Mastermind #1 “War & Fashion: the heartbeat of Ukrainian fashion”: how it was
5 April 2024 17:05
PHOTO REPORT
Kommersant ukrainskyi 
successfully held its first mastermind.Despite a flurry of air raids, the guests and participants of the business discussion “War & Fashion: the heartbeat of Ukrainian fashion” managed to gather at the IQ business centre that evening.
The first to support the special project initiated by representatives and founders of well-known Ukrainian clothing brands:
kateryna Vozianova, founder of INDPOSHIV, Nadiya Dzyak, designer and founder of her own brand NADYA DZYAK, and Alina and Dmitry Serdyuk, founders of TM byMe.
The overarching theme was the discussion of new challenges for Ukrainian clothing manufacturers and designers under martial law.
How do you set up business processes so that they don’t stop completely in times of crisis and force majeure?
“In order not to burn out, you have to love what you do. There are enough difficulties. My colleagues and I even once thought of organising a flash mob on social media, such as #FACAP_IN_FASHION_INDUSTRY. In 15 years, I have had everything. For example, we have a children’s line. Once we received 500 children’s blouses of a different colour. In fact, it’s a small story – there are many different situations, but you get up and move on. It’s very important not to give up and hit the ground running, because you believe in your work, especially in the war.”
How to scale without losing quality and exclusivity?
“Since the beginning of the great war, we have not stopped working in Kyiv – our fashion house is located in the very centre. More than 50 people work in the production all the time. We managed to keep our jobs and we are proud of that. In the near future, we plan to reopen in Odesa and start working in Vienna. We have also organised a line of INDUSTRY/CASUAL, or in other words, ready-to-wear clothes of very high quality. Despite the difficulties for our industry, our company is holding up well.”
How do you work with a team in the face of military challenges?
“Last year, when the second year of the full-scale war was already underway, we wrote our strategy for three years, changed the structure of our company and added new roles. Now we know exactly where we are heading. I recommend that you start doing business even now, but do it well, so that others can look up to it: service, service – it should be WOW! Take it and do it, but in a structured way!”
– dmytro advises aspiring businessmen.
His business and marriage partner Alina adds:
“Just like before the war, now you also need to look at what your colleagues and the market are offering and how they are being offered. You need to find something special in your business that others don’t have. This is probably the first and most important step even during the war.”
What is a mastermind without photos and selfies?
Materials from the special project:
ByMe brand: “Ukraine needs a business that will change people’s minds”
Ukraine has survived the pandemic and adapted to the conditions of war. What’s next?
That’s right! Victory and building a new successful Ukraine.
Komersant Ukrainskyi continues to bring together entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized business leaders on one communication platform to talk about the present with an eye to the future .
The contribution of business to the victory is undeniable. It can withstand the challenges of today’s world only through the daily search for the best solutions. Komersant Ukrainskyi is ready to assist and help consolidate around common challenges !
The next War@FOOD mastermind will take place today, 5 April. Among the participants: Olena Borisova, Yevhen Klopotenko and Maksym Khramov.
Follow Komersant ukrainskyi on Instagram – @komersant_ukrainskyi – and follow our announcements so you don’t miss the important stuff!
