By Sahra Sancar
When Russia first invaded Ukraine, Milan Fashion Week was taking place. The industry quickly gathered together to help in this time of crisis.
Marni and Botter both created looks that were made up solely of blue and yellow to symbolise the Ukrainian flag. However, brands that are doing something physical to help which will provide urgent aid is the multinational corporation Kering which owns the likes of Balenciaga and Gucci.
Currently, they have donated huge amounts of money to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). which provided emergency support for refugees who are fleeing from Ukraine and have closed all of their luxury goods stores in Russia.
The luxury goods conglomerate LVMH has given $5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to help victims of the war. Meanwhile, Chanel has donated €2 million to go towards urgent relief charities and Net-a-Porter, Asos and Nike have started to make moves to stop all sales in Russia.
Helping straightaway
Sophia Bradley, the founder of a small fashion brand, has expressed her desire to help Ukrainian refugees in any way that she can. “When I found out about what was happening, I was shocked. I wanted to help straightaway however I could,” she said.
She explains that one way she is planning on helping is by donating some of her designs to a refugee charity. “Being able to do something so small will feel very rewarding, to know that whoever gets my pieces won’t have to worry about finding new clothes to wear is all I want.”
Jane Tompson, a sales assistant, explains how she too wants to help the current crisis. “I immediately searched up ways that normal people could help, websites were telling me to donate money as that was the quickest way to help the refugees, so that’s what I did.”
When asked what she thinks the company she works at will do to help, she seemed a little unhopeful. According to her, she doesn’t think that they will do anything “The crisis has been happening for days, weeks now and they are yet to help or donate, which is very disappointing she explained.”
Hopefully, more bands and people continue to help in any way that they can, because even the little things can make a big difference.
Paying tribute to Ukraine
Working on Paris Fashion Week “was so incredibly hard for me. Because in a time like this, fashion loses its relevance and its actual right to exist,” wrote Balenciaga Creative Director Demna Gvasalia, a refugee of the Georgian Civil War in his show notes. as he paid tribute to Ukraine.
“Fashion week feels like some kind of an absurdity. I thought for a moment about cancelling the show that I and my team worked hard on and we’re all looking forward to. But then I realized that cancelling this show would mean giving in, surrendering to the evil that has already hurt me so much for almost 30 years. I decided that I can no longer sacrifice parts of me to that senseless, heartless war of ego.”
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