Chester’s inaugural Fashion Event, Cheshire Fashion Week, is scheduled to take place at Chester Cathedral in Chester on Saturday, 5th November 2022. Thousands of fashion enthusiasts will attend this year’s events, which are taking the initiative to display Ukrainian fashion talent to show solidarity with Ukraine.
The invasion of Ukraine has resulted in over 1.7 million Ukrainians fleeing and joining communities worldwide, among them those in the fashion and creative design industries. Cheshire Fashion Week is working with local authorities in Cheshire to welcome newcomers from Ukraine into the community. Several Ukrainian models, photographers, hair and makeup artists have moved to Cheshire from Ukraine and are taking advantage of the Fashion Week platform to realise their dreams and join with the community.
As part of a collaboration with local authorities in Cheshire, who assist Ukrainian refugees in finding employment and matching them with local jobs, a substantial number of Ukrainian fashion creatives have been identified among those who have relocated and are seeking opportunities for community involvement. Ukrainian nationals are participating in the Fashion Week event as models, photographers, and fashion stylists.
Claire Namukolo Raven, Cheshire Fashion Week CEO said:
“In our role as a global fashion week, we strive to express more direct responses to the war in Ukraine, which has not received a public response from British fashion weeks. Being the largest fashion week event in the North of England, we feel a responsibility to provide an outlet for expression. Through cultivating the talents of those uprooted from their homes, careers, and dreams, we are showing solidarity with Ukraine in the fashion industry who have integrated into our communities.
Our initiative to engage Ukrainians who have moved to Chester, Cheshire, and are skilled in the fashion industry serves to encourage the many UK Fashion Week organisers and corporate organisations to utilise the platform and to remember that as an employer, businesses can show solidarity by hiring Ukrainians, full-time, part-time, and as volunteers”.
Thousands of fashion industry professionals are expected to attend Cheshire Fashion Week sponsored by Chester Land Rover, with its large following on Instagram, it has already gained the attention of many Instagram followers and participants, making event organisers believe the platform is useful for raising awareness to help show solidarity with those who have moved to Cheshire from Ukraine and reduce the feeling of isolation among those whose dreams haven’t been realised during the global Fashion Week event held annually in Chester, Cheshire. In addition to raising awareness, this initiative will assist Ukrainian fashion talent in maintaining their dreams, and provide a platform for those who have fled to express themselves.
Among the businesses Ukrainian participants will benefit from engaging with on a runway is luxury high street retailer Jigsaw Clothing, with looks styled from their local store in Chester and independents from around the UK, Eden Keshia Bridal, Noa And Rain, Harry Sutton, Alexandra Novacki, Ryan Nyambe, A.T.K Fashion House, Just Conceited, Victoria Owens, as well as Nigerian designer Medinah of Fab Apparel By Mo, who has travelled from Nigeria to show at Chester’s annual Fashion Week in Chester.
You can find out more about Cheshire Fashion Week and the schedule at https://cheshirefashionweek.com/
