Every year, Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, with the support of Rector Ivan Grishchenko and our partners ArtExpoUkraine, actively participates in the Winter International Specialized Exhibition of Shoes, Haberdashery, Fur and Components «Leather&Shoes».

This year, more than 400 participants from 20 countries of the world joined the event, including 342 manufacturing companies and 75 trading companies. Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design presented its intellectual, scientific, and creative achievements, creative work of students and academic staff of the Department of Design and Technology of Leather Products at the Faculty of Fashion Industry, popularizing the principles of conscious consumption and circular fashion, one of the most relevant today’s trends.

The university’s stand presents samples of shoes made from recycled materials (materials that were in use), namely from jeans/cotton and velvet; customized with art painting; from crust leather (leather with a natural grain face not subjected to mechanical refinement), with finishing compositions according to the individual order of the consumer.

The special guests – representatives of the University Supervisory Council, Kyiv light industry cluster, Ukrainian business partners, and the university staff had the opportunity to get acquainted with the shoe samples made from the used materials, presented on the university’s stand, and listen to a welcoming speech of Rector Ivan Grishchenko.

During the exhibition, on the stand of Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, demonstration master classes “BY CUSTOM” were held with the participation of students and academic staff of the Department of Design and Technology of Leather Products: making small size haberdashery (key chains, cases, key holders, etc.) and accessories from shoe production waste, namely from genuine leather; customization of shoes with artistic painting or other types of fancy finish to upcycle these products.

Also, on the university’s stand, advanced systems for designing shoe uppers and components using modern CAD systems were demonstrated: MIND CAD (Portugal), Delcam Crispin (England), Power Shape (USA), which make up the educational process for students of the Department of Design and Technology of Leather Products at the university.

For the first time, as part of the Leather&Shoes exhibition, SPEAK UP lecture on pressing topics was held with the participation of business representatives and academic staff of the university. The speakers of the event were Lilia Chertenko, Ph.D. tech. Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Design and Technology of Leather Products (KNUTD); Yuri Pavlik, head of Palaris enterprise; Timofey Lipsky, Ph.D. tech. Sciences, owner of LITINI trademark, assistant of the Department of Design and Technology of Leather Products (KNUTD); Olga Kovch, technology director of FENICE company; Igor Gorobtsov, CEO, co-owner of AligoGROUP company; Olga Yungin, Ph.D., Biology, Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Leather and Fur (KNUTD) (pictured from L-R).

Summing up the work of the team of the Department of Design and Technology of Leather Products within the framework of the 43rd International Specialized Exhibition of Shoes, Haberdashery, Fur and Components “Leather & Shoes”, we can note that the best teachers work at the university – professionals and highly-qualified experts teaching talented students with creative thinking, who, acquiring knowledge and professional skills in the manufacture of products for the fashion industry, eventually become our partners, colleagues, friends, and like-minded people who develop the industry, glorify Ukraine and its traditions.

01.02.2022