Photo Credits: Courtesy of Khrystina Kurliak

Fashion, at its most profound, ceases to be fabric, cut, or trend. It becomes language — a silent narrative that translates the ineffable: the emotions we conceal, the memories we carry, the fragility and strength that coexist within us. Every garment, every line traced upon paper, every fold of fabric is not mere ornament, but a fragment of a story searching for eternity within the ephemeral.

Khrystyna Kurliak approaches this truth with rare sensitivity. For her, creation does not begin with a theme, nor with the dictates of season or market. It arises from an inner state demanding expression — joy that bursts forth, pain that insists on being voiced, beauty that survives even in the shadow of loss. Her process is intimate, instinctive, and often touched by mystery, as if the work itself reveals what it was always meant to become.

Through her vision, the house of Khris K is more than a brand; it is a living manifesto where fashion becomes resilience, memory, and an act of defiance against impermanence. In her hands, experimentation and tradition are not opposites but entwined forces, revealing silhouettes that move without boundaries, sculpted like petals yet anchored in strength. True luxury, in this universe, is never excess; it is found in the unrepeatable detail, in the patient gesture of craftsmanship, in the fidelity to an artistic vision that is both delicate and unyielding.

What follows is not merely an interview about fashion, but an exploration of essence itself: a meditation on creation as dialogue between the aesthetic and the ethical, the transient and the eternal, the personal and the universal. A reminder that style, when it reaches its highest form, is not a fleeting embellishment but a living testimony of identity, resilience, and the beauty that refuses to vanish.

Your collections often feel like living narratives rather than sequences of garments. When you begin designing, what is the first impulse that ignites the creative process, and how does it evolve into a cohesive collection?

KK — Every one of my collections has been born in a different way. Sometimes the spark comes from a sudden glimpse – architecture, nature, music, a scene from a film I stumble upon by chance. Yet I believe nothing in life is accidental, so those moments feel destined rather than random. Other times the impulse rises from memory or from emotions I’ve carried and finally need to translate into form.

I don’t start with a fixed “theme.” It is more about an inner state – joy, pain, wonder, that demands expression. I may admire other haute couture designers, or be moved by art, music, or cinema, but the true origin is always an emotion. When I begin sketching, I trust the first feeling completely. I rarely redraw the same piece; often the first or second sketch becomes the final one.

Details may shift as the line emerges, almost as if my hand knows more than I do. That element of mystery is essential: each collection reveals itself to me while I create it, and in the end all the pieces align into a story that only becomes clear once the work is complete.

Fashion can be both ephemeral and eternal. As you translate ideas into form, how do you decide what should remain fluid and open to interpretation, and what requires precise definition?

The elements that never change are the emotions I want people to feel in my clothes – strength and the freedom of ideas. That emotional core shapes the unique style of Khris K, present from the very first collection and visible in the iconic peg-top silhouettes that keep reappearing.

At the same time, we experiment constantly with the details around the neck: stand collars and other collar shapes, sometimes high and architectural, sometimes softly rounded, become a quiet signature of the brand.

Almost 90% of our haute-couture pieces are one-of-a-kind, so leftover fabrics are never wasted. We transform remnants into textile-covered buttons, from silk to jacquard, turning them into a refined signature detail of Khris K. I never believe in staying static — new ideas keep the world alive. What will never change is the brand’s own creativity: silhouettes that move without boundaries, sculpted shapes that recall petals or leaves, hand-crafted forms that feel both classic and resilient, delicate yet edged with strength.

Could you describe the moment when sketches and abstract concepts start to take physical shape in fabric and silhouette? How do intuition and technical planning interact in this phase?

When I begin bringing a sketch to life, I first drape the chosen fabric on the mannequin to show my dressmakers the essence of the design. I allow my imagination to flow without boundaries, because fabric always has its own voice — you never know how it will behave once it touches the form.

Most of the time I stay faithful to my original sketch, yet I leave space for the unexpected. Sometimes, almost by accident, something unfolds — a line, a fold, a new proportion, that feels almost genius in its surprise. Those moments of mystery are the most joyful for me: when a design reveals an unexpected uniqueness that no page could predict.

As Ukrainian designers gain visibility on the international stage, what opportunities do you see for them to project the cultural, historical, and emotional identity of Ukraine into the global narrative?

For me, it’s fascinating to watch how Ukrainian designers are already shaking the fashion industry with bold new ideas. I see courage, resilience, elegance and a touch of rebellion. Our voice matters, and we will continue to create loudly to keep our authenticity, identity, and culture alive.

What inspires me most is the way Ukrainian creativity transforms pain into something luminous. Out of war and uncertainty, we are proving that beauty can be an act of resistance. Each collection becomes a declaration that our heritage will not disappear.

This is more than fashion, it is a cultural statement. I believe humanity, especially in art, needs this fearless spirit today — to be reminded that style is not just about trends, but about preserving the stories and emotions that define who we are.

Innovation often lies at the intersection of creativity and technique. How do you approach experimentation in your design process, and in what ways do you balance pushing boundaries with maintaining the core identity of your brand?

For me, experimentation begins as a quiet impulse, an urge to test what feels possible without losing the soul of the house. Khris K is recognised not by a single colour or seasonal trend, but by a way of creating: uncompromising demi- couture made from the highest-quality textiles, where 90 percent of the pieces can never be repeated.

Every collection is built on meticulous detail – handwork, unexpected finishes, even the way we transform leftover fabrics into our signature textile-covered buttons, because true luxury lives in those details.

People often use the word resilience casually, as if it were a marketing phrase. For me it is never a trend or a convenient slogan, it comes from lived experience: the pain of loss, the reality of war, and the need to keep the Ukrainian voice loud and present. That is the force that drives both my experimentation and the very identity of Khris K – honest, unrepeatable, and deeply rooted in something real.

Across your collections, there is a recurring tension between strength and fragility, structure and movement. Do you see this tension as a reflection of contemporary womanhood, of Ukrainian cultural identity, or primarily of your artistic vision?

It’s first and foremost an artistic vision. I believe every woman carries both strength and fragility, even if she chooses to reveal only one side. Through my creations I try to give space for both, to help that hidden side surface, and to show how beautifully these two forces can coexist.

Sustainability is increasingly central to design. How do ethical and aesthetic considerations interact in your work, and in what ways do they influence your choice of materials and techniques?

Haute Couture, at its core, is already a form of sustainability: made-to-order, built on quality, and designed to leave almost no waste. As ecological concerns have grown, this philosophy has only become more urgent.

At Khris K I follow the same principle – about 90% of our haute couture pieces are truly one-of-a-kind. I buy textiles only for a single creation, so the idea of repetition disappears.

When small offcuts remain, they never go to waste: we transform them into our signature textile-covered buttons, whether in silk, jacquard or wool. For me, ethics and aesthetics are inseparable — lasting beauty must also honour the planet. Sustainable fashion becomes a priority; it’s a key to a better future.

When creating, do you focus primarily on the woman who will wear your pieces, or do you also consider a broader cultural or symbolic narrative conveyed through your designs?

When I create, I don’t picture a specific woman — beauty belongs to every woman who chooses to wear something unique. My impulse is to bring more beauty into the world through ideas that hold personal meaning.

At times, my work carries a cultural or symbolic layer, especially when it speaks of strength and resilience, the very roots of Khris K. This voice of resilience is not a trend; it is a truth born of war, loss, and the unshakable spirit of Ukrainian identity.

Fashion Month gathers the world’s most prestigious designers and their collections on a single global stage, setting trends, inspiring dialogue, and shaping the future of contemporary fashion. From your perspective, what is the significance of this phenomenon, and how do you see it influencing the broader landscape of design, creativity, and cultural expression?

Fashion Month is far more than a sequence of shows, it’s a global conversation where culture and creativity meet. For me, it feels like the creative pulse of the world, a place where designers can share their inner vision and where new dialogues about identity, art, and society begin.

It is not only about the catwalks but also about the many other forms of expression it embraces – beautiful and unexpected exhibitions, immersive installations, special events, and creative collaborations that reveal fashion’s deeper narrative.

For me as a Ukrainian, it is also a space where our stories and the urgent voice can resonate loudly, carrying our cultural identity and authenticity into the global dialogue and helping to redefine the future of design and art.

Looking ahead, do you envision Khris K presenting runway shows or expanding its international presence? How do you hope your work will resonate globally while maintaining the emotional and philosophical depth that defines your brand?

Looking ahead, I see Khris K naturally expanding its presence internationally, but always in a way that protects the soul of the brand.

Whether through runway shows, curated exhibitions, or unexpected collaborations, what matters to me is that every presentation carries the same emotional and philosophical depth that defines my work.

My hope is that, wherever in the world someone encounters a Khris K piece, they feel not just the craftsmanship, but also the story – of resilience, beauty, and authenticity, that lives within every creation.