10% new items by sustainable brands, 30% thrifted finds, 60% Ukrainian brands = my 2024 summer wardrobe. This year I made a personal commitment to research, shop and promote Ukrainian brands more than I ever have and this post is here to share my findings: 4 brands that create and produce high quality pieces made in Ukraine, with fairly affordable price tags and durability you can’t deny: JUL, Balcony Garment, The Lace and Udler.
I want to focus this post on how you can shop and have these brands deliver to your location outside of Ukraine – the experiences are fairly simple and standard but sometimes require additional comms or have their own nuances you can be prepared for. Generally, delivery costs from Ukraine to NYC range between $20-$35 and timelines range between 1-3 weeks.
JUL is a Ukrainian clothing brand committed to making stylish, high-quality fashion accessible to everyone. With a focus on inclusivity, they design pieces that cater to all body types and lifestyles, ensuring that fashion isn’t just a luxury for the few. Each collection is crafted with care in Ukraine, blending timeless designs with current trends to create versatile wardrobe staples.
My purchase from JUL included: a men’s “Halya Carries Water” T-shirt in M for $27, a white oversized button down top for $59 and a pair of light knitted biker shorts for $40 (I will wear biker shorts even when it’s the biggest anti-trend, you can’t convince me otherwise.) On this trip, I wore their T-shirt styled with a casual white mini skirt, flat sandals, minimal jewelry and a bun because 95 degrees is no time for blowouts.
Shopping experience and UX of the website: super easy. The website is translated to English already so no need for right-clicks and translations, the shopping process is your standard add-to-cart and payment via Fondy is simple with an email receipt. The brand communicated with me via email re: updates on my order and delivery time was about a few weeks to NYC via UkrPoshta.
Check out the brand here: https://jul.ua/en
Balcony Garment is a Ukrainian brand specializing in home, sleep, and leisurewear, designed to embody the essence of comfort, personal space, and harmony with oneself and the world. Using soft natural fabrics and modern minimalist cuts, Balcony Garment focuses on creating cozy, high-quality pieces with meticulous attention to detail. Proudly made in Ukraine, all products are crafted in their Lviv-based production facility, with a flagship store located in Kyiv.
My purchase from Balcony included: a wheat necklace for $82, a light blue striped shorts/button down set (pictured in this post and costing $43 for the top and $36 for the shorts) and a similar set in white ($60 for the top and $41 for the shorts). The blue set reminds me of comfortable but wearable pjs and is the absolute most perfect look for insanely hot summer days – OR – when traveling and adjusting to jet lag. I styled it with a crop top, Rothy’s flats and an Udler bag and would describe this style: rolled-out-of-bed-chic.
Shopping experience and UX of the website: easy, but be prepared for additional communication. The website is in Ukrainian and you can translate it with your browser. The brand communicated with me via email and also Instagram message – they calculate the cost of shipping post-placing the order and send you an additional link to pay for it. If the shipping cost is given in UAH, you can see the conversion to USD with a simple google search. Delivery took a few weeks to NYC and had zero issues or surprises.
Check out the brand here: https://balconygarment.com/
The Lace is a Ukrainian brand known for its feminine and minimalist clothing, founded by Albina and Igor Krasnyi in 2016. The brand’s name reflects its origins, as the first dresses were adorned with lace, symbolizing elegance – the core of The Lace’s identity. Over the past six years, The Lace has grown to open four boutiques in Kyiv and Lviv and amassed a strong online presence. Each piece is crafted locally in Ukraine with care, often in limited editions, using exclusive fabrics sourced from Italy to ensure uniqueness and quality.
Lace is my new obsession, so I purchased more than half of the new things I’m wearing this summer from them, including these items I wore in Italy: relaxed striped T-shirt for $25, white Modena shorts for $38, my new Vyshyvanka midi for $98, and a white Modena mini skirt for $38. Each item is classic and versatile in their own way so I easily styled them for very casual comfy looks on this trip with minimal jewelry, casual up-dos and comfy flats and sandals.
Shopping experience and UX of the website: standard, with no additional communication required. The website has English localization already available, as well as Ukrainian language. The shopping process doesn’t differ from any other global retailer – add to cart, pay on the spot, get shopping and shipping confirmation emails and expect your package. The email comms are in Ukrainian though, but those are also easy to translate.
Check out the brand here: https://thelace.com.ua/en/
Udler is a Ukrainian brand founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife duo Andriy and Zhanna Udler. Known for their versatile bags, backpacks, and wallets, Udler places a strong emphasis on craftsmanship. All of their products are made in Kyiv, allowing for meticulous quality control and a commitment to creating items with unique identities. Udler proves that “Made in Ukraine” can stand for exceptional quality, winning hearts both locally and internationally.
I own a few bags by Udler I purchased over the last few years, so I can guarantee purchase satisfaction with longer experience now. The bag I wore on this trip most often is this white Madlena for about $40 – originally sold with this navy detachable strap, giving you possibilities to customize the bag in the future. I have about 6 other bags by the brand, including my white travel backpack, a light pink bag I purchased in-person in Kyiv in 2019, my gym bag and a large shopper I gifted to my mom. So this is my affordable accessory go-to brand.
Shopping experience and UX of the website: also easy but required some additional communication. The website is in Ukrainian but it’s easy to translate to any other language with your browser. After you place an order, the brand communicates via email to confirm your address, calculate shipping costs and request via PayPal and also send you photos of your exact items purchased for additional confirmation. The last time I placed an order was in 2022, so the process could’ve changed but I can at the very least guarantee easy communication and responsiveness. Delivery time was about 2 weeks to NYC.
Check out the brand here: https://udler.store/
On this blog, we talk about ethical fashion, brands and trends transforming the industry and we also support Ukraine – quick break to donate $5!
Support the Armed Forces of Ukraine through donations for tactical & military aid.
Support the Armed Forces of Ukraine through financing purely defence initiatives.
Support my hometown – Sumy. Money raised is used to support territorial defenses.
Support a volunteer association “Zgraya” – helping soldiers, civilians & animals.
Donate to purchase medicine to send to wounded soldiers & hospitals on the front lines.
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I approach this blog as a diary – taking you on my honest sustainable fashion & lifestyle journey, with sustainability aspects I slowly adopt, struggle with and feel passionate about. I’m building INNABOSE.COM to be an informative, visual & creative resource inspiring even the smallest changes in the world.
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I’m also a Ukrainian New Yorker – having strong pride and patriotism for both: my homeland 
and my current home 
. For years, I’ve been on a side mission to capture my stunning NYC and elevate the depth and beauty of my Ukrainian culture, fashion and language (some of my posts are in Ukrainian!)
February 24, 2022 – my digital space shifted to include information about russia’s war on Ukraine, the devastation and destruction my home country is dealing with and the bravery, strength and inspiring spirit they are facing it with. A large portion of my posts today highlight Ukrainian brands, fashion, culture & the strong, incredible Ukrainians making gorgeous clothes you can buy & support local businesses, economy & people fighting for freedom every day. We are also a community who donates to Ukrainian organizations found in any of my recent posts!
#standwithukraine
Inna Bose
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