On May 18, 2026, a meeting of the international jury took place, during which the finalists of the XXVI International Young Designers Contest "Pecherski Kashtany" were selected.
The meeting was officially opened by Oleksandra Olshanska, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (Educational Activities) of KNUTD, Doctor of Economics, Professor. She welcomed the participants and highlighted the exceptional creativity, high level of craftsmanship, and innovative approach demonstrated in the works submitted this year. The geography and diversity of the projects once again confirm that the contest remains a powerful international platform for the development of design and the fashion industry, integrating clothing, footwear, accessories, textiles, and modern technologies.
This year, more than 300 creative works were submitted by 270 talented young designers. The geography of participants is truly impressive, with representatives from educational institutions in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, the USA, Greece, China, and the United Kingdom.
The results of the selection process and the summarized evaluation outcomes were presented to the jury members by Nataliia Lesiuta, Director of the KNUTD Student Fashion and Creativity Center.
A strong international expert panel ensured objective and professional evaluation. The jury included renowned designers, leading fashion industry experts, brand designers, and executives of профиль enterprises from various countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Albania, Georgia, the USA, Belgium, Romania, and Latvia. The jury carefully reviewed each submitted work and made a collegial decision on the list of finalists.
The following members attended the meeting in person: Kalyna Pashkevych, Nataliia Chuprina, Tetiana Struminska, Iryna Davydenko, Iryna Chubotina, Liliia Zhuravel-Zmieieva, and Liliia Navolska.
Remotely, via Zoom, the jury was joined by: Jury Chair Bohdan Kass, as well as members Olha Yezhova, Maryna Yatsenko, Oleksii Kraievskyi, Anna Kuzmenko, Dmytro Kalach, Nataliia Pervaya, Olena Herasymenko, and others. International experts also included Nataliia Rozhyn (United Kingdom), Yevzhen Riabenkyi (Moldova), and other fashion professionals from different countries.
Thanks to the professional and unbiased work of the experts, the final list of participants who earned the right to present their collections in the final show has been formed.
Finalists in the “Shoes and Accessories” competition:
The winners in the "Textiles" category will be announced on the KNUTD website after the final stage of the contest.
The final runway show and the award ceremony for the winners in the "Clothing" and "Footwear & Accessories" categories will take place on June 6, 2026, at the Kyiv Municipal Art Gallery “Lavra” (9 Lavrska St., Kyiv):
- Guest arrival: 15:30
- Event start: 16:00
The organizing committee is already actively working on preparing this large-scale celebration of fashion and creativity.
We invite everyone to join this event, support young designers, and witness the future of the Ukrainian fashion industry firsthand!
21.05.2026
