At Milan Design Week 2023, the CONTINUUM exhibition presents a multidisciplinary live space installation. This showcase features the distinctive work of 5 Ukrainian visionaries: DZHUS, FAINA, SOLOMIA RCS, DINARA KASKO, and ARBORETUM. The project aims to communicate a unique synthesis of design, fashion, craft, music, culinary arts, and perfumery through an interactive showcase in an atmospheric location.
Photos – courtesy of DZHUS ©
The CONTINUUM showcase is made possible with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine.
DZHUS presents their performance titled “TRANSIT” at CONTINUUM, delivering an unparalleled and mesmerizing experience. Designer Irina Dzhus showcases the radical metamorphosis of versatile wardrobe items in front of the audience. The music for the performance is provided by EYIBRA, ethical footwear is by House Martin, and makeup and hair are done by 96 Group.
DZHUS’ AW23 collection consists of complex-cut multifunctional pieces designed to serve diverse purposes, weather conditions, and dress codes. The transformability of the garments pays tribute to the profound changes faced by Ukrainians in the circumstances beyond their control. Surviving these challenges, they have gained strength and a future-oriented mindset.
The collection features architectonic silhouettes that offer surprising flexibility in terms of wearability. Trousers can transform into dresses and jackets, coats become jumpsuits, and sleeves can be modified into hoods and vests. Many garments even have the ability to transform into bags, hats, and jewellery. The designs often revolve around pockets and bags, symbolizing the evacuation process experienced by millions of Ukrainians who had to carry only the belongings they could manage. Symbolic items were often chosen over practical ones, adding a touching aspect to their choices.
Some outfits within the collection undergo a transformation from an exaggeratedly utilitarian unisex silhouette to a delicate feminine look, and vice versa. This alludes to the inevitable changes individuals undergo under extraordinary circumstances, often involving heartbreaking decisions. The key piece in the collection is an overall inspired by bulletproof vests, which transforms into a colossal coat with a sheer hood, symbolizing the angelic protector of an unbreakable nation.
The DZHUS AW23 collection showroom is accessible during the CONTINUUM showcase at Milan Design Week, from April 18 to April 23, 2023. Admission is free.
