On World Vyshyvanka Day, which this year marks the 20th anniversary of its inception, Donetsk Oblast presented the results of the regional cultural and artistic campaign ‘Embroidered Donetsk Oblast 2026’.
The project was organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Regional State Administration in collaboration with the Donetsk Regional Educational and Methodological Centre for Culture, with the support of the Donetsk Regional State Administration. The presentation was attended by the Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Shevchenko, who congratulated the campaign participants and emphasised the importance of preserving Ukrainian traditions for future generations.
Today, the vyshyvanka has become a symbol of national memory, spiritual strength and love for one’s homeland, and for the Donetsk region it has taken on special significance as a sign of resilience, faith in the future and a strong connection to one’s roots. It was precisely these values that brought together 46 local communities across the region, who worked together to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of their native land.
Participation in the initiative became a creative project for the communities, a genuine collective endeavour that brought together historians, local historians, embroidery craftswomen, designers, seamstresses and artists. Each community worked on creating a unique shirt that reflected the distinctive features of the regional culture, authentic patterns and local traditions of the Donetsk region. The project participants carefully researched historical sources, sought out ancient patterns and transformed them into a contemporary artistic format.
Work on each shirt took place in several stages and required great attention to detail: from creating the concept and sketches to selecting fabrics, developing embroidery patterns, cutting and finishing. Thanks to this painstaking work, traditional Ukrainian embroidery has taken on a new dimension, combining historical heritage with a contemporary vision.
During the event, community representatives shared the stories behind their creations and showcased finished embroidered shirts or artistic visualisations of future pieces, in which they have embedded memories of their homeland, its history and the people who continue to preserve their cultural heritage through ornamentation, colours and patterns.
The organisers of the event expressed their sincere gratitude to all local communities, craftspeople, researchers, volunteers and everyone who contributed to the project. Thanks to this joint effort, Donetsk Oblast has once again demonstrated that Ukrainian culture is alive, strong and capable of uniting people around shared values and a love for their homeland.
You can follow the progress of the campaign on Facebook or via the hashtag #Донеччина_Вишивана2026
According to information from the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Regional State Administration