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30 OUR LIFE • July 2025 ДІЯЛЬНІСТЬ ВІДДІЛІВ І ЧЛЕНКИНЬ • BRANCH & MEMBER NEWS Ukrainian Embroidery – Art in Fashion To plan an event of this scope was formidable, but with the vision and tenacity of Branch 56 culture chair Dr. Kateryna (Katia) Steciuk-Shevchuk, it be - came possible. The event was titled Ukrainian Embroidery – Art in Fashion. Katia envisioned a spectacular fundraiser for the suffering children hospitalized in Ukraine, an event that would interest everyone who wanted to learn more about Ukraine and its beautiful culture. It had to be classic and unique to bring in a large crowd. Starting about a year in advance, Katia gathered her committee from Branch 56 members and the Ukrainian community in North Port and started assembling a collection of Ukrainian embroi - dery from private collections. The embroidered attire ranged from the 1800s to today’s mod - ern designers, such as Oksana Karavanska and BCBG Azria. The oldest dress to be shown, cross-stitched in 1850, came from a museum in Kyiv to the U.S. in 1980. So many in the communi - ty enthusiastically offered to help put together a great show. Beautiful headdresses/vinky to accentuate the 62 ensembles for the fashion show were cre - ated. Others, even some enthu - siastic children, offered to be models. Several women offered to organize the silent and ticket auctions, gathering such unique items as a Trypillian floor vase, a vyshyvanka dress, and unique necklaces/korali. Ukrainian Embroidery – Art in Fashion took place March Photo: Oksana Piaseckyj Dr. Kateryna (Katia) Steciuk-Shevchuk. 15 at the Plantation Country Club in Venice, FL, an elegant venue for special events in the area. The cultural celebration began with a cocktail hour, giving attendees the oppor - tunity to view the beautiful auction items and make their bids. Lunch followed, with the president of Branch 56, Dr. Inya Tunstall, welcoming everyone to this special program. Father Dmytro Kasiyan blessed the oc - casion with a prayer. The main event — the fash - ion show — was introduced by Katia Steciuk-Shevchuk. With soft Ukrainian music playing in the background, Katia and Ksenia Rakowsky interchange - ably described the array of costumes. First on the run - way was a Hetman in Cossack dress from the 18th century with his spouse from Poltava, who greeted their guests with the customary bread and salt on a rushnyk (ritual cloth). As they left the runway, 25 models ranging from 4 years old to sen - ior citizens proudly presented the various regions of Ukraine, sometimes coquettishly posing to make sure that everyone in the audience saw the amazing workmanship of the dress or blouse. The regions of Ukraine represented were: Bukovyna, Lviv, Kyiv, Borshchiv, Ternopil, Poltava, Hutsul, Pokuttia, Trans- carpathia, Western and Eastern Ukraine. Various forms of stitch techniques were represented in the garments: cross stitch, nyzynka, hlad, merezhka, ver - choplut, beading, tkanyna (wo - ven fabric). The three catego - ries presented were traditional, contemporary (dressy day wear to evening attire), and modern glamour (evening wear to brid - al). The stunning finale featured three wedding dresses: a mod - ern dress with red embroidered trim from Lviv; a golden wed - ding dress with a headdress to match, and a special white dress that was hand-embroi - dered by the bride. The overall effect of these beautiful vyshy - vanky was mesmerizing. Many in the sold-out audience of 300 expressed their awe, as they had never witnessed such a spectacular fashion show. After the models returned to the runway for a final dis - play and much applause, the program continued with Oksa - na Piaseckyj, UNWLA National Culture Chair, speaking about the role of the UNWLA over the past 100 years with a brief outline of its story. She noted that the UNWLA’s mission was to deepen knowledge and ap - preciation of Ukrainian culture, to support youth activities that would ensure the continuity of ties with their Ukrainian herit - age, and to gain Ukrainian sov - ereignty along with assuring women’s rights. The UNWLA’s mission is to advocate, edu - cate, cultivate, and care. The organization’s 100th anniversa - ry will be celebrated with vari - ous branch events, culminating with a gala in New York City on October 19. At the end of the program, the lucky recipients of the auc - tion items were announced. The very successful fundraiser ended with $23,000 collect - ed for the suffering children in Ukraine. Bravo on a job well done! Oksana Piaseckyj, Branch 56 Photo: Meg & Mike Photography & Ven - ice Photo Booth
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