Olga Ivanidi – Anna Yudaeva
Fashion with a Mission: Fashion 4 Ukraine Redefines NYFW – F4U is transforming New York Fashion Week into a platform of cultural defiance and creative brilliance, championing Ukrainian designers with unapologetic pride. Launched in 2024, it’s the only recurring NYFW event solely dedicated to Ukrainian talent, connecting them with global buyers, media, and industry insiders. With sold-out shows and growing acclaim, F4U isn’t just a showcase – it’s a movement, redefining fashion’s global narrative by spotlighting resilience, innovation, and the artistry of a nation determined to be seen.
One of the most powerful stories to emerge from F4U is that of Anna Yudaeva, a Ukrainian designer who found healing and inspiration through the show. After fleeing the war and relocating to New York, Anna was hesitant to return to designing. She had lost her studio in Irpin and was emotionally drained.
“When I was looking for designers for our first season, a friend referred me to Anna,” recalls Olga. “At first, she said no – she had no strength, no vision left. But I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I kept encouraging her until she finally said yes.”
At the heart of this revolution is Olga Ivanidi—international model, entrepreneur, and the visionary behind F4U. With over a decade on the runways of New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, Olga knows the industry inside and out. But in February 2024, she noticed something missing: Ukrainian designers were absent from the NYFW official schedule.
“I kept hearing people ask if this was just a ‘vyshyvanka show,’” says Olga. “But Ukrainian fashion is so much more than embroidery. It’s daring, modern, elegant. After our first season, jaws were on the floor. By Season 2, the buzz was undeniable.”
For Olga, F4U isn’t just professional—it’s deeply personal. Though she’s lived in the U.S. for nearly 15 years, her heart remains in Kherson, the Ukrainian city devastated by Russian occupation. Her mother still lives there, and daily phone calls bring stories of survival, heartbreak, and hope. That pain became her fuel.
The third season of the show coming up in September 2025 will continue this collaboration and will be dedicated to the love that Ukrainian-American team shares for New York and is perfectly reflected in the photo shoot done exclusively for Lazin: Ukrainian quality and grace against Big Apple backdrop. If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere- and Ukrainian designers are a living proof of that!
Team at Fashion 4 Ukraine and Olga Ivanidi want to thank amazing glam team for an exclusive photo shoot: Hair stylists Olga Zagarovska, Marta Divel, and Iryna Abakumova; and make up artists Yelyzaveta Lysenko, Oleksandra Pshenytska, and Valarie Ambrosia; as well as gorgeous models Anna Karahodova, Layla DeFino, Vladyslava Kostovska, Olena Protsenko, Olga Ivanidi and Bella Licatovich; and photographers Anna Karahodova and Tetiana Asandi.
