STRENGTH AND FORTITUDE: While Ukrainians and their supporters marked Friday’s one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, two designers unveiled latest projects as an indication of solidarity.

Ukrainian eveningwear designer Lessja Verlingieri, who runs her Lever Couture business from Los Angeles, has began the “Love Letter to Ukraine” project. She is encouraging people to upload love letters that turn into a creative digital dress that can be being incorporated into a home made couture dress. Notables just like the actress Milla Jovovich, musician Kesha, designer Nicola Formichetti and actress Vera Farmiga have already pitched in. Verlingieri has previously dressed such celebrities as Lady Gaga.

Verlingieri teamed up together with her creative director Jenny Williams, art director Ricci Williams and representatives OWOW Agency and Marketing for the endeavor. Using a bit of digital art as a place to begin, the team collaborated with digital artist Oliver Latta, Volumetric studio DNE and Real Motion and the Ukrainian musician Tina Karol. The dress is digitally embroidered with words of affection that loosely map the borders of Ukraine.

As well as, Lever Couture and the creative team have recreated a physical version of the dress. The thought is that as additional love letters are uploaded, they might be added to the virtual image. That artwork and the actual dress might be auctioned at a later date with the proceeds earmarked to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. A hundred percent of all of the donations which can be raised might be given to the Zelenska Foundation, the organization began by the country’s first lady Olena Zelenska that is devoted to restoring the “human capital” of Ukraine. As of this month, greater than 8,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and tens of millions have crossed borders into neighboring countries, in accordance with the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Individually, in one other art-minded project, Alina Kachorovska, creative designer of the Kachorovska company, photographed her spring promoting campaign amidst the emptied-out galleries within the National Museum of Ukraine. The entire artwork within the museum has been removed for safekeeping because of the continuing war. From her perspective, the empty frames on the partitions symbolize the emptiness and hopelessness that many Ukrainians are feeling, however the acceptance of such conditions rings out the strength of 1’s inner self. To relay that, a model poses looking somewhat unfazed and wearing designs from the gathering.

The barren setting can be meant to evoke memories of the past and self-reflection. Well aware that “the entire world” is now taking a look at Ukraine, the designer said, “We’re changing the world. Today.”

Launched throughout the Cold War in 1957, Kachorovska now has 150 employees in its shoe factory in Kyiv, in addition to two retail stores. Her creations have been worn by Zelenska. Last 12 months the corporate repositioned to provide boots for members of the Ukrainian army. Although the National Museum of Ukraine is closed to the general public, Kachorovska arranged to photograph the campaign there through personal connections, an organization spokeswoman said Friday.