In June, a Russian attack drone struck and destroyed part of the roof of the Mystetskijarsenal, the old armory from the 18th century in Kiev that is now an art gallery. Kremlin airstrikes are a constant threat, and that is painfully clear to visitors to the capital's fashion week - staged in the historic building in early September.
There is small talk in the bar and visitors walk around looking at the new creations. Then a robot-like voice is heard in the speakers urging us to seek shelter. The air raid alarm goes off and some exhibitors and guests follow the signs down to the underground shelter.
- Let's hold all the shows down here, says a woman in the organization team while helping a model in high heels out across the backyard and down the stone steps.
Once underground, a couple of bangs are heard from the Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire. For most people, sound is part of everyday life. The make-up artists who have brought their equipment downstairs continue to work and some take the opportunity to take photos in the long corridor that forms the foundation of the building.
It will later turn out that the headquarters of the Ukrainian security service SBU a couple of kilometers away has been hit by a drone in that very air attack.
In the weeks before the fashion week, Russia has intensified the attacks on Kiev during the day and only an hour or so after the first alarm comes the second. Mobile phones are ringing at the same time as the show is going on on the arena's catwalk.
Kyiv Fashion Week has a long history and before the war it attracted fashion houses and visitors from all over the world. Now there are hardly any international guests at all.
The Ukrainian identity clearly characterizes many creations. Maria Gavryliuk and Natalia Kamenska are behind the fashion project Gunia. There they collaborate with creators who work with various traditional craft techniques, such as embroidery, weaving and basket weaving.
- We want to highlight the stories from the Ukrainian artists. Their personal stories, how they work during the war and how they keep their crafts alive, says Maria Gavryliuk.
One part of their exhibition consists of works from the domestic creators. In the second part, visitors can see the tools used, some over a hundred years old.
- The war has created a desire to understand our traditions. Who am I? What is my country?
For the fashion week, the exhibitors have selected works that will represent artists all over the country, to show how diverse the Ukrainian culture is and to highlight how radically the conditions have changed for designers in parts of the country.
Several works belong to Ukrainians who are now in the military to, as Natalia Kamenska describes it, fight for the country's roots - which the exhibitors now want to showcase.
- Showing our culture and our craftsmanship is a way to show the differences between us and Russia. They try to erase our roots, but we stand up for our identity, she says.
The war and the Ukrainian resilience are reminded of several looks during the fashion week. On a large wall in the art gallery, pictures of fallen soldiers are displayed and before each display a minute's silence is held for those who died in the fight against Russia.
It is also noticeable on the arena's catwalk. Several of the models showing off the clothes are veterans of the war. Some of them have lost body parts, others wear symbols of the country's defense forces.
