You're reading: Souvenirs to remember Ukraine

Shopping for souvenirs can be exhausting and expensive, especially for those who don’t know much about Ukraine. The Kyiv Post picks several solid souvenir ideas to satisfy anyone’s taste and budget.

Vyshyvanka

Several years ago, buying a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt vyshyvanka was just getting a souvenir. Today, buying a vyshyvanka means making a fashion investment.

In the past three years, the boho-chic vyshyvankas made it to the highest levels of the fashion world, being worn by actresses and supermodels. While the main promoter of the vyshyvankas was Ukrainian designer Vita Kin, who sells her embroidered dresses for $1,800-$2,000, there are also cheaper options like a Ukrainian brand My Sleeping Gypsy ($600-$750) and plain yet beautiful vyshyvankas for both men and women sold everywhere around Kyiv. And even those not into fashion will enjoy owning a vyshyvanka: It conveniently matches everything.

Where to find:

Vita Kin: www.vitakin.net, $1,800-$2,000 for a long embroidered vyshyvanka dress.

My Sleeping Gypsy: www.mysleepinggypsy.com, 60 Olesya Honchara St., 11 a. m. — 5 p. m. $290–390 for a shirt, $590–790 for a long dress

Etnodim: www.etnodim.com.ua, 58/28 Verkhniy Val St., 11 a. m. — 7 p. m., Hr 1,500–4,600 for a dress, Hr 1,280–6,200 for a shirt

Souvenir market at Andriyivskiy Uzviz Street. Simple machine-embroidered vyshyvankas go for Hr 350–750.

Vsi Svoi Store: 27 Khreshchatyk St., 10 a. m. — 10 p. m., Hr 1,500 and more for a shirt.

Ceramics

Ceramic lovers have two main options for souvenirs: traditional ceramics and quirky modern one.
For traditional ceramics, one can go to Metrograd underground shopping alley and walk into one of its many traditional souvenir shops. There, among the embroidered linen clothing and spiky wooden batons, known as bulawas, will sit the ornamented plates and bowls (from Hr 50). Ukrainian traditional ceramic ornaments are floral, with some presence of geometric elements, and quite vivid in color.

For unusual modern ceramics, go to a small shop called Myakot. It sells a bit of women’s clothing, jewelry and ceramics. Here, one can find a very spiky mug (Hr 330), a pink skull-shaped cup (Hr 350), and decorated plates (Hr 320–750).

Where to find:

Souvenir shops in Metrograd underground shopping center between Bessarabska Square and Lva Tolstoho Square, open 10 a. m. — 9 p. m.

Myakot store (53/80 Saksahanskoho St.), open 1 p. m. — 8 p. m., www.facebook.com/myakot6.

Chocolates

A box of fancy chocolates is never a disappointing souvenir. Especially when good chocolate is as cheap as it is in Ukraine. The chocolate bars sold in grocery stores are pretty average, but there are cafes and chocolate shops where one can find quality chocolates and intricate flavors.

The best known one is Lviv Handmade Chocolate — a chain of cafes-shops that can drive a chocolate junkie crazy. It sells chocolate figurines (Hr 40–250), chocolate bars (Hr 55), huge 700-gram chocolate bars (Hr 300 and above) and various candy (about Hr 15 per one) that can be sold in custom-made sets.

Where to find:

Lviv Handmade Chocolate cafes at 2B Andriyivsky Uzviz St., 38 Khreshchatyk St. (inside TsUM department store),10 a. m. — 10 p. m.

Postcards

There are many places selling beautiful postcards in Kyiv. We suggest getting some of those produced by Dobra Lystivka (The Kind Card), an initiative that prints the cards drawn mostly by Ukrainian artists and donates all the proceeds to the charities helping children. One card goes for just Hr 15.

Where to find:

In bookshops and souvenir stores around the city center: Moya Knyzhkova Polytsya (7 Pushkinska St., 9 a. m. — 9 p. m.), Ye Bookstore (46 Khreshchatyk St. and other locations), UAMade Store (Globus underground mall, Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square).

Motanka doll

Motanka is a handmade fabric doll with no face that has had a deep symbolic meaning in the Ukrainian culture. It is one of the most ancient elements of a Ukrainian household. A motanka is both a toy and a lucky charm that brings health and prosperity to the owner and his household. For this reason, it is made without the use of any sharp tools, like scissors or needles.

The motanka doll (knotted doll) is one of the traditional handmade Ukraine's household talismans. (torange.biz)

The motanka doll (knotted doll) is one of the traditional handmade Ukraine’s household talismans. (torange.biz)

Today, a motanka is still a lucky charm and a great choice for a souvenir. They are sold in many souvenir stores, and each one of the dolls is different from the others. The most intricate dolls have hair, while others just do with a traditional babushka headscarf.

Where to find:

Souvenir market at Andriyivsky Uzviz Street. The market is open every day until dark. The prices start at Hr 25 for the smallest dolls. An average-sized doll goes for Hr 120.

Clothing, leather

Ukraine is a perfect destination to upgrade one’s wardrobe without hitting a wallet. Quality shoes, bags, traditional Ukrainian clothing and T-shirts with Ukraine’s symbols that already has conquered catwalks and red carpets around the globe are in abundance here. To invest in made-in-Ukraine labels, don’t miss the Vsi Svoi store located on Kyiv’s central Khreshchatyk

Street — just across from the Eurovision fan zone. Apart from the clothing and accessories, look for a traditional beaded necklace (Hr 600).

Where to find:

Vsi Svoi Store. 27 Khreshchatyk St. 10 a. m. — 10 p. m. Prices: T-shirts start at Hr 300 ($11), leather wallets start at Hr 400 ($15). n