Paris, July 2025: During Paris Couture Week, La Galerie Bourbon, one of the most iconic venues in the French capital, became the stage for an artistic dialogue between East and West. For the first time, the city hosted an exclusive fashion event dedicated to the creative talent of Belarus and other Eastern European countries, bringing to the runway collections that merge craftsmanship, identity, and contemporary vision.
Curated by Yanina Hancharova, cultural entrepreneur and founder of Belarus Fashion Week, the event showcased a handpicked selection of designers who use fashion as a language to tell stories of roots and innovation.
“Fashion is a bridge that connects cultures, countries, and people. This project is a tribute to Marc Chagall, an artist who kept the memory of his homeland alive even in Paris, the capital of art,” says Hancharova.
Vitebsk to Paris: A Cultural Bridge Between Belarus and France
At the heart of the initiative was a collaborative project that brought together three designers from Vitebsk, Marc Chagall’s hometown: Tarakanova, T.Efremova, and Marina Davidova. Their collections, while stylistically distinct, share a poetic essence and a deep connection to Chagall’s artistic legacy.
Ethical Streetwear with an Artistic Soul
A fashion design lecturer and menswear designer, Tarakanova presented a collection inspired by Chagall’s iconic works, including Lovers, reinterpreting his signature colors like soft pinks, greens, and blues. “We showcased just days after Chagall’s birthday, in Paris, the city where he found his artistic home. It feels like a magical coincidence” she said.
Her garments, made from jacquard and 100% cotton, are designed to last, some reversible, some modular.“I work with natural fabrics sourced from Vitebsk. For me, sustainability also means creating clothes that can be worn in many different ways”.
Graphic Elegance and Sheer Expression
T.Efremova’s collection played in black and white, with sheer fabrics and sleek silhouettes creating a visual rhythm. Her looks evoke mysterious, elegant women, gloved and graceful, like characters stepping out of a Chagall painting. Efremova, who has already shown in Paris, Turkey, and China, focuses on exclusive capsules and custom-made creations.“I’m proud to share my hometown with Chagall. My collection is rooted in that same soil, and expresses that legacy in a modern way.”
Floating Dreams and Textile Art
Davidova’s collection, MA VIE, titled after Chagall’s memoir, featured sculptural garments using a technique she calls “floating clothes,” where wire is embedded in the fabric to create light, moving forms.“It’s like the clothes stepped right out of a painting,” she explained.
The pieces, decorated with embroidery and custom prints inspired by Chagall’s works, are made from natural materials such as cotton, linen, silk and viscose. She also designed and crafted all accessories shown, including original handbags.
Timeless Femininity
Among the most poetic collections was that of Radapola, the brand founded by Ukrainian-born designer Yulia Radapola, now based in Bulgaria. Every garment is handmade and can take up to 50 hours to complete.“My fashion celebrates the strong, unforgettable woman, someone who shines in clothes that don’t follow trends but rise above them,” says the designer.
With structured corsets and vintage-inspired silhouettes, Radapola’s designs offer a sense of timeless beauty and confidence.
A Paradise for the Free Woman
From Georgia, Sofia Kharci brought Abracadabra, a colorful, symbolic, and artisanal collection.“Paris is like a painting, a source of inspiration. You can feel creativity in the air here,” she said. Working with fabrics from Italy and Turkey, she transforms each piece by hand, painting, stitching, and personalizing it with artistic flair. My soul is Georgian, but through my creations I speak a universal language.”
Fashion as Empowerment
Ukrainian designer Nati Rudnitskaya, active between Valencia and Paris, presented a collection aimed at strong, self-assured women. With a growing digital presence and a background in both modeling and design, she’s one of the most promising names in Eastern European fashion. Her elegant, stylish looks are designed to empower and express modern femininity with bold glamour and confidence.
Soft Elegance
Svetlana Gritsuk, designer behind FOR YOU, offered a sophisticated and versatile collection featuring high-quality fabrics, soft colors, and timeless feminine cuts, ideal for both formal occasions and casual chic moments. A romantic balance between tradition and modernity. Every detail in her garments has a story to tell.
A New Chapter for Eastern European Fashion
The show at Galerie Bourbon was more than just a fashion event — it was a cultural act, a gesture of openness and exchange. For many of the designers, Paris remains a key destination where creativity meets recognition.
“Every brand wants to be in Paris,” said Hancharova. “It’s essential for brand image. Here, fashion becomes a bridge between cultures and we have something to say to the world.”
With Marc Chagall Crystal Bridge, Yanina Hancharova has charted a new course for fashion from the East, not just a runway show, but a true cultural project where fashion becomes a living bridge between countries, generations, and creative languages. A bridge from past to future, from memory to innovation, from Belarus to the beating heart of European style.
By Dinah de Fina