Meet TG Botanical, the Ukrainian Brand Making Clothes From Locally-Grown Plants

TG Botanical, a rising label helmed by Ukrainian designer Tetyana Chumak, was a name to watch at the Fall/Winter 2023 edition of Copenhagen Fashion Week. Having made its runway debut in the Danish capital, the emerging brand is unique in that it is involved in every step of the production process, from the farming of raw materials to delivery.

Created in the midst of the pandemic, TG Botanical takes most of its inspiration from nature, with plants grown in Ukraine serving as raw materials for each of the garments in the brand's collections. Influenced by her father's work in farming, Chumak uses natural fibers such as cotton, linen, nettle, flax and hemp, building them into contemporary womenswear pieces locally in Kyiv.

The label's FW23 runway, presented as one of the three Zalando Sustainability Award finalists, was showcased in two sections to build this season's narrative. The show opened with garments using heavier cotton, linens and denim, which TG Botanical used for the very first time. Silhouettes include Y2K-inspired cropped tops with matching low-rise maxi skirts, as well as zip-up dresses, bomber jackets and knitwear with distressed details referencing the experiences Ukrainian women were forced to go through at the beginning of the Russian invasion. The latter half of the collection visits a lighter, more romantic aesthetic with the use of fitted dresses and semi-transparent knit separates, bringing optimistic energy that Chumak hopes will eventually come to Ukraine.

Take a full look at TG Botanical's FW23 collection in the gallery above and head over to the brand's Instagram to learn more.