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Pantelyk in New York: ethnic conFUSION

Pantelyk in New York: ethnic conFUSION

For those who do not know or forgot what word "pantelyk" means. It is to be confused. "Не збивай мене з пантелику", we say in Ukrainian, and in English - "Do not confuse me". 

From the look of it, people in New York liked to be confused because many of them attended this event which took place in a stunning old building on the Fifth Avenue, Ukrainian Institute of America. Ira Lysa is a young Ukrainian designer from Lviv. It was already her second fashion show but first one in New York. 

I met Ira personally before but then I did not know that she was a designer. Then it was just Ira with whom we packed boxes in Passaic, NJ for the children in Ukraine (#ToyDrive). It was #ToyDrive project organized by Razom

Ira created all the designs and made every piece by herself. Embroidery elements that she incorporated in her models, it was work of Tereza Barabash and ceramic jewelry by Bohdan Kucharsky. It was not just a fashion show, it was a full performance with music, video and lights created by Myroslav Trofymuk and Volodymyr Stetskovych. 

It was also nice to see many Ukrainian celebrities and rising stars: Ukrainian film-makers Damian Kolodiy and Lesya Kalynska, painter and makeup artist Oksana Izbyanska, and Mis Ukrainka in New York Kristina Balanetskaya

Guests had a chance to watch not only fashion show but they were able to see beautiful paintings by Ganna Kryvolap which are currently on display at the Institute. We were walking by some $15,000 art works. Those who are interested in Ganna Kryvolap's exhibition, it will be at the Institute till October 10, 2015.

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I had a chance to speak to Ira Lysa at the fashion show, and her interview is coming up very soon. Stay tuned. To order Ira's designs, please contact her directly through Facebook