On 14 October 2024, at the initiative of the Student Centre for Fashion, Creative Ideas and Creativity of Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, a public lecture was held by a fashion expert, director of Ukrainian designers’ shows at UFW, mentor, and teacher of the “From Tomboy to Lady” project, professional model Iryna DYUDENKO on the topic “The path to success – from a dream to successful self-realization.”
Iryna Dyudenko is a bright personality. She can also be described as a ‘cover face’ and a ‘fashion icon’.
She told a fascinating, frank story about her formation and development. A graduate of the Geological Faculty of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, a light industry economist with a second higher education degree (she graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Kyiv Institute of Light Industry – now Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design), she gradually plunged into the world of fashion – persuaded by her friends and artist friends who were creating new clothing models in Ukrainian fashion houses. They immediately saw the perfect type in Iryna – tall, slim, and athletic – and offered her a chance to try herself as a fashion demonstrator (or model, as professionals say today). Iryna eagerly agreed as she had always dreamed of the stage and a ballet career!
Her career as a model turned out to be very interesting – she had to plunge into the fast-paced life of a fashion model: constant traveling and shows in different parts of the country and abroad. For many years, Iryna represented the clothes of the country’s fashion designers at the International EXPO exhibitions, presented the works of the designers of the Ukrainian Khreshchatyk Fashion House, as well as models of the world-famous fashion masters Viacheslav Zaitsev and Valentin Yudashkin, to become one of the first and one of the brightest stars of the Ukrainian catwalk.
When Iryna started, there were few fashion demonstrators and much work, with 5-6 models from each country going to such international exhibitions and undergoing a ‘tough’ casting. This work included not only casting and the actual shows but also endless and, for most, tedious fittings. Iryna adored them, as she never felt like a ‘mannequin’ but was always a protagonist in creating clothes.
It was with this that Iryna’s work with Ukrainian fashion designers and fashion houses began a new ascent – her hard work paid off, her career thrived – and she demonstrates clothes by world-famous fashion designers. She considers Paco Rabanne to be a bright personality and fashion architect. His work inspires and charges everyone around with a positive and high culture.
Later, with experience, she came to understand the nature of the image and how best to present it, what kind of music to choose, and how to build everything compositionally. At first, people listened to her advice, and then Iryna became a kind of acting coach when she took part in shows that she staged on her own.
Today, Iryna Dyudenko is one of the best show directors, with a modern, original approach, impeccable taste, a deep understanding of fashion, and high professionalism. That is why she has been cooperating with our University for many years, always participates in the work of the Jury of the International Competition “Pecherski Kashtany”, and enjoys working with students, providing exciting and valuable creative advice to the participants of the Competition – the authors of the collections – during the semi-final discussions of the collections, as well as making professional adjustments to the work of the stage directors.
By the way, over the period of these years, Iryna has mastered the profession of economist, which came in handy. At “Dyudenko-Kyiv” and the “D2” salon chain, she is responsible for organizational and administrative duties. Iryna’s husband, Viacheslav Dyudenko, a well-known stylist and hair designer, oversees creative and professional matters.
This could be the end of such an instructive story about how a person recognized her chance and, using it, achieved success, as they say, made herself. It’s an entirely self-contained story. It could be if it were about someone other than Iryna Dyudenko. Because Iryna also has another story – less fast-paced and visible, but no less fascinating. These two stories developed in parallel. It’s just that one is in the public eye, and the other is slowly growing. When asked what is more important – work or career, Iryna answers that EVERYTHING is necessary!
Iryna sees the mission of her career as raising public culture. At the same time, she says: ‘I don’t want to wait for the moment when I will be understood by everyone’, reproducing her directorial ideas in the form of unforgettable spectacles of various shows.
But “D2” hairdressing salons and directing are still everyday life. And then there are the holidays, which Iryna (again, together with Viacheslav) knows how to organize brilliantly.
The moderators of this artistic event were students of the Faculty of Arts and Fashion, Anastasia Stelmakh and Victoria Mykhailyuk, under the guidance of Professor of the Department of Fashion and Style, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Maryna Kolosnichenko, Director of the Student Centre for Fashion, Creative Ideas and Creativity.
Summing up the event, Maryna Kolosnichenko warmly thanked the speaker and wished her further successful projects, new professional achievements, success, and inspiration!
Iryna Dyudenko sincerely thanked Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, personally the Rector, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology, Honoured Worker of Education of Ukraine Ivan Mykhailovych Gryshchenko for supporting creativity and enhancing the cultural growth of university students.
18.10.2024
