Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine from more than 100 countries wear vyshyvanka in celebration of the country’s sartorial heritage every 18 May.

The idea of World Vyshyvanka Day originated in 2006 at Chernivtsi National University as a brainchild of student Lesia Voroniuk.

At wartime, vyshyvankas have been worn by Ukrainian soldiers in the front lines for the second straight year.

Wearing vyshyvankas is a declaration that Ukrainians are brave citizens of an independent, sovereign state, fighting for their freedom.

Each region of Ukraine has its own traditions of embroidery and symbolic ornamental elements. Ukrainian traditional embroidery is characterized by more than 300 stitches interwoven via 20 techniques.

Vyshyvanka is popular not only in the territory of Ukraine.

For many years, embroidered patterns have conquered even world catwalks.

In 2015, vyshyvanka was recognized as the main trend of the year, according to Vogue magazine.

In 2016, The New York Times also gave this status to the Ukrainian national dress.

With the onset of the full-scale invasion, when the interest in Ukraine and its culture received a new impetus, Ukrainian vyshyvanka became a trend anew in the global fashion industry.