Embroidered Ukraine in Ljubljana: An Exhibition That Tells the Story of a People Through Clothing

What can clothing tell us about a person?

For many Europeans, traditional clothing is part of museum history. For Ukrainians, it remains a living part of everyday life—an embroidered shirt can still be found in the wardrobe of nearly every Ukrainian today. That is why the exhibition “Embroidered Ukraine: Ukraine’s Clothing Heritage of the Late 19th–20th Centuries,” which opened at the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum in Ljubljana and will run until September 27, 2026, is not just a display of beautiful antique items. It is an opportunity to see the history of Ukraine through one of its most important cultural symbols.

The exhibition features over 40 authentic sets of traditional clothing from various regions of Ukraine. Many of the exhibits are over a century old. They have survived the collapse of empires, two world wars, and the Soviet regime, and have survived to this day as witnesses to human destinies and bearers of cultural memory.

Every shirt here is more than just clothing. The embroidered patterns encode a person’s place of origin, family traditions, regional characteristics, and worldview. Just as Slovenian folk costumes tell the story of different parts of Slovenia, Ukrainian embroidered shirts preserve the unique features of each region of Ukraine.

Two collections lend the exhibition particular value. The first comes from the Klymentiy Sheptytsky Museum of Folk Architecture and Life in Lviv—one of Ukraine’s largest ethnographic museums. The second is the private collection of Natalia Kholod, a Ukrainian collector, the exhibition’s conceptualizer and co-curator, who, through her work in preserving, researching, and showcasing traditional Ukrainian clothing, contributes to the promotion of Ukrainian cultural heritage in Europe.

After the outbreak of full-scale war, Natalia Kholod and her family found temporary refuge in Slovenia. It was here that the idea was born to show the Slovenian public the real Ukraine—not just through news about the war, but through culture, human stories, and centuries-old heritage.

The exhibition serves as a unique dialogue between Ukraine and Slovenia. It reminds us that cultural heritage knows no borders, and traditions can unite people even in the most difficult times.

Throughout the summer, visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in free workshops for children and adults: try traditional Ukrainian embroidery, learn about folk crafts, decorative painting, and Ukrainian cuisine.

Schedule of workshops for adults and children: June 6 — painting honey cakes June 11 — embroidering traditional Ukrainian symbols June 20 6 — fabric charm birds 27. 8 — “Tastes of Ukraine” culinary workshop 17. 9 — motanka doll, a talisman symbol from ancient times 19. 9 — painting birds in the Petrykivka style Registration and details — at the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum.

If you want to see unique examples of Ukrainian folk art and fashion, and discover a culture that, despite all historical trials, has preserved its distinctiveness and continues to inspire new generations, this exhibition will be a wonderful opportunity.

The exhibition is organized with the assistance of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum, with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, with the participation of the Klymentiy Sheptytsky Museum of Folk Architecture and Life (Lviv), collector Natalia Kholod, and the Association of Ukrainians in Slovenia “Razom.”

Come to the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum. Sometimes a single shirt can tell you more than an entire book.

PHOTO: Slovenian Ethnographic Museum - Jasna Pinter