January 27, 2026
News
Svitlana and Olga are a family from the Russian-occupied town of Polohy in the Zaporizhzhia region. Despite the war that destroyed their home and well-being, they founded a clothing brand in Ivano-Frankivsk to help women become more confident. Discover the story about these resilient Ukrainian women and a grants programme from Caritas Czech Republic for small craft businesses.
The war reshaped their lives
53-year-old Svitlana is an accountant by education. She dealt in trade in Polohy and ran her own shops selling children's goods.
And then our city was occupied... My house, where 10 families lived, was destroyed. We all lived in the basement for two weeks. The occupiers did not let us out onto the street, even to go to the toilet. They were nearby and constantly shooting, looting and destroying cars near our doorway,
recalls Svitlana, still pained by the events of March 2022.
Back in February, two days before the Russian army invaded Ukraine, she was happy and congratulated her daughter, Olga, on her wedding. The newlyweds were supposed to fly to the Maldives.
"Everything was booked — the hotel, the photo shoot on the beach — but nothing happened. War came," Olga adds.
The business idea occurred on the beach
Our conversation takes place to the rhythmic sound of a sewing machine in a bright and cosy workshop. Svitlana and Olga rent this space in Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine. In this city, mother and daughter found refuge and the strength to make a new start.
For over a year, Svitlana worked as a taxi driver and learned the city well. However, she was looking for stable and meaningful work. Life smiled on her when they flew to Greece for a holiday.
My mother and I came up with our brand when we were on the beach. We had a spark of inspiration — to sew kimonos,
Olga says enthusiastically.
The family returned from their holiday with a plan of action. Svitlana immediately enrolled in sewing classes and took several courses in a row to bring their idea to life. Soon after, they bought their first sewing machines and got to work. For two years now, Svitlana and Olga have been developing the MO. Ukraine. It is a clothing brand for women with non-standard figures who look for a combination of quality, beauty, and comfort.
Clothing as a touch of support and faith in life
"Our journey began at a time when the world paused. In moments of uncertainty, my mother and I decided to create something that would bring light — clothing that makes women happy and confident, regardless of age, size, or shape. That's how the idea for the brand came about, where each item is not just fabric and cut, but a touch of love, support, and faith in life," explains Olga. She adds that MO.Ukraine is committed to responsible fashion, so the items are designed to serve for years, not just fill a wardrobe.
The family sews comfortable everyday and festive clothing from natural fabrics — robes, kimonos, suits, shirts, skirts, dresses, and various accessories. Everything is available for custom tailoring. According to Svitlana, they sell not only in Ukraine but also abroad. Their customers are mainly Ukrainian women who appreciate native production and service.
Grants enable growth
Despite the difficulties small businesses face during wartime, Svitlana and Olga continue to work tirelessly, investing in their education and promotion, and improving their production. In 2025, Svitlana won our pilot business grant competition and received funds to purchase additional professional equipment — a new overlock machine, sewing machine, cutting machine, and embroidery machine.
Thanks to this, we have improved the quality and speed of our production, as well as expanded our range with items such as T-shirts and warm knitwear. We are currently learning embroidery to create custom linen kimonos. In addition, we have restocked our fabrics and materials. Thank you very much for your help,
says Olga. The immediate plans for her and her mother are to bring the clothing brand to a stable micro-production level.
“I practically live here. It is like my home: beautiful and cosy. We have a generator that provides light during blackouts and powers our equipment,” smiles Svitlana, adding that she works more than 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. She dreams of buying her own home and being able to grow her beloved business.
“We are glad that women like what we do and that, hearing our story, they are inspired and become more confident. We want every woman to know that she deserves the best right here and now,” Olga sums up.
Our activities in Ukraine
For the past two years, Caritas Czech Republic has been providing study grants to people affected by the war in Ukraine, enabling them to gain new skills. Thanks to this, 45 refugees from eastern Ukraine are able to find new jobs and much-needed stability in the western part of the country.
We also launched a pilot grant programme to support craft businesses run by war-affected Ukrainians. To start with, we selected three businesses in the west of the country and provided funding of up to € 5,000 for the purchase of equipment and materials.
Last year, we focused our work in Ukraine mainly on the health sector. We improved rehabilitation care in six hospitals near the front line in the Dnipropetrovsk region. We equipped the hospitals with high-tech equipment, including virtual reality, which facilitates people’s return to everyday life. We also helped establish a network of mental health centres.
Moreover, we provide tutoring lessons to children who have missed out on school due to the war. In winter, we insulate houses, supply solid fuel and winter kits to families living near the front line, where infrastructure is damaged. For example, we helped young Evelina, whose family had to move from the city to the countryside.
We also support people in Ukraine through the fundraising campaign Caritas for Ukraine. Thank you for helping with us!
