At an event on Thursday, 3 March, Queen Letizia of Spain used fashion to make a statement in support of Ukraine. While Letizia and other female royals are often watched for their fashion choices, this look has gone beyond supporting national designers and has made a political statement.
At a meeting at the Mutua Madrilena Foundation Grants for Social Projects in Madrid, Letizia paired a vyshyvanka blouse with a pair of slim-fitting black trousers, black heels, and a black clutch. She was there to celebrate the projects chosen for the 10th year of the competition, and met with those chosen. She also presented an award to the “Building Bridges” project.
The vyshyvanka is a traditional piece of Ukrainian clothing, and dates back hundreds of years. It can either be worn as a shirt for men or a blouse for women.
The unique embroidery is significant, the patterns and designs have meaning for the wearer. There are specific patterns and stitches in different regions, and some believe that the vyshyvanka can help ward off bad luck. Vyshyvankas are typically embroidered by hand, and can take weeks or even months to be completed.
On 19 May each year, Ukrainians will wear their vyshyvankas to celebrate the garment and their history.
This is not the first time that the vyshyvanka has been used politically. After the Euromaiden protests in 2015 where Ukrainians took to the streets to protest the Ukrainian government’s choice to decline signing with the European Union and instead work more closely with Russia, the vyshyvanka quickly became a popular clothing choice and Ukrainian designers once again turned to the garment for their collections.
Letizia’s husband, King Felipe VI of Spain, has decried the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stating that it is “an unacceptable aggression against a sovereign and independent nation”. Felipe was one of the first European monarchs to publicly speak about the conflict. As Ukraine’s bid for EU membership has been fast-tracked, we may soon see other monarchs speaking out, as well.
