For the second year in a row, the All-Ukrainian Contest for Young Fashion Designers Look into the Future hosted its professional Residency—an educational platform designed to bridge the gap between emerging designers and the fashion industry.

Over four intensive days, the Residency brought together leading figures of Ukrainian fashion and the contest finalists. Based at the COAT by Katya Silchenko studio, the program combined lectures, portfolio reviews, workshops, and behind-the-scenes visits to some of Ukraine’s leading fashion brands.

Under the mentorship of Katya Silchenko, participants refined their competition collections, presented their mood boards, and received feedback from some of the country’s most respected designers, including Lilia Poustovit, Nadya Dzyak, Mariia Havryliuk, and Volodymyr Podolyan.

The finalists also visited the flagship spaces and production facilities of LITKOVSKA, FROLOV, J’AMEMME, and GUZEMA, where they met with creative directors and gained first-hand insight into the inner workings of successful fashion businesses.

Day 1

The Residency opened with an introductory session led by Katya Silchenko and Iryna Danylevska, Co-Founder and CEO of Ukrainian Fashion Week, who welcomed the finalists and presented the program. The participants then visited LITKOVSKA’s Kyiv flagship store, where they met the brand’s team and explored its creative environment.

The educational program began with a lecture by Professor Liana Biliakovych on global fashion trends and forecasting. The day concluded with an in-depth review of the finalists’ mood boards led by Lilia Poustovit and Katya Silchenko, who provided individual feedback and practical recommendations for further developing each concept.

Day 2

The second day focused on the practical aspects of fashion communication. Roman Timofeev, journalist and creator of the Zhyrnym Shryftom (In Bold Text) project, spoke about fashion media, PR strategies, and building meaningful communication around a brand.

During an immersive photography workshop, participants explored contemporary approaches to fashion imagery and discovered how styling shapes the perception of a collection. The session brought together photographer Valentine Karminsky, stylists Yevheniia Semenenko and Illia Homeniuk, and models from Linea12.

Later, the finalists visited FROLOV, where founder Ivan Frolov and Brand Director Yelyzaveta Polych introduced them to the brand’s production facilities and showroom before concluding the visit with an informal gathering in the courtyard.

The day’s cultural programme concluded with a visit to Mystetskyi Arsenal and the exhibition Glimmering Connections. Ukrainian Painting at the Turn of the 1990s and Today.

Day 3

The third day began with a session dedicated to fashion illustration and collection development. Designers Nadiia Dzyak and Mariia Havryliuk discussed creative consistency, silhouette development, and methods for building a cohesive collection.

The participants then watched Spring–Summer, a documentary produced by SKVOT, followed by a discussion and Q&A with Iryna Danylevska.

The Residency also featured a business-focused educational module presented by the contest’s main partners, Visa and PrivatBank.

One of the key sessions was led by Olena Holovaschenko, Co-Founder of DIA Consulting, who shared practical insights into business planning and sales strategy. Yana Dormidontova, representing PrivatBank, provided guidance on financial management, including opening and operating business accounts for emerging fashion entrepreneurs.

Day 4

The final day opened with a lecture by designer Volodymyr Podolyan, founder of PDLN, who walked participants through every stage of developing a fashion collection—from the initial concept and production planning to cost calculation and building a commercially viable business.

The finalists then visited the new J’AMEMME space, where founder and Creative Director Julia Yarmoliuk spoke about scaling an independent fashion brand, building an effective team, expanding internationally, and working with global buyers.

The cultural programme continued at the Khanenko Museum, where curator Margarita Stafiichuk guided participants through Francisco Goya’s Los Disparates (The Follies) exhibition.

The Residency concluded with a visit to the GUZEMA boutique. Together with Art Director Antonina Latayko, participants explored the creative side of brand communication—from campaign production and content planning to maintaining a strong presence across social media and fashion media.

Main Partners of the Look into the Future 2026 Contest — Visa | PrivatBank

Supporting the next generation of designers—future industry leaders and key contributors to a sustainable economy—lies at the heart of this long-term partnership. For the second consecutive year, Visa and PrivatBank have joined the All-Ukrainian Contest for Young Fashion Designers Look into the Future, investing in emerging talent and helping young creatives build sustainable businesses. By connecting fashion with entrepreneurship, the partnership fosters long-term growth and resilience despite today’s challenges.

Partner of the Look into the Future 2026 Contest — AQUA Myrhorod

AQUA Myrhorod is a modern Ukrainian producer promoting a new culture of natural hydration. Combining local heritage with advanced technology and a contemporary approach to product development, the brand creates products that meet the needs of today’s consumers while celebrating the quality of Ukrainian natural resources.