After New York, the I Am U Are platform celebrates Ukrainian creators in Los Angeles

Five months after spotlighting 150 Ukrainian designers at a three-day event in New York City, the online and offline platform I Am U Are will debut December 1-3 at 5580 Adams Boulevard in Culver City, The Angels.

Founded by Gogola agency CEO Anna Pagava and hospitality specialist Kristina Skripka, I I am your? is a multi-category retail platform that showcases and sells Ukrainian brands in the categories of product design, crafts, fashion and art in the US market.

“Russian aggression affected most creative businesses in Ukraine,” Pagava and Skripka said. “Half of companies operating in the creative industry suffered significant losses. Most had to reduce staff or salaries and, naturally, suffer a decrease in income: 8 out of 10 companies did not systematically have foreign clients. I Am U Are is a platform to enhance the Ukrainian creative economy. Our mission is to establish cooperation between Ukrainian brands and the American community so that these brands survive the outcome of the war. And for the entire industry to thrive and prosper.”

The occasion will present 31 fashion brands and 21 accessories brands, among which are world-known fashion brands such as Bevza, Ruslan Baginskiy, Frolov, Zhilyova, Gunia Project, Personal Parade, Anna October, Olena Mityrina and many others, “which have earned the admiration of 15 art creators, six tech startups, 18 ceramic manufacturers, 39 object designers, 21 book/publication participants and 10 creators will represent transcendental sections of Ukraine and five companies in cross-cutting fields will complete the selection.

November 30 will be dedicated to professionals with a press tour and opening night, welcome drinks, speeches from the founders and charity auctions. On December 1 there will be a market day for vendors at 11 am and panel discussions from 3 pm to 6 pm in partnership with Razom for Ukraine, a non-profit human rights organization. Among the various topics, 'The power of innovation: democracy driven by Millennials', 'The power of films: connecting cultural narratives' and 'The power of art: nothing can stop the process' will be discussed.

The main exhibit will be open to general admission on Friday between 6 pm and 10 pm. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite for $29. All proceeds will be donated to the Nova Ukraine charity to fund children's education.

Founded in 2022 as a small charity exhibition in Los Angeles, where Pagava has lived for the past five years, I Am U Are has evolved into a phenomenal large-scale exhibition organized in New York in 2023. The online sales platform will be launched in August. 2023.