LUX FW26/27
LUX FW26/27 is a STARCHAK collection in which music becomes the central conceptual language. It serves as a source of inspiration, a form of protection, and a process of transformation. The primary artistic reference is ROSALÍA’s album LUX, whose exploration of corporeality, memory, and transformation informed the collection’s silhouettes and construction.
Bridal gowns are reimagined as symbols of new beginnings, while evening garments evolve into more intimate and bodily forms. Upcycling functions as a design remix: materials retain the memory of their previous lives while being rewritten into new structures and meanings.
The album’s exploration of memory and transformation resonates with STARCHAK’s philosophy, where upcycling is not only a design method but a way of reinterpreting what already exists. The operatic adaptation of “Berghain” becomes a metaphor for this process—a musical remix that transforms familiar material into a new emotional experience.
The conceptual climax of the presentation centers on Andrii Herasymov, a military orchestra musician and former Ukrainian prisoner of war. For him, music was not a metaphor but a means of survival. During captivity, he was forced to sing, including Russian songs, as an instrument of humiliation and control. At the same time, music temporarily became a fragile form of protection within a dehumanizing environment.
In the final performative gesture, Andrii stands alone at the center of the space wearing a jacket bearing the name of the 36th Marine Brigade and the words “Music Must Be Free.” He performs a short trumpet piece before unfolding a textile panel embroidered with the names of Ukrainian soldiers who remain in Russian captivity.
LUX FW26/27 reflects on memory, freedom, and the power of art to preserve humanity even in places where humanity is systematically denied.