Ukrainian Demonology Hits the Runway: UPSLOWUSE Unveils the LIMINAL Collection.

LIMINAL Collection Debuts at Ukrainian Fashion Week

According to Novyny.live: At Ukrainian Fashion Week, the brand UPSLOWUSE launched its latest lineup, LIMINAL, drawing heavily on figures from Ukrainian demonology. The performance-driven show featured 15 mythical beings from local folklore—such as the wild woman, chugayster, water spirit, devil, and mavka—creating a distinctive fusion of fashion and cultural heritage.

Key Collection Highlights

The LIMINAL collection centers on upcycled denim pieces and hand-knitted garments made from recycled wool. Brand founder Mila Ohly emphasized denim's role in the label's identity, stating:

“Denim is our brand’s DNA. We upcycle jeans and also craft knitted items from reclaimed wool.” - Mila Ohly

This underscores the collection's commitment to sustainability and material reuse in contemporary fashion.

The show was produced entirely by a women-led team, including:

• stylist Oksana Shults
• musical direction by Khrystyna Kirik
• director Nastia Tymus

Tymus revealed the inspiration behind the collection:

“It all started with a lullaby Mila found. That led her to explore Ukrainian demonology.” - Nastia Tymus

The stage design was crafted to evoke the paths taken by the 15 characters, each representing a distinct facet of Ukrainian demonology. In this way, the LIMINAL collection transcended a mere fashion event, emerging as a cultural statement that shone a spotlight on Ukrainian traditions and myths.

The LIMINAL presentation at Ukrainian Fashion Week highlights the role of modern fashion in preserving and promoting Ukraine's cultural legacy. By weaving demonological imagery into the collection, the designers not only demonstrated creative ingenuity but also helped revive interest in national traditions, recontextualizing them for today's audience. This reflects a growing industry trend where sustainability and cultural identity become core design principles.