Ukrainian fashion designer Yana Smaglo launches latest range after making new home in Yorkshire

Having only had 15 minutes to throw her possessions in a bag, Yana left Ukraine last February with her laptop, a rucksack, and nothing but hope for starting a new career and life in a different country.

The designer had a successful women’s clothes and beauty business in Kyiv when Russia invaded the country.

After initially getting to Lviv, she then travelled through Poland and Germany before eventually reaching England, where she has made her home in Leeds.

During 2022 she received support from a number of local Yorkshire businesses, enabling her to launch a website, new brand ‘Nenya’, and start supporting herself.

Antonia Kinlan, who spearheaded the support group, said: “It has been an honour and privilege to work with Yana over the last year and to see the brand Nenya take shape from the pop-up shops we did in the autumn and winter, to her push for online and wholesale contacts in 2023.

"Having arrived in the UK with very few contacts and friends nearby, and literally leaving her business and whole life behind, she has thrived on the support she has been given.”

Yana herself returned to Ukraine over Christmas, both to source her new stock and visit friends she had left behind.

She said: “I am determined to continue to support companies in Ukraine, to showcase Ukrainian talent to people in the UK and keep spreading the word that we need ongoing support.

"We have some fantastic fashion labels and designs, and I just need help getting these established in the UK.

"It was an overwhelming experience going back home. One day you would be out shopping and eating in restaurants, and the next sheltering in the basement as the bomb sirens sounded.”

Yana did however manage to source a new range of fashion for the spring, which launches this month.

She said: “I am genuinely proud of the products that we are still able to create in Ukraine, whilst the war continues around the factories.

"For this reason I hope that people will support the spring fashion range and go to my website to order the clothes.

"I do still need wholesale contacts, so would welcome any boutiques or major chains to get in touch and help me support my country and its people.”

When The Yorkshire Post first spoke to Yana last year as he sought to establish a business in this country, she explained that her and other refugees fleeing Ukraine were very keen to find work and not be dependent on Government support.

She said at the time: “You have to understand Ukrainian culture. People from Ukraine work a lot and work hard all the time.

“I want to be part of this country and be useful. I know the more taxes I pay, the better my life will be – from the medical system to better transport. This is how an economy works. It’s a simple thing.”

For more details contact Yana on [email protected]