20 Independent Brands Rallying To Support Ukraine

Fashion has been rallying together in support of Ukraine, with emerging talent platform 1Granary – founded by Ukrainian creative Olya Kuryshchuk – publishing an open letter in March calling for the industry to unite against the war taking place in the eastern European country.

Major brands like Balenciaga and its parent company Kering were among the first to make public statements calling for peace on their Instagram accounts, and to pledge “a significant donation” to the UNHCR, the United Nations Refugees Agency. LVMH also announced that it’s donating €5 million (about £4,150) to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), while Erdem said that it would donate all profits from its flagship store and website from the first weekend of March to the British Red Cross’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Burberry also said it is donating to the British Red Cross, as well as Save The Children and UNICEF. 

Meanwhile, Budapest-based brand Nanushka is partnering with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta to help provide accommodation, food, clothing and transport for Ukrainian refugees. Ganni pledged to donate 100,000 DKK (£11,200) to the Danish Refugee Council, which is working on the ground in Ukraine.

Smaller brands from the fashion, art, and interiors worlds are doing their part to support, too, with a series of charity raffles and auctions taking place online. Below, see 20 independent labels that have been supporting the on-going humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries.

Sleeper 

Ukrainian brand Sleeper is donating proceeds from all its website sales during the month of April to Ohmatdyt, the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine. The Kyiv-based hospital is providing urgent medical care to children from all regions of Ukraine.

Bay Garnett and Friends 

Stylist Bay Garnett is holding a designer and vintage sale in Notting Hill on 23 April, to raise money for Oxfam’s Emergency Relief Fund. Among the famous names to have donated pieces are Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Stella McCartney.     

Clothes For Progress X Souvenir Official

Charity resale platform Clothes For Progress has partnered with Souvenir Official to launch a “Sunflowers For Ukraine” capsule collection featuring seven overprinted garments. All proceeds will go to Black Women for Black Lives and Bridges Over Borders to help BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalised people fleeing Ukraine.

Natasha Zinko

London-based Ukrainian designer Natasha Zinko has launched an Aid For Ukraine fundraiser to buy medicines for those currently on the ground in Ukraine, working directly with the Ukrainian Red Cross to do so.

Partnership Editions X Venetia Berry

Online art platform Partnership Editions is selling a collection of hand-painted plates by artist Venetia Berry in order to raise money for Ukraine. Twenty per cent of all sales will go to Choose Love’s Ukraine fundraiser.

Elleme

Paris-based brand Elleme has set aside all its blue and yellow products on its online store – with 100 per cent of the proceeds from these sales going towards UNICEF’s Ukraine appeal.

Alighieri

Cult jewellery brand Alighieri donated 20 per cent of all sales from its signature Lion Club collection in March to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, organised by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), a coalition of 15 leading UK aid charities.  

Pictures For Purpose

First set up in 2020 to raise money via photography, Pictures For Purpose’s latest print sale raised funds for World Central Kitchen, which is providing meals for those who have had to flee Ukraine, as well as those still in the country. The sale included works by Ukrainian photographers Daria Svertilova, Julie Poly and Synchrodogs, as well as the likes of Inez & Vinoodh and Jamie Hawkesworth.

Cressida Jamieson

London-based designer Cressida Jamieson created a T-shirt embroidered with a Choose Love heart in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, raising more than £14,000 for the charity’s Ukraine Crisis Fundraiser. The fund goes towards projects that are providing vital aid and services to those still in Ukraine, as well as those fleeing the country.

Tat London

Online antiques shop Tat London held a Raffle For Ukraine, with 100 per cent of proceeds going towards the DEC’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and the 24.02 Fund, which is supporting journalists in Ukraine with essential equipment, including bulletproof vests and helmets.

By Rotation

Rental app By Rotation held a garage sale at its pop-up store in Marylebone on 19 March, with all proceeds going to Nova Ukraine, a non-profit that’s providing humanitarian aid in the eastern European country.

Chylak

Warsaw-based bag label Chylak donated all of its profits from the last weekend of February – nearly €10,000 (£8,300) — to charities supporting Ukrainian refugees in Poland, including the Polish Center For International Aid, Polish Humanitarian Action, Rescue Foundation and UNICEF.

Aeydē

Berlin footwear label Aeydē pledged to donate 30 per cent of its net proceeds from the last weekend of February to Aktion Deutschland Hilft, a network of more than 20 organisations providing humanitarian aid to people in Ukraine and refugees in neighbouring countries.

Collina Strada

New York designer Collina Strada pledged to donate all its sales for a week from 26 February to United Help Ukraine, a charity helping to provide humanitarian aid and medical supplies on the ground in Ukraine.

Les Fleurs Studio

Madrid-based upcycling brand Les Fleurs Studio, founded by stylist and influencer Maria Bernad, donated all its profits for a week to Razom For Ukraine, a non-profit that is providing critical medical supplies for those in Ukraine.

Cawley Studio

Cawley Studio raffled its Ella vest to raise money for Ukraine in March, with the UK-based brand raising more than £4,500 for British Red Cross.

By Alice

Interiors expert Alice Wawrik, the founder of By Alice, organised an online auction featuring pieces from around 20 independent British homeware brands – including the likes of Matilda Goad, Vaisselle and Straw – in order to raise money for Choose Love’s Ukraine appeal.

Heliot Emil

Danish menswear label Heliot Emil pledged to donate 100 per cent of its pre-order profits from its autumn/winter 2022 collection – shown during Paris Fashion Week – to UNICEF, in order to aid humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

Albie & Pearl

Vintage homeware site Albie & Pearl – which curates an array of interior gems, from candlesticks to ceramic vases – pledged to donate 15 per cent of sales for a week towards Choose Love’s Ukraine crisis appeal.

Fred Rigby Studio

London-based furniture designer Fred Rigby Studio donated 10 per cent of profits from its Raindrop collection – a series of elegant coffee tables and side tables in a range of finishes – for a month towards the British Red Cross’s Ukraine appeal.