How century-old fashion is helping Ukrainians escape the grind of war

Dressed in an ensemble that meticulously recreates century-old fashion, Tetiana initially looks out of place standing in the Odyssey Pier Museum.

But for the dozen or so women gathered around her, the dress-up exercise is a much needed break from the omnipresent war with Russia. “In times of war, it is good to have a chance for relief and a good laugh,” says Anna Korshunova, who is lecturing to the group.

Moreover, it offers a journey through their city’s past. By exploring the fashion of Sumy in the early 20th century, participants explore not only historical textiles, but the city’s cultural context and significance in a way that was obscured by decades under the Soviet and then Russian shadow.

Ms. Korshunova is motivated to reclaim Sumy’s history “piece by piece,” she says. In Soviet times, she explains, the prevailing narrative cast Sumy as an underdeveloped peasant town. But photographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries show a different reality.

“You see aristocratic ladies and gentlemen – you understand that this was a rich and developed city,” she says. “We are rebuilding Sumy’s history and giving it back to its people.”

Dressed in an ensemble meticulously recreating a century-old fashion, Tetiana initially looks out of place standing in the Odyssey Pier Museum.

But for the dozen or so women in attendance, laughing in a small conference room lit by a projector as a generator roars outside, the dress-up exercise is a much needed break from the omnipresent war. It’s “just fun,” they say.

Moreover, it offers a journey through the past of their city, sitting less than 20 miles from the Russian border. By exploring fashion in Sumy in the early 20th century, participants can explore not only historical textiles, but the city’s cultural context and significance that was obscured by decades under the Soviet and then Russian shadow.

The Odyssey Pier Museum, located on a side street in Sumy’s historic center, is an eclectic exhibition space. Photo exhibits adorn the outdoor courtyard along with a metal pyramid structure covered in ribbons. Graffiti art on one wall expresses a common desire in Ukraine: Russian President Vladimir Putin gazing out of a prison cell.

But when Tetiana came upon it online, she thought the museum seemed like a great place for her circle of friends to mentally get away from Russian attacks on the city, which have been intensifying lately.

“It’s important to have spaces like this, where we can develop ourselves, take our minds off what’s going on, listen to music, or learn about the history of our own city,” says Tetiana, a physics and math teacher who lives in an industrial area targeted by Russia. Fortunately, she has been able to send her teenage son to live in a nearby village, which is both safer and gives her a break.

“On a typical Friday night, we like to be active – sometimes it’s biking, kayaking, or swimming in the river,” she says. “Today, it’s history.”