of fashion talents.

To register for NewGen Lab events, please follow the links below:

Q&A Sessions with White Rabbit agency: Join a series of interactive discussions led by top fashion industry experts. Guest speakers will share practical tips on marketing, styling, public relations, and entering international markets.

Lecture and Public Talk: “Insights into International PR”: Gain expert insights from Cindy Kerberova, editor of Vogue Czechoslovakia, and Sean Ragoneau, stylist for the show “Emily in Paris.” They will discuss working within the international PR industry.

Educational Program of the “Adaptive Clothing” Initiative: This project, organized by Ukrainian Fashion Week, aims to facilitate the integration of adaptive clothing into the collections of fashion brands.

Attendance at the NewGen Lab space requires prior registration and is free of charge. Guests at the NewGen Lab platform can support the UFW FW25-26 charitable initiative “Faces of Heroes” by using QR codes or through the direct link: Join the fundraiser.

ADORE PROFESSIONAL, a Ukrainian brand of professional nail cosmetics founded in Kyiv in 2015, is partnering with the innovative platform for young designers, NewGen Lab. ADORE PROFESSIONAL specializes in products for creative nail designs and is dedicated to advancing global nail art. The modeling agency Moon Light, described as “a creative space aimed at revealing everyone’s potential,” is also a partner of NewGen Lab. The models on the NewGen Lab catwalk will showcase hairstyles created by students from BLADE RUNNER, the largest hairdressing academy in Eastern Europe.

Students from the Kyiv Academy of Media Arts’ two-year Design program created visuals for the NewGen Lab space, focusing on the key theme of the season: “Hope for the Future.” The standout design, selected for the main visual of the NewGen Lab, was created by student Olha Polikarpova. She explains, “The rays of light in different colors symbolize various aspects of faith, while the central silhouette represents struggle and renewal. A person holds onto a ray that not only supports them but also guides them forward. Hope is a force that never fades, even when everything around seems hopeless.” Other student participants in the competition will have their works featured in an exhibition at the Mystetskyi Arsenal.

The following students worked on the KAMA x NewGen Lab collaboration: Varvara Arsenii, Sofia Borovich, Sofia Kyrylenko, Vita Kostyuk, Khrystyna Lobzun, Arina Lyashenko, Anastasia Nyanko, Olga Polikarpova, Olga Polishchuk and Kateryna Shvindt. 

Curator: Serhiy Tomchuk.