"Berezil": The BYME brand presented a collection-ode to Les Kurbas

The Ukrainian brand byMe presented the "Berezil" collection inspired by Les Kurbas and his theater.

"Berezil" was a phenomenon in the cultural and artistic life of Ukraine in the 1920s and 1930s. The theater was characterized by its innovative approach and quickly became synonymous with independence and bold creative experimentation. Kurbas was a talented Ukrainian director, actor, and playwright. He was also one of the representatives of the Executed Renaissance - a constellation of Ukrainian artists who were killed by the Soviet regime for their love of Ukraine.

During the creation of the collection, the byMe team spent five months researching the archives of the Museum of Theater, Music, and Cinema Arts of Ukraine, as well as studying literature related to the activities of Les Kurbas and "Berezil."

Museum materials - sketches, costumes, and scenery - served as the basis for expressive details on clothing and accessories. For example, elements from costume sketches for the plays "Gas" and "Mikado" by Vadym Meller, the chief artist of the Berezil theater, were incorporated into the embroidered cream-colored shirt. Additionally, the image of a small car from the set design for the play "Hello on Wave 477!" adorned a mini skirt.

"Les Kurbas is a person whose genius no one can deny, whose influence on Ukrainian culture cannot be overstated. Kurbas's biography is fascinating, but what strikes us the most is his worldview: he believed that the theater today should be as the society should be tomorrow. His activities went far beyond training directors and actors – it was about creating a new society, one that is constantly in motion and development," say the founders of byMe, Alina and Dmytro Serdyuk.

The designers also noted Les Kurbas's sophisticated style. One of their creations was inspired by a photograph of the artist in an embroidered shirt. byMe reproduced this ornament on one of the shirts. The collection also included scarves, emphasizing Kurbas's preference for wearing this accessory instead of a tie.

The collection presentation took place at the Ukrainian Small Drama Theater. In addition to clothing, the guests were shown the play "Maklena Grasa" – the last joint work of Les Kurbas and Mykola Kulish before their arrest and imprisonment.