Ukrainian polar explorers showed off embroidered shirts featuring penguins and whales – photos
To mark World Vyshyvanka Day, Ukrainian researchers at the Akademik Vernadsky Station held a themed photo shoot wearing special Antarctic vyshyvankas featuring a unique print. This year, the holiday coincided with the 20th anniversary of World Vyshyvanka Day and the eighth anniversary of the creation of the Antarctic shirt design itself.
This was reported in an official Facebook post by the National Antarctic Scientific Center. The shirts’ special pattern features geometric depictions of whales, penguins, and cormorants, as well as the emblem of the Ukrainian station with two palm trees, a sun, and the Latin letter V, symbolizing Victory.
The design of this ethnic clothing was developed in 2018 in collaboration with the relevant ministry and the scientific center, and since then, polar explorers have regularly used it to celebrate holidays, conduct online lectures, meet international guests, and write national unity dictations. Initially, the shirts were made exclusively in white and blue shades to match the color of the glaciers, but later other variations appeared, including blue-and-yellow, green-and-yellow, and white with red-and-black trim. Expedition participants say that amidst the Antarctic ice, a traditional embroidered shirt keeps them warm just as well as the sun at home, and the center has repeatedly raffled off T-shirts with this unique print at charity auctions to raise funds for the “combat penguins”—polar explorers who are currently defending the country in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In Ukraine, a new annual initiative is being launched for World Vyshyvanka Day—the “Embroidered Ribbon of Remembrance” campaign, dedicated to honoring the memory of fallen Ukrainian defenders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with First Lady Olena Zelenska, addressed the public with a greeting on the occasion of Vyshyvanka Day, which is traditionally celebrated on the third Thursday of May.
In honor of Vyshyvanka Day, Ukrainian artisan Nadiya Vakulenko shared details about the creation of traditional wedding towels in Reshetylivka. She explained how authentic towels are made, the differences between machine and hand embroidery, and the price differences: machine-made items cost around 10,000 hryvnias, while hand-made ones can reach 30,000–35,000.
On May 21 in Kyiv, in honor of Vyshyvanka Day, the mini-sculptures of the city’s founders—Kyiv, Shchek, Khoriv, and Lybid—were updated. The bronze figures on Poshtova Square were adorned with vyshyvankas from various regions of Ukraine. Sculptor Volodymyr Zhuravel also spoke about upcoming updates to these art installations.
The men and women of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released a festive message on the occasion of Vyshyvanka Day.
