On September 12–13, the international ethnic fashion festival “Future of the Past” took place at Victory Park in Yerevan. The event brought together designers, folk craft artisans, and cultural figures from 11 countries: Armenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine, Qatar, Hungary, Uruguay, and England.
The festival was dedicated to the reinterpretation of cultural heritage through contemporary art, design, and fashion. Traditional costumes, ornaments, craft techniques, and national symbols were given a fresh perspective in modern collections by designers from various countries.
Over the course of two days, the “City of Masters” operated in Victory Park, hosting masterclasses, exhibitions, creative meetings, and presentations. The centerpiece of the program was the ethnic fashion shows, where cultural traditions of different nations were presented through a modern design lens.
Ukraine was represented at the festival by designer Yuliia Bulgakova. She traveled to Yerevan in person and took part in the festival’s international program, presenting her collection as part of the Ukrainian fashion showcase.
Her participation became part of an international dialogue in which Ukrainian tradition resonated alongside the cultural motifs of other nations. Through clothing and modern design solutions, the festival demonstrated how national heritage can continue to live, evolve, and take on new forms.
A defining feature of “Future of the Past” was precisely the fusion of tradition and modernity. While some participants preserved authentic forms and techniques, others reinterpreted them, creating garments that belong firmly to contemporary fashion. In this way, ethnic design served not only as a means to preserve cultural memory, but also as a platform for creative dialogue between countries.
The festival was organized by the Teryan Cultural Center with financial support from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia and in partnership with Victory Park.
The festival concluded on September 13, but its central message remains relevant: cultural heritage should not be confined to the past. It can serve as a source of new ideas, contemporary fashion, and international cultural collaboration.
Yuliia Bulgakova’s participation marked the Ukrainian chapter of this international dialogue in Yerevan.
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Author: Aida Stepanchuk
Photo: from open sources