Wonderworld

The new GUNIA Project collection explores a wide spectrum of expressions of Ukrainian artistic identity, from museum objects to everyday household items and house wall paintings. Revisited in the context of modern life, authentic elements embellish a range of clothing, jewelry, ceramics, and New Year’s decorations, forming a whole other “WONDERWORLD”.

Elaborating on a winter wardrobe, the brand offers a unique, naïve take on key essentials. A staple sweatshirt is adorned with a sharp collar, cotton and textured jersey sets are embellished with patches, and a cardigan with decorative loops reinterprets the gunia—a type of Hutsul outerwear. Oversized alpaca and merino wool sweaters are adorned with embroidery inspired by house wall paintings from the Uman and Kamianets regions, with each sweater taking up to 18 hours to complete by hand. The opulence of the knitwear is balanced by a monochrome wool and cashmere coat, entirely handcrafted over 16 hours. Decorative carvings and wall paintings also inspire the ornamentation on embroidered shirts, a traditional feature of the GUNIA Project collections. Alongside classic silhouettes are shirts with puffy sleeves and lavish trims, designed for celebrations and special occasions.

 The jewelry line is defined by the image of a serpent, a symbol of the upcoming year 2025. In the designs of the GUNIA Project, its vision originates from an animalistic gold ring from the 3rd century BC found in the city of Tyras, a 19th-century striker from the Hutsul region, and the depiction of the constellation of the serpent in the atlas by Stanislav Liubynetsky from 1668. Silver and gold plating are combined with colored enamel and pearls, while intricate filigree work contrasts with bold forms that draw attention. The multifunctionality and versatility of the jewelry are embodied in mono earrings and a set of pendants that can be worn with both earrings and a chain. The 'Lantsky' necklace merges the authenticity of the namesake beaded necklace from the 19th century in Zakarpattia with the flamboyance of evening jewelry.

The image of a serpent is also incorporated in the collection of ceramics designed specifically for the holidays, ready to serve throughout the year. The depictions of angels in the ceramic paintings draw on the aesthetics of embroidered rushnyk of an unknown origin, while the cat motifs evoke the painting "Flowers with Kittens" from the 20th century, sourced from the Left Bank of the Cherkasy region from the Mykola Babak Foundation. The ouroboros references an engraving by Oleksandr Tarasevych. Another statement element in the ceramics and jewelry is the bow, inspired by the upper part of a traditional Ukrainian dukach necklace, created by a local jeweler from the Chernihiv region. Meanwhile, the star motifs, hand-painted in gold on the ceramic pieces, pay homage to the Star of Bethlehem from the collection of the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine. The cozy holiday atmosphere is enhanced by soy wax candles in ceramic forms featuring new scents. GUNIA also embraces the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree, presenting a variety of Christmas tree ornaments that are hand-painted and hand-crafted in the form of characters from the "WONDERWORLD" collection.

The multifaceted nature of the Ukrainian folk cultural tradition is reflected in experiments with techniques, forms, and colors. While capturing the fairy-tale-like spirit of the New Year, GUNIA's "WONDERWORLD" is not a parallel dimension, but rather wonders that we can discover if we pay attention. These are also the wonders we can create ourselves.

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