Sandra Sandor and Peter Baldaszti are the young husband-and-wife duo behind the Hungarian brand Nanushka, which they founded in 2006 and steered to international success. Living in Hungary at this moment in time means you cannot avoid the consequences of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which borders Hungary.
Deciding to show in Paris for Fashion Week wasn’t an obvious choice. Although the designers considered canceling their presentation, describing the present situation as “unimaginable,” they resolved to keep going. “We felt responsible for the people involved in the event, for our vendors and partners,” said Baldaszti, who’s also the CEO of Vanguards Group, Nanushka’s owner. “We’re a small company, and the impact of canceling an event like this when many people are dependent on us would be more severe than we could manage.” So they decided to use the event to raise attention to what’s going on in Ukraine. Sandor said: “People think that fashion is a shallow industry, and it’s weird to put fashion in scale with what’s happening now in the world, it’s hard to even talk about the collection. But if we had any other job, we’d go on and still go to work. Fashion is our job.”
The presentation was held in a salon within the sumptuous Palais Garnier, but the atmosphere was subdued and calm, with the Brussels-based classical quartet Echo Collective playing soulful music. At the end of the presentation, they performed the Ukrainian national anthem, with models standing on rotating plinths, wearing makeup in tribute of the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Sandor kept the collection anchored to the principles of “industrial bohemian chic,” as she put it, referencing the Bauhaus ethos that well designed, functional objects are inherently beautiful. Everyday pieces were minimal, unfussy and easy to layer; blazers were soft-tailored and workwear-inspired; roomy trench coats and padded belted wrap coats were made in vegan leather, sustainable practices being one of Sandor’s commitments. “I never compromise on this, and on craftsmanship, it gives a different value to a garment as it taps into emotional values,” she said.
Sandor and Balaszti are standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian people through direct involvement with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, providing accommodation, clothing and transport to refugees crossing the Ukrainian border to seek shelter in Hungary. “I can really relate to what’s happening because I’m from a country which was under Russian invasion from 1956 to 1989; my parents and grandparents grew up in communism,” explained Sandor. “It seems so farfetched, but the conflict is actually happening two hundred kilometers from Budapest,” added Balaszti. “The fact that what happened to us in 1956 is again happening to a neighboring country in 2022 is just unimaginable. Hungary has opened its borders to refugees; there’s no filter, anyone can come and be helped. It’s estimated that in the next few weeks more than 600,000 people will come to Hungary, so we’re pledging to give any kind of support we can. Every bit of help is needed, not only food and shelter but also work. We’re contacting huge manufacturing companies so they can have refugees working in their factories, or we’ll provide support to maintain their businesses—because work is dignity, and dignity has been stripped away from the Ukrainian people.”
