The Faculty of Arts and Fashion at Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design is a space where thorough academic education, creative freedom and innovative thinking come together. The faculty actively promotes the personal development of students, the formation of their professional competencies, the disclosure of creative abilities and active citizenship. Every year, a new generation of talented specialists grows up in this environment, gaining recognition at the national and international levels.

A striking example of the implementation of these tasks is the creative achievements of students Viktoria Mykhailiuk and Anastasia Stelmakh, who took part in Berlin Fashion Week S/S 2026 at the Atrium Tower at Potsdamer Platz, an international show for young designers, which was a real breakthrough for the girls. It is Germany's largest open and progressive platform for young and talented designers. More than 100 creative artists from 12 universities around the world took part in the events with the aim of shaping the future of fashion.

Before participating in the show, Victoria and Anastasia worked intensively for months – developing concepts, images, layouts, fittings, sewing products, and all this – long days in workshops. All details, from structures to decorative elements, were thought out to the smallest detail. The students took on this challenge with enthusiasm and responsibility, striving to learn how to work in a professional show environment, make quick decisions, and interact with an international team.

"It wasn't just a show — we had the opportunity to see all the behind-the-scenes processes of a major fashion event: from casting models to the final walk on the catwalk. We attended fittings and watched the collections come to life on the models, realising how important every little detail is – from the texture of the materials to the tempo of the music," the girls said.

This incredible stage of creative self-realisation was preceded by Victoria Mikhailiuk and Anastasia Stelmakh's participation in June 2025 in the ‘Look into the Future’ competition, one of the most prestigious Ukrainian competitions for young designers. ‘We are infinitely grateful to the organisers of the ’Look into the Future‘ competition for the opportunity to present Ukrainian design at the European level. It was a powerful incentive to move forward and believe in the power of contemporary Ukrainian fashion,’ noted our Neo.Fashion participants.

The creative residency programme of the ‘Look into the Future’ competition included meeting and working with teams from well-known Ukrainian brands Ruslan Baginskiy, the COAT by Katya Silchenko, GUNIA Project, as well as collaborating with stylists and experts from the Khanenko Museum. This provided not only practical experience, but also deepened the participants' professional worldview and allowed them to interact with fashion industry experts.

Anastasia Stelmakh, inspired by the shows Project Runway, Next in Fashion, and Making the Cut, noted that she had long dreamed of being on the other side of the screen — and finally, it became a reality. In a creative challenge, Anastasia and Victoria created technically complex pieces, adding new clothing collection designs to their portfolios.

Also, at the XXV International Competition for Young Designers ‘Pechersk Chestnuts’, the final of which took place on 30 May 2025, the author's collection ‘Denim Rococo’ by Victoria Mikhailiuk and Anastasia Stelmakh took second place in the ‘Eco-Fashion’ category.

The collection combined historical Rococo motifs with contemporary ecological trends, which particularly impressed the jury with its refined style, attention to detail and unconventional approach to denim.

In the ‘Own View’ category of the All-Ukrainian competition for young clothing designers ‘BARVY PODILLIA – 2025’, this collection won first place, confirming the originality of the students' design vision.

We are proud of Victoria and Anastasia – their story is an example of the power of creativity, perseverance and inspiration for anyone just starting out in the creative industry. Platforms such as Pecherski Chestnuts and A Look into the Future were not just competitions for the girls, but catalysts for development, inspiring them to create innovative and environmentally friendly designs and paving the way to international recognition. After all, creativity is thinking about the future, and our students are a shining example of how a combination of knowledge, courage and support can open the door to the world of art and fashion!

We sincerely congratulate the students of the Faculty of Arts and Fashion, Viktoria Mykhailiuk and Anastasia Stelmakh, as well as graduate Anastasia Navrotska, who have demonstrated that fashion can set a shining example of creative continuity and an unbridled desire to create, even in difficult times!

17.07.2025