Inside the Intimate After-Party for the Sunflower Gala—a Night Supporting Ukraine

Last Thursday, guests clad in suits and gowns found themselves nestled within the Standard East Village’s NO BAR in the waning hours of the night. Fresh from the first-ever Sunflower Gala for Ukraine held at the Ukrainian Institute of America, attendees emitted a flurry of emotions: grief from the ongoing war, satisfaction from the fundraising efforts, and empowerment from the Ukrainian-American community and those supporting it. 

“It’s difficult for me to talk about Ukraine,” Yuliana Kletsun, one of four organizers, tells Vogue. Donning a lively green cocktail dress and a pair of emeralds that reflected the soft glow of the candles nearby, the attorney shared the emotions felt during the gala’s program. “I still have family there; many people at the event do. Did I get emotional at the event? Of course, I did. And I’m beyond grateful for those who came to support us.” 

But, things weren’t all so somber, and guests who joined Kletsun at the afterparty not only spoke of the Gala’s program—which included a thorough musical tribute by soprano Vira Slyworzky and pianist Pavlo Gintav—but caught up on a series personally positive events. “This is my friend from forever,” one person would say while sipping on a glass of Bordeaux. “We grew up in the East Village when the village used to be primarily Ukrainian,” said another. 

Fashion can be superfluous during times of grief and political affairs. But it can also be powerful. On that night, it was used to communicate solidarity with the Ukrainian community. “The beading on this shirt is my late grandfather’s. It was made in 1935. My grandmother just took the original beading and put it on a new dress shirt for me to wear,” a handsome attendee explains while wearing a Vyshyvanka, a traditional Ukrainian shirt. Next to him, a woman showed off a traditionally beaded Ukrainian necklace. In its center is a sunflower. “The sunflower… during this time is now grown as a symbol of resilience.” (Hence, Sunflower Gala.) Ukrainian labels Gunia Projects and Guzema Jewelry were also present in the conversation for both their traditional designs and fundraising efforts. 

At around 11:30 pm, the room began to thin out and guests headed out into the warm night. Those headed south were met with a mural by Ukrainian Artist WAONE sitting on the side of the Standard East Village’s Bowery wall—the evening’s final reminder of the Ukrainian community’s resilience and strength.