CSM student Gina Grünwald launches collection to raise funds for Ukraine
- Written byInternal Communications
- Published date 02 January 2024
In response to the invasion of Ukraine, Central Saint Martins Fashion Design with Knitwear student Gina Grünwald has launched a limited edition collection of their signature Plex Bags inspired by Ukrainian culture, to be sold at an online fundraising raffle.
GRNW launched in 2020 at the height of the pandemic as a zero-waste studio which aims to respond to the social and environmental issues of our time. The Kobzar Collection was named in honour of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, and has been developed by a carefully-curated team of young, predominantly Slavic creatives.
The collection includes three sustainable, handmade Plex Bags, assembled from off cuts from local Plexiglass factories. The pieces are coloured sky-blue and sunflower-yellow, and feature engravings which reflect different aspects of Ukrainian culture. The Batkivshchyna (“Fatherland”) Bag is adorned with the poetry of Taras Shevchenko, Lina Kostenko, and Volodymyr Sosiura, all of whom actively expressed their love for their homeland despite their oppression. The Tryzub (“Trident”) Bag highlights the trident at the heart of the Ukrainian coat of arms, and The Vyshyvanka Bag celebrates the embroidery on Ukrainian national costume.
Gina says “To not do anything for Ukraine was never an option. Active and substantial support for social justice issues is exactly what the brand stands for. It was also a priority to uplift Ukrainian voices; that’s why the collection was made in close collaboration with Ukrainian creatives and a grassroots Ukrainian organisation.”
Buy your raffle tickets
Want to be in with a chance to win one of these bags? You can now buy raffle tickets on ginagrnw.com from 6 – 20 May. All proceeds from the raffle will go to Marsh Zhinok, a feminist Ukrainian community organisation working tirelessly to support people — especially women — fleeing war in Ukraine.
- 1 entry ticket is £25
- You can enter as many times as you like
- There will be 5 lucky winners at the end
- 100% of proceeds will be donated to @MarshZhinok
- Free worldwide shipping
Credits
Gina is currently in her third year at Central Saint Martins, and collaborated with several other CSM students on this project. All garments worn by the models are made by students from the College - Aminat D Seriki (Fashion Design with Marketing), Fauve Penketh (Fashion Design with Womenswear) and Mariia Ershova (Fashion Design with Womenswear). Here's a full round-up of all the talented creatives who brought this project together:
- Photography & Set Design - Johann Kööp
- Styling & Production - Gina Grünwald
- Make-up - Bernando Ferreira
- Hair - Anastasiia Gryniuka
- Nails - Kezia Parkins
- Music - Alex Secilmis
- Team Portraits - Lucio Alonso
- BTS - Matthew White
- Models - Nataliia Bazaka and Viktoriia Rykovtseva
- Photo Assistant - Asma Hamdi
- Styling Assistant - Adam Urbanik
- Set Assistant - Dasha Gonchar
- Fashion - Aminat D Seriki, Fauve Penketh and Mariia Ershova
- Shoes - GINA GRNW
