How luxury brands are responding to the war in Ukraine – and how you can get involved

04 Mar 2022 | Updated on: 27 Sep 2022 |By Zoe Gunn

From fundraisers to donations, the worlds of fashion and luxury are turning out in force to support those affected by conflict

Over the past week the world has watched on in horror as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen hundreds killed and more than a million forced to flee the country, with the UN predicting 10 million people could eventually be displaced from their homes by the war. The result is a humanitarian crisis on a scale that Europe hasn’t witnessed for decades. In response, many charities have set up emergency funds to support their work on the ground (you can find details on how to donate here), while governments and international organisations have announced a series of escalating sanctions and aid packages aimed at both hastening the end of the war and providing help for its victims.

Closer to home, luxury brands across Europe and the UK have announced a series of pledges, events and fundraising drives aimed at doing their bit to help the people of Ukraine – many of which you can get involved in. Read on for more on the luxury industry’s response to the war in Ukraine.

Fashion

Donations

The majority of Europe’s high-end fashion brands have responded to the conflict with sizeable donations to various charities working on the ground in Ukraine and the surrounding countries. LVMH has made a €5 million donation to the International Committee of the Red Cross, while Kering, Valentino, Isabel Marant, Christian Louboutin, the Prada Group (owner of Miu Miu, Church’s, Car Shoe and Marchesi 1824) and the National Chamber for Italian Fashion have all made sizeable donations to UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency which aids and protects forcibly displaced communities. Chanel, too, has made a €2 million donation split between UNHCR and CARE International, a charity which works to fight poverty and support women and children.

Capri Holdings, owner of Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors, has donated to the United Nations World Food Programme while Louis Vuitton has made a €1 million donation to UNICEF, in addition to its long-term partnership with the charity. Other brands, meanwhile, have made pledges to charities closer to home, with JW Anderson and Erdem both giving to the British Red Cross, Loewe donating to Spanish charity Cruz Roja Espanola and Budapest-based brand Nanushka supporting the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta. Nanushka, Hermes and Regina Pyo are also among a number of labels to pause their wholesale and online business in Russia.

Chinti & Parker

From 4 March until the end of the month, British cashmere brand Chinti & Parker will be donating 100 per cent of the profits from its Love cashmere sweater and Love T-shirt to Save The Children’s Ukraine Appeal. Save The Children is working on the ground to distribute winter clothing kits, offer cash grants to help families meet basic needs and provide crucial psychological support.

Love sweater, £195, chintiandparker.com; Love T-shirt, £65, chintiandparker.com

Cressida Jamieson

Bespoke embroiderer Cressida Jamieson has created a special unisex T-shirt design embroidered with a Ukrainian flag heart and a ‘Choose Love’ ribbon – denoting the charity to which all profits from the T-shirts will be donated. Choose Love is providing vital services to those still in and fleeing Ukraine, including medical aid, shelter, clothes, food and mental health support.

Choose Love Ukraine crisis fundraiser T-shirt, £85, cressidajamieson.com

Charlie Mackesy

Artist, illustrator and author Charlie Mackesy, best-known for beloved book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, has also created a limited edition collection of T-shirts and tote bags in support of Choose Love. Screen printed with a unique illustration in the colour of the Ukrainian flag, £12.50 from the sale of each T-shirt and £10 from the sale of each bag will be donated to Choose Love.

T-shirts, £20; tote bags, £15, charliemackesystore.com

Jewellery

Annoushka

British jeweller Annoushka Ducas will be donating all proceeds from the sale of her three Helping Hands pendants to the British Red Cross throughout March. Designed as a symbol of peace, alliance and friendship, the reverse of each 14 karat gold pendant is engraved with the Helping Hands message and a small heart evocative of love and kindness.

Helping Hands pendant, from £350, annoushka.com

Linde Werdelin

Swiss watchmaker Linder Werdelin has released a limited-edition version of its 3 Timer model, all profits from which will be donated to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Created as a numbered edition of 33, and priced at £5,500 excluding VAT, the watch sports the same classic sporty silhouette and mechanical movement of the 3 Timer mainline but has been updated with the colours of the Ukrainian flag to the dial, bezel and strap.

Email [email protected] to purchase.

Roxanne First

Notting Hill-based jeweller Roxanne First has donated £3,000 to British-Ukrainian Aid to help supply those displaced by the war with emergency medical equipment, transportation, first aid and more. First has also donated one of her Love Necklaces to create an online fundraiser. Each person who donates £10 or more before 11 March will be entered into a draw to win the necklace.

Visit justgiving.com

Robinson Pelham

London jewellery brand Robinson Pelham has created a special bracelet, the proceeds from which will be donated to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Handmade in the UK using Robinson Pelham’s signature Murano glass beads in the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag, the bracelet is available in three lengths and priced at £100.

Orders can be placed via direct message through Robinson Pelham’s Facebook and Instagram.

Bibi van der Velden

“Now more than ever the people of Ukraine need our love and support,” says Dutch jewellery designer Bibi van der Velden. “Inspired by the symbolic strength of my fearless alligator together with the colours of the Ukrainian flag, I have designed this special piece.” Taking the form of an 18 carat gold alligator with a body carved from blue topaz and yellow citrine to echo the colours of the Ukrainian flag, as well as promote compassion, communication, joy and peace, the piece can be worn as a single earring or pendant with all proceeds donated to UNICEF.

The Ukrainian Alligator, approx. £4,315, bibivandervelden.com

Misho

British jewellery brand Misho has released a #StandWithUkraine edition of its popular Love Lockets collection with 100 per cent of proceeds donated to humanitarian organisations and charities working with those affected by the war in Ukraine. The three-piece collection includes an adjustable ring, locket and mini locket all crafted in 22 carta gold plated bronze and enameled in the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag.

#StandWithUkraine Love Lockets special edition, from £65, mishodesigns.com

Hospitality

#CookForUkraine

Created by Ukrainian food writer Olia Hercules, influencer Clerkenwell Boy and food creative Alissa Timoshkina, in collaboration with UNICEF’s NEXTGen London team, #CookForUkraine has signed up restaurants across the country to host special events, add Eastern European menu items and create fundraising initiatives in aid of UNICEF’s Ukraine Appeal. Participating restaurant and hospitality venues in the capital include Petersham Nurseries, Blacklock, Soho House, Big Mamma Group, St John and more.

Find out more at justgiving.com

Annabel’s

Mayfair members’ club Annabel’s has been hosting a variety of events, including an International Women’s Day brunch and its own fourth-anniversary party, with all ticket sales donated to the UNHCR. In addition, The Caring Family Foundation has donated £500,000 to the cause, bringing the total pledged so far to £738,000.

Visit annabels.co.uk

Five for Ukraine

On 7 March, a bevy of London’s starriest chefs will descend on Barboun in Shoreditch to create a decadent five-course menu to raise money for Action Against Hunger’s DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. The line-up will feature dishes by Nieves Barragán Mohacho, Tom Kerridge, Lisa Allen, Ed Wilson and Angela Hartnett and Neill Borthwick, with accompanying cocktails created by Tayēr + Elementary’s Monica Berg and Alex Kratena. 100 per cent of the ticket price will be donated to Action Against Hunger in support of UNICEF’s Ukraine appeal.

£125 per person, tickets via eventbrite.co.uk

Bob Bob Ricard

The City’s epicentre of decadence Bob Bob Ricard will be hosting an exquisite fundraising dinner on 13 March to raise money for UNICEF’s efforts in Ukraine. The four-course dinner has been created by chefs Larry Jayasekera and Ben Hobson and is inspired by traditional Ukrainian dishes, with highlights including borsch soup, potato rösti with caviar, chicken Kyiv with wild garlic and apple cinnamon tart tatin. The £195 ticket price includes champagne and paired wines, with the full fare to be donated to UNICEF, while Bob Bob Ricard’s Soho and City venues will also be donating £1 from every standard bill to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

£195 per person, visit bobbobricard.com

Carousel

Also taking place on 13 March, Fitzrovia restaurant Carousel will be handing over the pots and pans to chef Yurii Kovryzhenko to host a Ukrainian lunchtime feast. The lavish meal will include Eastern European classics including pickled vegetables and trout, borsch soup with duck, Vareniki dumplings with potatoes and porcini mushrooms and Ukrainian honey cake. The paired drinks menu will also feature hrenovuha (vodka, horseradish and lemon) as well as a special cocktail featuring a blend of uzvar and brandy. The full ticket price will be donated to World Central Kitchen while Carousel will also be supporting #CookForUkraine with optional donations added to every standard bill.

Visit carousel-london.com

Ottolenghi

Ottolenghi will be offering up desserts that do good in the form of its famed cheesecakes this month. From 5 March all proceeds from the sale of every cheesecake of any flavour will be donated directly to the Ukrainian Red Cross to aid in distributing food, water, medicines to civilians affected by war and assist with evacuations.

Visit ottolenghi.co.uk

Pophams

Proving that giving back really can be as simple as treating yourself to a decadent breakfast, Hackney bakery and restaurant Pophams will be donating 50 per cent of sales from its plain croissants to Choose Love throughout March.

Visit pophamsbakery.com

Art & Interior Design

Have A Butchers

East London concept store Have A Butchers has teamed up with Hempstead May & May Print to launch a charity print sale with all proceeds being donated to the British Red Cross. Running until 11 March, each 10×8 print will be available as an open edition with each priced at £50. Pieces include photographs, collages and artworks by Jamie Hawkesworth, Venetia Scott and Craig Easton.

Visit haveabutchers.com

SPA x Michael Wall

Sustainable design firm SPA has teamed up with London-based abstract artist Michael Wall to create two hand-painted framed SPA T-shirts which will be available to win via a virtual lottery. Each T-shirt is valued at £1,000; lottery tickets will cost £10 each and be available between 2 and 12 March, with all profits donated to Save Life Ukraine, a charity equipping the Ukrainian army with vital hardware and technology to continue its defence efforts.

Visit spa-studios.com

By Alice

Instagram interiors favourite By Alice has partnered with 32 Auctions to create a virtual charity auction running from 5-6 March. A huge range of pieces are on offer, including Penny Morrison vases, Sophie Conran bedlinen, Alvaro Picardo lampshades and Matilda Goad lighting. All proceeds will be donated to Choose Love’s Ukraine Crisis Fundraiser.

Visit 32auctions.com

Read more: How you can help the people of Ukraine

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