You're reading: Ukrainian clothes can be fashionable and cheaper

For those who don’t have their salaries fixed in dollars, the declining value of the Ukrainian hryvnia means having to make lifestyle changes. And that means making changes in shopping habits.

After checking out the updated price tags at Zara and other global retailers in Kyiv, I figured it was time to dip into the world of local brands to see if they could go easier on the wallet.

At one time, buying clothes and shoes from one of the few Ukrainian producers was mostly a patriotic gesture and a demonstration of unconventional fashion taste. But now that the number of producers has increased tremendously, made-in-Ukraine garments offer quality at a lower cost than popular Western brands.

Several months ago I got a taste of Ukrainian-made clothing when I’ve bought a cotton sweatshirt offered by a little-known local brand for just Hr 450. It had small Molotov cocktails embroidered on it – a unique pattern that can hardly be found in a mass-market brand.

The problem with the Ukrainian-made garments is that they are not found in a mall, like their richer competitors. Instead, local brands are sold online and through dozens of small stores in Kyiv.

First, stop at 482 Store (10 Yaroslaviv Val St.) for some quirky romantic dresses by Dushka brand (Hr 1,300-1,500). While you are at the 482, check out the woolen coats by various brands (Hr 2,500 and more). Don’t miss the coat-like long cardigans by Pivnik Studio (Hr 1,200).

For affordable business casual clothes for women and classy dresses, pay a visit to Must Have (14 Yuri Kotsiubynsky St., www.musthave.ua), a producer that became famous after its dress was worn by the first lady Maryna Poroshenko back in 2014.

To find some fashionable minimalist clothes go to Chrome concept store (9 Lavrska St., www.xpomshop.com). Here one finds funky and chic sweatshirts (Hr 500 – 1,500), as well as black and white dresses (Hr 700-1,900), and designer t-shirts (Hr 300-700).

And be sure to not forget about Okno Vo Dvor (A Window to the Yard, 2 Taras Shevchenko Blvd., office 77), a concept store with a vast choice of women’s clothing, bags, and accessories. To get a taste of prices, let’s say that a shirt dress here goes for just Hr 620. Make sure to buy or order a cotton pajama by Ukrainian homewear brand Balcony for a joke price of Hr 300.

While in Okno vo Dvor, check out the silver jewellery. A quaint pendant shaped as birds sitting on a twig, by Anna Yasynska, is Hr 290. Silver earrings by another aspiring jewellery designer Lena Yastreb go for Hr 215-355.

When out of Okno Vo Dvor, walk two blocks to Myakot (29/31 Velyka Vasylkivska St.), a multi-brand boutique shop of a similar concept. Myakot offers a great choice of jewelry with semi-precious stones, like pending earrings with chalcedony (Hr 450-800) and luxurious statement necklaces with druzy stones (Hr 2,450).

A small choice of men’s clothing can be found in the Underwood Store (31B Pushkinska St.). The store has a Vkontakte page with a full catalogue.

To complement the new clothes with a bag, go to The Wings (15A Mala Zhytomyrska St.) to order or buy a manly leather backpack (Hr 1,590) or a purse (Hr 890). They also offer, in my taste, the best leather wallets in Kyiv (Hr 350).

Those with a quirky taste will be happy to know that Kyiv has a cheaper alternative to Olympia Le-Tan book clutches. Doob.Vosk makes wooden clutch bags with popular book covers for Hr 1,300 – including titles like Paddington Bear tales, “Moby Dick” and even the Bible. Look for Doob.Vosk on Facebook.

Then walk to Podil to visit the showroom of Kachorovska (35A Borychiv Tik St.), a popular shoemaker that works only with Italian leather. The manufacture is in Zhytomyr, which helps keep the prices down.

Even with the higher post-crisis prices, their shoes are still cheaper than those in the malls.

Kachorovska makes a pair of chic high heels for spring for Hr 1,700-1,800, or summer sandals for Hr 1,300 – try finding leather shoes in mass stores for that price. Boots are up to Hr 3,500. The only flaw is the waiting time – due to the popularity of Kachorovska, the production of the ordered pair will take up to three months, so order in advance or buy one of their ready-to-wear pairs. Men shoes are also available for order.

For more shoes, check out Alyabyeva and Chameleon Studio. Both brands sell at 482 Store and on Facebook, and focus on loafers – for both men and women (Hr 1,200 and more). Desert boots are offered for Hr 1,500, a price that can hardly buy a pair of canva espadrilles in Zara.

Check the working hours of the mentioned stores on their Facebook pages.

Kyiv Post lifestyle editor Olga Rudenko can be reached at [email protected].