Donetsk Region is beginning preparations for World Embroidery Day 2026. As part of the ‘Embroidered Donetsk Region’ project, communities in the region will come together to create a unique ‘shirt gallery’ that will become a symbol of our identity, resilience and cultural diversity.
This cultural and artistic initiative was launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Donetsk Regional State Administration and the Donetsk Regional Educational and Methodological Centre for Culture. Its aim is not simply to create clothing, but to explore the deep roots of our region. Through embroidery, each community will tell its story: from archaic ornaments to modern symbols of revival. The idea behind the event is to create ‘Community Embroideries’: a creative process where craftsmen, historians and Donetsk residents work together on designs that reflect the authenticity of a particular locality.
Each shirt is a work of art that combines authentic ornaments characteristic of our ancestors with elements symbolising the uniqueness of the modern community.
The campaign is being implemented in several stages, involving in-depth research and creative work. Community teams are studying archival materials, with a particular focus on authentic techniques that were used in Donetsk Oblast before the emergence of the popular ‘Brokarska’ embroidery.
Each community will record the process and result in a video, revealing the meaning of each symbol and colour.
Throughout the preparation period, the communities will highlight the stages of creating embroidered shirts on social media. In order for residents of the region and all of Ukraine to follow the progress of the campaign, the hashtag #Донеччина_Вишивана2026 has been introduced.
Join us in preserving traditions! Donetsk region is a land where embroidery comes to life and history intertwines with modernity.