When Ukrainian footwear designer Tetiana Bazylska arrived in Florida, she carried with her a childhood dream: to one day become a clothing designer. Behind her was a decade of experience in the footwear industry — from factory work in Ukraine and China, to participation in international exhibitions, designing collections for Ukrainian brands, and even developing one of the first AI-assisted, 3D-printed shoe prototypes.
She was forced to leave Ukraine because of the war. In search of a way to get closer to her dream and understand the local fashion environment, Tetiana began volunteering for JAX Fashion Runway. During preparations for the event in Jacksonville, she built connections with local designers, show organizers, and creative professionals — people who helped her take the next step.
“I simply offered to help. We filmed content, managed show logistics, organized backstage. I was in every group chat. At some point, the organizers said — if I wanted, I could also present my own collection at the show in two months. I said yes — and created my first clothing collection,” recalls Tetiana.
That volunteer initiative became the beginning of a completely new chapter in her career.
From Footwear to Fashion: A New Page
In Ukraine, Bazylska went through the full journey — from her first, uncomfortable but striking student-made ankle boots, to the role of lead footwear designer and pattern engineer in largest Ukrainian companies. She worked in manufacturing, led product development teams, traveled to China to supervise prototype quality, and helped bring commercially successful collections to market.
In the U.S., she began transitioning into apparel design: she took specialized courses, set up a mini studio at home, and studied garment construction and fashion history. When the opportunity arrived, she created a mini collection of seven looks — refined office silhouettes with subtle ethnic elements.
The collection debuted at Jacksonville Fashion Show, drawing attention from local media and becoming a symbol of the Ukrainian creative community’s contribution to the city’s fashion scene.
Community That Inspires
“Today, Jacksonville is a city where collaborations are born. Ukrainians here are active — they help refugees, organize charity shows, exhibitions, workshops. I see how volunteering unites us and shows that Ukrainians are not only about war — we are about talent, strength, and creation,” says the designer.
Professionalism Without Borders
Tetiana’s portfolio includes not only collections and runway shows. Her footwear innovations were showcased at MICAM Milano SS23 — Europe’s largest footwear exhibition — where she presented one of the early 3D-printed footwear concepts created using AI.
Developed as part of a Footwearology Lab course in Barcelona, the project received strong expert recognition and sparked interest from international design and technology communities.
America as a Space of Possibility
“America allowed me to start over — without erasing my past. Here, your work, talent, and initiative truly matter. Volunteering was my entry point into the community, and fashion became my way to reintroduce myself,” says Tetiana.
Today, Bazylska dreams of growing her creative projects in Florida by balancing her professional footwear design work with the development of her own clothing line. She believes that Jacksonville is becoming a new space for cultural dialogue and creative growth — a place where anything is possible, if you commit to the work.
