Daily Inspiration: Meet Khrystyna Kurliak

Today we’d like to introduce you to Khrystyna Kurliak.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Khrystyna Kurliak, the founder and a fashion designer of the Ukrainian luxury brand Khris K, has turned resilience into art, built on three pillars: resilience, transformation, and raw beauty. Khris K was launched during the war, this has given her strength to establish the brand. Founded in Khrystyna’s home country, Ukraine. Studio-production is rooted in Lviv, her dearest city, a place of courage and beauty, where each design is created and brought to life.

Founded in 2017, Khris K is a testament to timeless elegance and the power of transformation. From collections like Duodecima, born from her musical roots, to Vidvazhna and Rebirth, created amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, each piece carries a story of courage and hope.

She experienced a loving and caring childhood in Burshtyn, Western Ukraine. Her mother’s creativity, taste and style inspired her since she was a kid, her father’s courage taught her to face fear. Khrystyna was one of two children, her younger brother, Danylo, tragically passed away at the age of 17. The same year Khris K’s collection “Daniela” was born. 

In February 2022, her father Petro and cousin Maksym served on the front lines. “Every day me and my family prayed to hear their voices one more time. How did they survied? Only God knows. But unfortunately, moments have the ability to repeat themselves and feel the same pain over and over, which is what happened to my cousin Maksym to this day.”

Her first creative language was music, she played the violin before hand injuries guided her toward fashion design, inspired by sketches she saw in her dreams.
In 2017, she brought her first dream to life: Duodecima, a collection named after the twelfth musical interval, echoing black-and-white elegance.

Since then, Khris K has become synonymous with timeless, one-of-a-kind couture. Collections like Luce Romana, inspired by the movie Gladiator. The items from the Luce Romana’s collection were Patrician and Plebeian inspired and embellished with gold details, wheat, macrame, and embroidery. Other items showed characteristics of the main character Maximus inserted into feminine looks. 

In 2019 “Daniela” collection was named to cherish the memory of Khrystyna’s brother, Danylo. Channeling grief into delicate silk.

“Vidvazhna” collection in 2022, is a tribute to nature which is deeply rooted in Ukrainian mythology. The collection portrays a brave, Ukrainian woman – a Vidvazhna woman. She is an allegory of the forest, a guardian, a Ukrainian Mavka.

In 2023 she strategically moved her team and sewing machines to Lisbon to create her new collection “Rebirth” in safety, that is how the Rebirth collection appered. The collection is not just an exquisite haute couture collection; it is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and eternal spirit of a nation. The Rebirth Collection and its exhibition embodied metamorphosis – art born from ashes.

Exhibition “Rebirth” in Lisbon, Portugal. February 22d, 2024
Embarks on a captivating exploration of Khris K’s haute couture collections.
An immersive sensory journey, navigating through chaos and rebirth.
Witness the resilience and transformation that blossoms amidst adversity, where art serves as a powerful force propelling change. 
The exhibition unfolds as a profound journey through the depths of human emotions, encapsulating the unyielding spirit of Ukraine. 

In 2024, her “Blue Bird” dress at the Cannes Film Festival turned heads and hearts, a gown inspired by a bird spreading protective wings over Ukraine’s sky.

That year, her craft stepped into cinema: Khrystyna Kurliak was chosen as costume designer for a feature film already unveiled at Cannes Film Festival this year, an experience she calls “an unforgettable first chapter in a new creative story. Blessed and grateful!”

In 2025, her designs have graced Elvira Paterson-Gavrilova, Maye Musk, Maria Zhang, Mya and others – women who, like her, embody elegance laced with steel.

What sets Khris K apart is not just the craftsmanship – peg-top silhouettes, silk, linen, hemp, wool, but the brand’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. Every fabric scrap is reborn as buttons, each one slightly different, which became a signature detail of Khris K brand.
Her mission? To empower women to feel free, beautiful, and unafraid to embrace their uniqueness. With a commitment to sustainability, slow fashion, and authentic artistry, Khrystyna reminds the world that true luxury is born not just from fine fabrics, but from the unyielding spirit of those who create it, even in times of war.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
All the challenges I described in my story 🫶

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an independent fashion designer and founder of Khris K, I lead every stage of the creative and production process. I personally conceptualize and hand-sketch all designs from scratch, develop mood boards and detailed technical drawings, and oversee the creation of prototypes directly on mannequins. I select and source premium textiles, work closely with my atelier team to guide pattern-making, draping, and garment construction, and ensure that each piece reflects the brand’s ethos of timeless elegance and handcrafted artistry.

My hands-on involvement guarantees that every collection embodies a unique vision from the initial sketch to final fittings. I am deeply dedicated to sustainable practices, working with natural fabrics and minimizing waste through thoughtful design and bespoke production. My studio, rooted in my cherished city of Lviv, is the creative heart where all these ideas come to life, even amid challenging times.

What sets my work apart is not just the fusion of haute couture craftsmanship and timeless artisanal techniques like macramé and embroidery, but the soul I weave into each piece. Every garment is a quiet testament to resilience and the delicate power of femininity, a whisper of protection, a symbol of freedom, and a piece of art meant to cradle its wearer’s story. In a world of fleeting trends, I create clothing that feels like an heirloom of strength and grace.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I believe the next decade will mark a profound return to authenticity in fashion. Consumers are already turning away from mass production and fast trends, craving pieces with soul, meaning, and longevity. I see the industry shifting towards true sustainability, not just in fabrics, but in how we value craftsmanship, waste less, and cherish garments as lasting works of art. I see fashion becoming a medium for personal storytelling and emotional connection, not just an outfit but a talisman for self-expression and resilience. This is the future I am building for, and with, every piece I create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.khrisk.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khrisk_official
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KhrisKbrand