Gunia Project

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

Gunia Project
Company typePrivate company
IndustryFashion
Founded2019
FoundersNataliia Kamenska; Maria Gavryliuk
Headquarters
Kyiv
,
Ukraine
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsClothing; accessories; home decor; jewellery
Websiteguniaproject.com

Gunia Project is a Ukrainian fashion and design brand founded in 2019 by Nataliia Kamenska and Maria Gavryliuk. The brand originated from ethnographic research across Ukraine; each collection combines design thinking, field research, and artisanal craftsmanship.[1]

The company works across more than a dozen product categories and multiple artisanal techniques, collaborating with craftspeople throughout Ukraine to support local production, handcraft, and cultural traditions.[2]

Gunia Project has acted as a cultural ambassador for Ukrainian heritage. Its products have been presented to public figures including Emperor Naruhito, Brigitte Macron, Boris Johnson, Prince Harry, Kelly Rutherford, Kylie Jenner, and Lily Collins. In February 2020, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a festive bowl by Gunia Project to Pope Francis at the Vatican.[3]

Name

[edit]

The name "Gunia" comes from the traditional Carpathian outerwear woven from sheep's wool (hunya). It was the first object recreated by the brand and later gave it its name.[4] Over time, the gunia came to represent the brand's values—respect for traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage—while "Project" underscores its ongoing research and experimentation.

History

[edit]

Kamenska and Gavryliuk founded Gunia Project after working in the fashion industry.[5] Since 2017, the initiative operated as cultural research involving ethnographic expeditions, collaboration with local artisans, and work with museum archives to study Ukrainian heritage and traditional crafts.[6]

The first object created was a gunia, which later became both the brand's symbol and name.[7] Early releases included silk scarves based on rushnyky from the Ivan Honchar Museum collection, along with accessories and clothing referencing techniques such as vytynanka.

In 2019, the founders formalized Gunia Project as a brand. The first full collection included ceramics inspired by naïve iconography, blown glass, and silk scarves, presented at the National Museum of Ukrainian Decorative Folk Art.[8]

In February 2020, during a visit to the Vatican, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Christmas tableware by Gunia Project to Pope Francis, and in 2021 Maria Gavryliuk was included in the Forbes "30 Under 30" list.[9]

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska has worn Gunia Project pieces for official events. In July 2022, during her address to the U.S. Congress and meeting with President Joe Biden, she wore a jacket complemented by a brooch from the Gunia & Guzema collection.[10][11]

In 2023, Gunia Project was listed among Forbes Next250, highlighting small and medium-sized Ukrainian companies with strong growth potential and innovation. The brand's pieces appeared in the fourth season of Emily in Paris, with the character Sofia wearing pajamas from the 2022 Christmas collection.

The brand has been profiled by international outlets including Vogue US, Vogue Mexico, Vanity Fair, Financial Times, Monocle, Forbes, The New York Times, L'Officiel Baltic, Vogue Poland, ELLE Germany, WWD, Wallpaper* and Harper's Bazaar.[12][13][6]

In 2024, for the summer print issue of Vogue Ukraine, the brand created a ceramic outfit symbolizing continuity and Ukrainian identity. The work premiered during Paris Fashion Week and drew international attention.[14][15]

Flagship retail: the first Kyiv store opened in July 2020 at 26 Oleksandra Konyskoho Street; in December 2021 it moved to 4/6 Antonovycha Street; a showroom in Lviv followed at 4 Virmenska Street. In August 2025 the brand opened a second Kyiv space in the historic building at 2-A Zolotovoritska Street (formerly the Embassy of Panama).[16]

On the international market, Gunia Project has been stocked by retailers such as Liberty (London), Koibird (London), Globus (Zurich), and Isetan (Tokyo).

Philosophy and mission

[edit]

Gunia Project began as an ethnographic initiative aimed at studying, preserving, and popularizing Ukrainian cultural heritage through contemporary design.[17] The brand draws on naïve art, iconography, folk symbols, artisanal techniques, and ritual practices.[18] Each collection starts with research in museum archives, collaboration with artisans, and analysis of the historical and cultural context of objects, which are then reinterpreted in modern form.[13]

Collections

[edit]

Gunia Project releases two main seasonal collections—summer and winter—tied to major Ukrainian holidays (Easter and Christmas). The brand also issues a special drop for Ukraine's Independence Day.

  • Indigo (October 2020) — a collection dedicated to a single colour that explored cosmopolitanism, material access, and cultural exchange; it combined Ukrainian motifs with Asian influences and included hand-made ceramics, silk scarves, and a scented candle. A ceramics set from the collection was gifted to Kylie Jenner.[19]
  • Freedom (June 2022) — released after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion; focused on resilience, hope, and Ukraine's future victory.[20]
  • Atlantes (May 2022) — inspired by Kyiv's architecture, particularly the atlantes on the Kozerovsky House by architect Ignatius Ledokhovsky; included gilded silver earrings, a silver brooch, hand-finished silk scarves, a sculptural candle, and blown-glass vases.[21]
  • Korovai (September 2023) — reinterpreting Ukrainian wedding rituals and symbols such as the viltsia (tree of life) and ceremonial bread; included embroidered garments, beaded jewellery, and hand-crafted pieces.[22]
  • Viltsia (September 2024, Ukrainian Fashion Week) — a theatrical presentation staged inside the Golden Gate in Kyiv; each piece was produced as a one-off.[23]
  • Dyvosvit (Дивосвіт) (November 2024) — a Christmas collection reinterpreting museum artefacts, household items, and traditional wall paintings; included clothing, ceramics, jewellery, and handmade holiday décor.[24]

Special projects

[edit]
  • The Heart Has Its Will (August 2023) — a silver-gilt pendant inspired by Cossack heraldic motifs; the heart with arrows, moon, and star symbolizes strength, fidelity, and resilience.[25]
  • Scythian Gold (June 2024) — a charitable limited necklace inspired by nomadic artefacts, featuring a deer and griffin, created in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.[26]
  • Book Ukraine and Ukrainians (June 2024) — a co-published special edition with the Ivan Honchar Museum and supported by the MFA of Ukraine; an updated bilingual version of Ivan Honchar's 1970s–1990s ethnographic album.[27]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Как Gunia Project возрождают украинские ремесла". Vogue UA (in Russian). 24 August 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Gunia Project". Hue&Eye. 7 January 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Історія бренду Gunia Project..." Forbes Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 19 June 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Gunia Project: descubre la firma..." Vogue España (in Spanish). 30 November 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Від гуцульських шуб до кераміки з ручним розписом..." Wonderzine UA (in Ukrainian). 18 February 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Marka Gunia Project kultywuje dziedzictwo Ukrainy". Vogue Polska (in Polish). 30 August 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  7. ^ "GUNIA: історія бренду". Space Magazine UA (in Ukrainian). 23 June 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Історія Gunia project у межах спецпроєкту UFW — Action". JetSetter UA (in Ukrainian). 6 July 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Марія Гаврилюк — профіль". Forbes Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 9 November 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  10. ^ Satenstein, Liana (20 July 2022). "The First Lady of Ukraine Dressed With Pride to Meet President Biden". Vogue. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Zelenska appeared with a 8800 UAH Dove brooch from Gunia Project". Obozrevatel. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  12. ^ Tagariello, Maria Luisa (3 March 2022). "Moda ucraina: i designer danno voce al proprio paese". Vanity Fair Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Gunia Project, la storia di una ricerca etnografica..." Harper's Bazaar Italia (in Italian). 3 May 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Ukrainian Vogue presents the summer print issue of 2024". Vogue UA. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Як створювалося керамічне вбрання з нової обкладинки українського Vogue". Vogue UA (in Ukrainian). 21 June 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Шоурум бренду Gunia Project на Золотоворітській". The Village Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 13 August 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Meet Gunia Project, a Ukrainian Label Fusing Folklore With Fashion". Vogue (US). 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  18. ^ ""Мы видим свою миссию..." Інтерв'ю із засновницями". ELLE UA (in Russian). 24 July 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Колекція "Індиго": Gunia Project присвятили капсульну серію одному кольору". L'Officiel (in Ukrainian). 9 October 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  20. ^ "GUNIA Project презентує нову колекцію "Freedom"". Marie Claire UA (in Ukrainian). 31 May 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  21. ^ "GUNIA Project продовжує діяльність і презентує колекцію "Атланти"". ELLE Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 6 May 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  22. ^ "GUNIA Project переосмислюють українські весільні традиції у колекції "Коровай"". Insider UA (in Ukrainian). 29 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  23. ^ "Ukrainian Fashion Week SS25: показ GUNIA Project". ELLE Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 2 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  24. ^ ""Дивосвіт": Gunia Project представляє новорічну колекцію". L'Officiel UA (in Ukrainian). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  25. ^ "Серце свою волю має: Gunia Project випустили нову прикрасу". Vogue UA (in Ukrainian). 16 August 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  26. ^ ""Скіфське золото": GUNIA Project представляють благодійну прикрасу". Bestin UA (in Ukrainian). 28 June 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  27. ^ "Що варто знати про книгу "Україна та українці"". Harper's Bazaar Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 9 June 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
[edit]