“Blessed Ukraine”. Ternopil in Kyiv.

The demonstration of national costumes from Vira Matkovska’s private collection “Borshchivska sorochka” took place in Kyiv on September 11, 2015. The show was held during the event “Blessed Ukraine”. National embroidered shirts were worn by the TV presenters Katya Osadcha and Snizhana Yehorova, singers Mariya Yaremchuk and Masha Sobko, actress Olha Sumska, model Santa Dimopulos, President’s advisor for humanitarian issues Olha Bohomolets. Men’s shirts were demonstrated by the singers Vitaliy Kozlovskyi, Petya Chornyi, Ivo Bobul and many others. The collector Vira Matkovska said, ‘My collection is unique since its items have been collected in only one area which is Borshchiv district of Ternopil region. There are no analogues of this technique, since black thread made from the wool of a young lamb is used to embroider these shirts. This type of thread does not lose colour. All the shirts in my collection are at least 100 years old.’ The aim of this exhibition is to popularize embroidery, make it a recognizable and stylish element, so that Ukrainians could be identified in the world by an embroidered shirt. By the way, the models wore national costumes from Borshchiv district. Some of the costumes are more than 100 years old and they are unique and priceless. This event provided an opportunity to present and popularize great examples of spiritual culture of Ukraine in its evolution from traditions to the modern age.