LONDON – Fashion designers in the British capital are using their influence to promote the “One Hour for Ukraine” initiative ahead of Christmas.
The event will see major British landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, Canterbury Cathedral, Lambeth Palace and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, and several other key locations in Paris, New York and Sydney switch off their festive lights for an hour at 8pm. local time. Wednesday, the darkest day of 2022.
Organized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s fundraising platform United24, members of the Ukrainian parliament, fashion and creative platform 1 Granary, and War Against War, an alternative media organization, “An Hour for Ukraine” is part of an effort to fundraising of $10 million for generators for hospitals across Ukraine this winter.
Olya Kuryshchuk, founder of 1 Granary, who was born in Ukraine and is now based in London after receiving a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from Central Saint Martins, urged brands to use their social media platform to encouraged their followers to join the initiative and turn off their lights for an hour at home from around the world to show their support for Ukraine.
Participating designers include Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault of Knwls, Richard Quinn, Charles Jeffrey, Stefan Cooke, Chopova Lowena, Kiko Kostadinov, Paolina Russo, Masha Popova, Sinéad O’Dwyer, Eftychia Karamolegkou, Lutz Huelle, Rhana, Jordan Dalah, Duran Lantink , Katie Burnett, Tallulah Harlech, Standing Ground’s Michael Stewart, Robyn Lynch and Goom Heo.
Kuryshchuk said “I’m part of the global fashion industry, but I’m also Ukrainian. Part of my family is still in Kiev and they have no electricity, heat, water, internet or phone connection along with over 10 million people. The awareness campaign “An Hour for Ukraine” was set up to bring attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in my country.”
A host of designers will be promoting the One Hour for Ukraine initiative on their social media to encourage their followers to turn off their lights for an hour at home from around the world to show their support for Ukraine.
The initiative has received support from Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
“Earlier this month, in Ukraine, I saw the suffering of Ukrainians facing the violence of the Russian regime, in a dark and cold winter without electricity. Jesus who comes into our world shares our lives and our pains, and we are called to do the same with our brothers and sisters… So I call on everyone to donate what they can to the United24 initiative, to help raise funds for paid hospital generators, “said Welby.
Khan said London would also stand in solidarity with Ukraine “on this shortest day and every day”, adding that “2022 will be a year defined by the heroism of the Ukrainian people in defending their homeland against the illegal occupation of President Putin As we all prepare for the Christmas holidays, this hour of darkness reminds us all of the hardships and deprivations that ordinary Ukrainians face every day as they live without power, heat and water in frigid temperatures. ”
