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? The creative director of the VIKELE STUDIO bag brand — Victoria Klymenko — talks about the search for a balance between “living” and “creating.”

On the eve of 02/24/2022, we received a pre-ordered leather from Italy; even in the face of the possible full-scale invasion, we didn’t want to stop our working pace. When the time came, and everything seemed to come to a standstill, our customers showed their support for VIKELE STUDIO by placing orders. They wrote to us saying: “We have left. I want to support Ukrainian brands in the future, and my go-to choice for accessories is always you!”

Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, it has become clear that every person and every business now has an even greater responsibility to society: we, Ukrainians, must defend and preserve our national identity.

These values underpin the VIKELE STUDIO team, which is why we relentlessly support charitable initiatives to help our defenders, their families, and civilians affected by the consequences of war.

We initially sent a share of the profits to the Come Back Alive Foundation. Now, our charitable initiatives have become more targeted and have increased significantly, such as the partnership with the charitable initiative “Staleva Vroda,” which supports the wives and mothers of Azovstal defenders. We are collecting funds for special equipment to transport our wounded from the battlefield.

At the same time, we take care of the team, create comfortable working conditions, and continue making bags, which, according to customers, have very good energy and a feeling of love!

The VIKELE STUDIO brand is expanding its presence in Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and the USA. To ensure the shipment of large orders, we have partnered with a factory in Italy.

From the beginning of the brand’s creation, I have relied on the idea that whatever you do, do it as best as possible because this is what you will leave behind you on Earth. The team shares these values ​​and continues to work and develop VIKELE STUDIO as a beautiful and socially responsible business!