On April 26, 2026, the final of the international competition “Battle of Fashion Designers” took place in Lviv, organized by the VSP “Lviv Professional College of Fashion Industry KNUTD” in cooperation with the organizations VITAUKR and VITAWORLD (Italy) with the support of the Department of Education and Science of the Lviv Regional State Administration and the Lviv City Council.

The competition is aimed at improving the professional and creative level of future fashion industry specialists, as well as at the international exchange of experience. It is an important platform for the development of young designers, technologists, stylists and fashion illustrators. The goal of the competition is to form a new generation of competitive fashion industry specialists through a combination of education, business and international cooperation.

At the final of the competition in Lviv, the Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design was presented by Acting Rector Taliat Bielialov, Doctor of Science in Economics, Professor; Oleksandra Olshanska, Doctor of Science in Economics, Professor, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Activities (Educational Activities); Kalyna Pashkevych, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Design; Marharyta Aftandiliants, Head of the Marketing Communications Center.

The participants of the competition were welcomed by the Acting Rector of the KNUTD Taliat Bielialov, Doctor of Science in Economics, Professor, who congratulated the winners and presented them with diplomas and gifts.

The “Battle of Fashion Designers” competition has been discovering new names in Ukrainian fashion for 15 years in a row. The final of the competition was held at the Klymentiy Sheptytsky Museum of Folk Architecture and Life (“Shevchenko Grove”), Lviv. This year, young designers from 14 cities of Ukraine, as well as representatives from Italy, took part in the competition. The collections of the competition participants from different regions of Ukraine demonstrated ethnic roots, modern trends and bold experiments.  

In 2026, special attention was paid to the environmental awareness of young designers, the use of environmental principles, and the development of inclusive fashion as part of modern trends. The show was attended by models from the Inclusive Model School "NoviMI", representatives of the public organization "Equal Opportunities for All" and the Fashion Theater of the Lviv Professional College of the Fashion Industry KNUTD. This composition of participants emphasized the importance of inclusion, equal opportunities, and unity of society - values that are especially significant for Ukraine today.

Before the final, the participants of the “Battle of Fashion Designers” competition underwent the training “From Idea to Brand”, organized by the LPE “Entrepreneurship Support Center of the Lviv City Council” together with the Department of Economic Development of the Lviv City Council and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). 140 participants from all over Ukraine joined the training in online and offline formats, mastering the key stages of creating their own brand: from the idea and development of a collection to promotion, presentation and first sales. Valeriia Kryvunenko, a student of the Faculty of Design of the KNUTD, a participant of the “Battle of Fashion Designers” competition, also underwent a week-long training in Lviv.

In 2026, the competition went international for the first time in the “Fashion battle” format, becoming part of the international project Fashion for Freedom, which united Ukraine and Italy in a common cultural space. An Italian delegation was present at the show in Lviv and shows of collections by young Italian designers took place. The show of the collections of the competition finalists will take place in May 2026 in Milan, Italy. 

Many thanks to Nelia Dmytrivna Kredenets, director of the Lviv Professional College of Fashion Industry KNUTD, Oksana Khodan, Olga Skoropad, deputy directors and the entire team of LPCFI KNUTD for organizing the competition at a high level, for the hospitality and warm welcome!

To all participants of the competition: students, their leaders, models, sponsors and patrons - a big thank you for a real celebration of fashion and beauty!

04.05.2026