GAPTUVALNYA Presents the Collection “Rusalka Dnistrova”

The brand GAPTUVALNYA unveils its new collection “Rusalka Dnistrova”, inspired by the eponymous almanac — the first printed publication in the Ukrainian language on the western Ukrainian lands under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Published in 1837, the almanac became a symbol of national awakening, a call for Ukrainian artists to declare their voices, their culture, and their right to nationhood.

The collection is a contemporary reimagining of this historic gesture. At its heart lies the book “Ukrainian Voices”, compiled by literary scholar Vira Aheieva at the brand’s invitation. This literary edition amplifies the collection’s message, affirming Ukrainian identity in new forms through the synergy of fashion and literature.

The book will not be available for sale; it will exist solely as an exclusive gift for guests of the presentation, which will be held as part of the official Ukrainian Fashion Week schedule. The event will unfold in the historic residence of the Tereshchenko family — patrons who once passionately supported Ukrainian publishing and artistic initiatives.

The collection features dresses crafted from silk, linen, and other natural fabrics, adorned with original embroidery depicting water lilies and stylized mermaids. The ornaments, designed exclusively for this line by the GAPTUVALNYA team, highlight the uniqueness of the collection, with some pieces created solely for the presentation and never to be reproduced.

At the core of the collection is the water lily — a delicate flower floating on the water’s surface yet rooted deeply and firmly in the earth below. In this image, Ukrainian resilience is embodied: beauty nourished from depth, and culture that continues to grow and blossom across centuries.