What Ukraine Wears — outerwear lecture and voskivka workshop

VATAHA’s second What Ukraine Wears lecture explores traditional Ukrainian outerwear as living cultural heritage. Created by A. Khomenko and N. Klymiuk, the session introduces garments such as the sardak and kersetka, their meanings and traditions, and the different ways outerwear was worn across Ukraine.

Participants can see traditional garments up close, try them on and take photographs. The lecture is followed by a practical workshop making a voskivka, a traditional Ukrainian brooch, using an authentic craft technique. No previous experience is required, making this a way to explore clothing history through both discussion and hands-on work.

The session takes place on Saturday 24 October 2026 from 13:00 to 16:00 at Leiden University, Spui 5, 2511 BL The Hague. Times are local Netherlands time. Participation is free, with optional donations welcome.

Advance registration closes on 20 October. The organizer states that additional participants cannot be accepted after that deadline, so use the event’s booking page to register in time. Programme language, age restrictions and accessibility arrangements are not specified.

The project is organized by VATAHA Foundation in partnership with ABBA, Vytivka and Ukrainian House, with thanks to O. Kosmina for help developing the lecture content. Official artwork: photograph by A. Bielchenko; model and lecture illustrator S. Khomenko.

Original event and registration