On March 6, Ukrainian designer Dariia Bila presented her brand MY THEATRE by Dariia Bila to a Parisian audience for the first time during Paris Fashion Week. The debut show combined a retrospective presentation of five archive collections with the unveiling of the brand’s newest line, Collection №6.
The event was conceived as an immersive performance where fashion, theatre, and art intersect. This concept reflects Bila’s 17-year career in theatre, where costumes and storytelling play a central role. In this setting, garments became characters and the runway transformed into a living stage. Bila’s approach to design is rooted in emotion and narrative: “I usually begin from an emotional state — from a feeling rather than from a material. I intuitively understand the forms I am drawn to and the idea I want to embed in a piece. Only after that comes the choice of fabrics. Very often the process starts with quick sketches and visual notes. Above all, the strongest source of inspiration for the brand is the theatre production I am working on at that moment.”
The evening opened with a live orchestral performance featuring excerpts from Modellé by Hans Zender. Ukrainian actress Larisa Rusnak from the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre appeared in a short theatrical scene, intentionally blurring the line between performer and spectator. Following this introduction, the audience experienced a retrospective showcase of MY THEATRE brand’s earlier collections, highlighting the creative evolution of the brand. This retrospective perspective was particularly significant for the designer: “This show was very special to me. I wanted to present the brand as a whole and reveal its evolution. Looking back at our earliest pieces, I can clearly see how much more attention we now devote to detail — to handcraft, to intricate embellishment, to the depth of each garment. Our direction is not about producing more, but about going deeper — refining the language and intensifying the emotional and artisanal dimension of the work.” One of the evening’s highlights was a musical performance by Onuka, whose atmospheric soundscape enhanced the immersive nature of the show. Craftsmanship remained at the core of the brand’s philosophy. Each piece featured meticulous details such as hand-crafted buttons, intricate embroidery, and luxurious fabrics including silk, velvet, brocade, and wool—many requiring dozens of hours of artisanal work.
Collection №6: A Story of Transformation
The evening concluded with the presentation of Collection №6, which continues the central philosophy of MY THEATRE — conscious garment creation focused on craftsmanship, texture, and emotional depth. The new collection draws inspiration from The Tales of Hoffmann, for which Bila previously designed stage costumes. Themes of love, illusion, and the inner world of a woman serve as the conceptual foundation of the designs. The colour palette begins with shades of grey—tones that initially feel unsettling but gradually become the background from which a new heroine emerges. At the heart of the collection lies a sense of anticipation: the fragile moment between doubt and certainty, searching and balance. The MY THEATRE heroine listens to herself, embracing transformation as a process rather than rushing toward it.
Bila also reflects on the broader philosophical dimension of her work and the role of fashion today: “My work is deeply rooted in inner states, in emotions and lived experiences, as well as in my theatre practice. This subtle transition between stage work and fashion is, for me, a space of art. I believe fashion, like theatre, painting or installation, is ultimately about feeling — you either connect with it or you don’t. And today, perhaps more than ever, art feels essential. It allows people to access and express their emotions, to articulate who they are. Through garments, accessories and the images I create, I hope to offer a language through which a person can speak about themselves.”
Designer’s Vision
Reflecting on the show as a whole, Bila described it as both a retrospective and an emotional journey: “This show is about emotion and the search for identity. It is a retrospective of MY THEATRE — a journey through collections, performances, doubts, and joys that have shaped the brand. Every detail matters, echoing the most subtle human emotions. The finale presents a new collection dedicated to hope — because even in the darkest night, dawn always comes.” With its theatrical storytelling and dedication to craftsmanship, MY THEATRE by Dariia Bila introduced a distinctive artistic voice to the global stage at Paris Fashion Week.
Dariia Bila:Instgram | web
Fotók: Nick Naida @nicknaida | Roger Vekstein @rogerveksteinph