Photo source: Ministry of Culture
Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna has signed and submitted the nomination file “Vyshyvanka in Ukraine: A Sociocultural Tradition” to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Rubryka reports this, citing the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, which stressed that the vyshyvanka [traditional embroidered shirt – ed.] is an important symbol of Ukrainian identity, unity, and resilience.
It accompanies people throughout their lives — from birth to major family and public events — and reflects Ukraine’s regional features, traditions, and cultural diversity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Delegation of Ukraine to UNESCO submitted the file for consideration by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, to add the element to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Photo source: Ministry of Culture
“The vyshyvanka tradition is one of the most widespread and vibrant forms of Ukraine’s intangible cultural heritage. It unites people regardless of age, gender, or social status, preserves cultural continuity, and is passed down from generation to generation — in families, educational institutions, workshops, festivals, and community initiatives. Today, the vyshyvanka is an important part of our life. That is why it is so essential for the world to know that it is ours and why it matters so much to us,” said Tetiana Berezhna, Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine and Minister of Culture of Ukraine.
Craftswomen and craftsmen, cultural institutions, educational establishments, and civil society organizations play a special role in preserving tradition by researching, promoting, and passing on knowledge of the art of embroidery to new generations.
Photo source: Ministry of Culture
The nomination resulted from joint work by the state and communities of tradition bearers, artisans, civil society organizations, researchers, and cultural institutions, who united around safeguarding and securing international recognition for Ukraine’s living heritage.
“The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine expresses its gratitude to communities, tradition bearers and practitioners, civil society organizations, experts and scholars, all state institutions, regional centers of folk art, scientific and methodological cultural centers, and educational and cultural institutions for their active participation in preparing the nomination,” the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine said.
Background
It should be noted that in the Chernivtsi region, organizers have unveiled the art project “Vyshyvanyi Dyvotvir,” a large-scale exhibition featuring more than 1,200 hand-embroidered chevrons crafted by 800 participants.
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych recently met American actor Ben Stiller in the United States, where he presented Stiller with a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt as a gesture of gratitude for his public support during the Olympics controversy and his ongoing solidarity with Ukraine.
Previously, women from the Ternopil region embroidered a Borshchiv-style shirt for “Azovstal” defender Kateryna Polishchuk, known by the call sign Birdie.
In other news, Ukraine recently unveiled a military vyshyvanka called “Oberih” (Talisman), featuring a unique ornament symbolizing the defense lines of Ukraine’s armed forces. A Ukrainian company produced the design.
In 2025, the Ukrainian World Congress called on Ukrainians to wear embroidered shirts on May 15. This gesture would support residents of Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories.
