A reflection of protest
How Berlin-based stylist and activist Frank Wilde is using his daily elevator selfies to support Ukraine
For 10 years, Frank Wilde has been blending fashion and politics, using his social media posts to share his opinion and take a stand for what he believes in — and the war in Ukraine is no exception. Now, with his recent collaboration with the Ukrainian non-profit YellowBlue, his impact is directly converted into funding for Ukraine.
Based in Kyiv, YellowBlue is an initiative grounded in social entrepreneurship. Originally known as Stand4Ukraine, YellowBlue launched in the second week of the war as an online platform selling clothing and accessories with pro-Ukrainian prints. One hundred percent of their profits are donated to support Ukraine, with the goals of helping Ukrainians financially during the war and spreading the story of Ukraine across the world.
Words and interview by Fernanda Russomano
Recognized by his elevator selfies, Frank Wilde has been using the six-floor ride down to the ground floor of his building to capture mirror pictures that display his messages to the world. What started as somewhat of a personal diary gained a political bent in 2016, when the stylist shared 49 images in honor of the 49 victims of the shooting that took place in the gay nightclub “Pulse” in Orlando. Wearing nothing but rainbow flags draped in different ways, Frank and his partners illustrated the many aspects of a queer person’s life as a way of keeping the memory of the victims alive. Through his elaborated photo series shared previously on Facebook and now on Instagram, he has also taken a strong stand against several other events and movements, such as the Catholic church’s abuse, Brexit and anti-refugee sentiment, using his posts as a tool to share his opinion. “The series on the war on Ukraine is by far not my first political statement within this series. It rather is a logical follow up to everything I’ve been doing so far,” Frank explained in a Q&A with Zoot.
Two days before the war in Ukraine started, Frank shared an image of himself cornered in his elevator wearing a Putin mask and holding a large kitchen knife in one hand. After that, the stylist fully devoted his Instagram to supporting Ukraine. Since the end of February, yellow and blue colors have been dominating his page in impactful images with well thought-out looks, some of which carry powerful messages written on T-shirts and hoodies.
ZOOT Magazine: Why is it important for you to show your support for Ukraine?
Frank Wilde: For me it is totally natural to support Ukraine because I can relate to everything Ukraine is fighting for. I had to fight my whole life long for the right to live my life the way I want, including marriage equality and acceptance for gay people. I always stood up for freedom, so how could I not use my voice here?
ZM: What is your view on using different art forms to showcase and criticize important and political topics?
FW: There are many forms of communication; for me the ideal tool is a kind of visual language that doesn’t need translation. I don’t speak Ukrainian and Russian, so my way of showing the world my political standing is [through] strong images that can be understood without language. Fashion is a great way of communication and fashion has always been political if used in the right way. A bold fashionable message that cannot be unseen is a great direct way to move people and inspire them.
ZM: Where do you get the props for your photos? Are they all personal items?
FW: Most of the stuff I use in the shots are personal belongings that I expose to the public eye. Also, now I work with lots of different people from Ukraine and get the chance to represent what they are doing. I always create the pics in my very own way and since there is no money involved, I have total freedom regarding the way I arrange things. Like sometimes I wear a T Shirt as a skirt or turn things around in a way not intended. I love to be playful and uninhibited, yet serious when appropriate. And my followers really understand what I’m doing and appreciate it.
ZM: What would you say to the international community becoming less engaged about the war? How would you encourage people to continue supporting Ukraine?
FW: I know about the issues of the many people regarding the effects of the war on their everyday lives. The longer this war goes on, the more people will probably grow tired and less interested and therefore supportive. But we have to see the bigger picture and have to communicate what this war means to Europe in the long run. This is not about a single country next to Russia; this war is a threat on whole Europe with his values and freedom. If we give up now on Ukraine, the consequences for our lives will be terrible for generations to come and will affect our lives much harder than now, I believe. After all Ukraine is defending what a lot of people take for granted, but is endangered by the threat of dictatorship. We risk our very own way of living if we don’t support Ukraine with all we have.
ZM: Other creatives and artists as well as items from various brands are regularly featured in your posts. Is there someone else or a brand you would like to collaborate with next?
FW: There’s a lot more coming up regarding Ukrainian talent in the series. I meet so many brilliant creative people from Ukraine, that it would be a shame not to show the world what Ukraine is about and what enormous power and beauty this country has to offer. Now is the time that the eyes of the world are on Ukraine and now is the time to show the rich cultural heritage of Ukraine, but also the modern side of young Ukraine in all its variations. It’s not only artists and designers I feature; I also integrate important people of the political groups here in Berlin supporting Ukraine and I invite journalists and film people. We should start focusing on the time after Ukraine has won the war and build the ground for a bright future of this independent country within the European Union. Ukraine has so much to offer and I’m grateful to show a few aspects of this. Also, I use the elevator pics for charity auctions supporting humanitarians causes and raising money for the Ukrainian army.
Alone or with guests, the stylist has been posting photos daily, using his influence to raise awareness and share the work of Ukrainian creatives who are also taking a stand against the war. Most recently, Frank has partnered up with YellowBlue, a non-profit initiative supporting Ukraine. With an entirely Ukrainian team, the brand was created by Julia Gomonets and includes a group of like-minded individuals coming together to support Ukraine by collecting illustrations from artists all over the world and printing them on T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and accessories. One hundred percent of sales profits go to one of four organizations that are available to choose from at checkout: Come Back Alive, Voices of Children, UANIMALS or the Serhiy Prytula Foundation. As Julia explains, “From day one we were amazed at the world’s civil society’s feedback and genuine desire to help, unambiguous support and orders from around the globe: from Canada to Japan, from Berlin to Mexico. We didn’t know much about what we were doing, [to be honest]. But our initiative went so well for us and for Ukraine”.
This collaboration titled “Freedom in everything” was developed remotely with YellowBlue’s in-house designer Arina Yaskevyck and resulted in a print inspired by one of Frank Wilde’s Instagram posts in which he wears a short yellow and blue dress with big white letters spelling “NO WAR”, paired with golden metallic over-the-knee boots and a pink Kalush hat. The print is also marked by a big sunflower — a symbol of Ukrainian resistance — and is available in oversized unisex T-shirts and sweatshirts in the colors white, blue and black.
ZM: Can you tell us more about your collaboration with YellowBlue?
FW: YellowBlue was the first company I bought shirts from when the war on Ukraine started. I love their mission of donating 100% of the profit and I also love their designs. I bought T-shirts and sweaters for myself and as presents for people I love. When they contacted me about a collaboration, I immediately said yes. The design we finally agreed on is an interpretation of an elevator pic with me wearing a yellow blue short dress with a bold white print “NO WAR” on it. The original design of the print derives from Katharine Hamnett, the iconic designer who invented T-shirts with messages…
FW: …Katharine Hamnett herself gave me allowance to re-use her design, stating “the message is more important than the copyright”. Sarah Connor wore the shirt first on the “Sound of peace” concert on Berlin at Brandenburger Tor. This print, the history of it and the fact I wore the dress also for a gala of Deutsche Werbe Akademie, where I held a laudatio for best costume design, were the reasons I wanted the wonderful team of YellowBlue to work with this. The print we finally decided on derives from an elevator pic that got mentioned all over the press, for both its statement against the Russian war on Ukraine and also for its very gay appeal.
ZM: How do you think art can help people find relief in difficult times such as the war and other traumas?
FW: Art is a way to escape the struggle of harsh everyday life and also is the door to envision a better world. Our visions begin with our desires; therefore we should take art seriously as a tool to shape and understand and work on a better tomorrow. If we stay within our traumas and pain, we allow them to dominate our lives. Art can be a healing power for the hurt soul and help to overcome sadness and depression.
ZM: As a stylist, where do you draw your inspiration from?
FW: To be honest, I breathe inspiration from everywhere, tiny moments of happiness, from reading interesting books, from meeting inspiring people who broaden my views. It sounds like a cliché, but if you keep your inner child alive, the world is like a wonderland and you have ideas finding you rather than you searching for them.
“‘NO WAR’ on the colors of the Ukrainian flag sends a clear message nobody could unsee”, Frank explains about the inspired message on his YellowBlue shirt. “The horrible war in Ukraine is not over and we will not be silent about it.”
The T-shirts from Frank’s collaboration with YellowBlue, as well as a range of other clothing and accessories with pro-Ukrainian messages, are available to order at www.yellowblue.life and can be delivered to Ukraine and internationally.
All images of Frank Wilde courtesy of Frank Wilde; product images courtesy of YellowBlue.
