Evolution of Ukrainian president's vyshyvankas: All embroidered shirts Zelenskyy wore throughout years
Volodymyr and Olena Zelenska on Vyshyvanka Day (photo: x_com_ZelenskyyUa)
Every year during holidays, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olena Zelenska appear in embroidered shirts, and each of them is more than just a wardrobe piece—it is a message. From traditional Dnipropetrovsk embroidery to patriotic shirts with tanks and the trident, the presidential couple’s style has evolved along with the country. Here’s a look at all the Zelenskyy couple’s embroidered shirts and the stories behind them.
2020
In 2020, the Zelenskyy couple wore shirts by the brand ETNODIM. At the time, the manufacturer faced a wave of backlash and dissatisfaction from its audience, who interpreted the post as political.
These shirts are no longer available for purchase.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olena Zelenska’s embroidered shirts in 2020 (photo: instagram.com/zelenskyy_official)
2021
In 2021, Volodymyr Zelenskyy published a photo in an embroidered shirt with a radically different design, but he was accused of wearing something resembling a Russian kosovorotka.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olena Zelenska’s embroidered shirts in 2021 (photo: instagram.com/zelenskyy_official)
The designer of the presidential shirts, Artem Klymchuk, refuted the accusations.
"When creating the embroidered shirt for Volodymyr, we based it on the national costume of the Dnipropetrovsk region. In eastern Ukraine, a side slit on a shirt was a widely used element. It was very popular in the 19th century but lost its relevance after everything the Soviet Union did to our country," Klymchuk told Vogue.
Designer Artem Klymchuk assured that the shirt is a traditional Dnipro-style garment (screenshot)
Olena Zelenska, in turn, received comments suggesting that what she wore was "not an embroidered shirt, but just a blouse with embroidery." However, the First Lady assured that it was her region’s authentic Dnipropetrovsk ornament.
"In Dniprovshchina, where we were born and where my grandmother Shura was once born, traditional embroideries are black and red, and the cut of a woman’s shirt is unique, with a square neckline. That’s our regional embroidered hallmark," she wrote.
2022
In May, on Vyshyvanka Day, the president appeared in an embroidered shirt with a dark green pattern on a black background. This look combined traditional motifs with modern design, reflecting the resilience and national identity of Ukrainians during challenging times.
On Independence Day, August 24, 2022, Zelenskyy wore a khaki-colored embroidered shirt with a pattern that included images of tanks, armored vehicles, wheat ears, and people holding hands.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s embroidered shirt on Independence Day 2022 (photo: instagram.com/zelenskyy_official)
The designer of this pattern is Belarusian dissident and artist Rufina Bazlova. She lives in Europe and has been creating illustrations in a new genre for several years—protest embroidery. She also calls her works vyzhyvankas ("survival shirts"). The Kyiv atelier Indposhiv contacted the artist and offered to collaborate on a collection of patriotic clothing.
Bazlova agreed but did not expect that her drawings would adorn the shirt of the President of Ukraine. The embroidered linen shirt with machine-stitched ornamentation based on Bazlova’s design cost between $205 and $360 at the time.
2023
On Vyshyvanka Day, the president chose a shirt with ornaments symbolizing the unity of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar peoples. He made this choice because Vyshyvanka Day coincided with the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Crimean Tatar Genocide.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s embroidered shirt in 2023 (photo: instagram.com/zelenskyy_official)
2024
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s embroidered shirt for Easter 2024 was done in a military style. It was made by the brand Varenyky Fashion. The shirt was a creamy color, while the collar and sleeve details were in a pixel camouflage pattern, symbolizing war. The embroidery on the festive attire incorporated military camouflage.
The shirt’s ornament symbolizes abundance and a long, happy life. The talisman protects against the evil eye of ill-wishers. The shirt reflects our times, adorned with military camouflage.
The model’s price today is around $350.
On Vyshyvanka Day in May 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy wore a shirt by ETNODIM called Vidsich (Repulse). It is a straight-cut shirt with a stand-up collar and a front slit with a snap button. The collar, front panel, and cuffs are embroidered, and the back features a yoke.
The shirt also includes an ornament featuring the equilateral cross, mace, sword, oak leaves, and a stylized coat of arms. These elements symbolize bravery, strength, struggle, and the historical path of Ukraine. The model’s price is around $115.
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s embroidered shirt in 2024 (photo: instagram.com/zelenskyy_official)
2025
This year, Volodymyr Zelenskyy chose a dark gray embroidered shirt with a geometric pattern stitched in black thread. The pattern runs vertically down the center of the shirt, with a strong emphasis on the stand-up collar, giving the outfit a restrained solemnity and deep symbolism.
This choice reflects respect for Ukrainian traditions, and the dark palette underscores the seriousness of the moment and the depth of emotion tied to the current challenges facing the country.
The brand of the embroidered shirt is currently unknown.
You may be interested in:
- Ukrainian vyshyvanka brands known in Ukraine and abroad
- What the colors on Ukrainian vyshyvankas mean
Sources: Instagram, Telegram channel, YouTube channel of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vogue article, websites of the brands Varenyky Fashion and ETNODIM.
