KHUTIR COLLECTION IS A TRIBUTE TO UKRAINIAN FOLK ARCHITECTURE AND ITS CRAFTSMEN

The war made everyone look within, asking who they were, how to act, and what would prove to be a support in such a difficult time. Each person searching for the strength to create and live. For Daria Plaksyuk, the designer of PODYH, Ukrainian folk architecture became that support. This is embodied in the mini collection KHUTIR by PODYH – a brand at the intersection of fashion and architecture.

KHUTIR is a dialogue with the past, a step towards understanding the identity and originality of the Ukrainian people and their architectural traditions.  “This architecture is like a monument of wood, clay, and straw. Each their own evidence of incredible technical thought that has passed down through time. Touching this heritage, you’re able to feel both the cultural background and multifaceted talent of the Ukrainian people. As you start to realize yourself becoming a participant of the continuous work of many generations you feel the strength and confidence to continue creating” – says the brand designer Daria Plaksyuk.

  • The KHUTIR collection includes three images, each of which an homage of traditional Ukrainian buildings. Thus, the hut-mazanka was transformed into a light white dress made of tencel, a linen skirt, and a bag that mirrors the customary thatched roof with its shape and leather fringe.

The commemorative image of a long vest and palazzo trousers reinterprets the Ukrainian wooden church tower. The Dranka bag, replicates the method of covering the roof with wooden plates – shingles, later becoming an addition to the image.

The shape of the windmill was embodied in a small shoulder bag and a necklace made of burnt wood. And its facade was reflected in a knitted dress with vertical lines, an allusion to the traditional technique of facade decoration – otherwise known as a shawl.

  • The chosen colors and materials harmoniously combine the collection with architectural works, so that it becomes their continuation and completion. The shades of warm straw, whitewashed clay and wood – from time-aged grey to freshly sawn warm brown – reflect the naturalness and authenticity of the architecture.

Particular attention is paid to wood as one of the main building materials. Therefore, the collection reflects not only the techniques of the masters but also the wooden elements used – handles for bags made of birch bark and decor made of burnt ash. This is a tribute to carpenters and carving masters.

The final elements of the collection are typical for Ukrainian life – these include wattle (wicker fences) and clay jugs. They are reflected in the jewelry Tyn necklace and Hlechyk hair tie. Thus, the wattle is made by hand on a loom in the traditions of folk craftsmen. And the jugs are made of clay, using the technique of milk glazing. Therefore, each has a unique shade and shape.