Cultural Differences in Fashion: The Experience of Kateryna Nechyporenko and REPULO’S

I am writing this text as the owner and chief designer of the brand REPULO’S, and as someone who has been living and working in Warsaw for over a year. This period has allowed me not only to become familiar with the Polish fashion market from a professional perspective, but also to gain a deeper understanding of how culture shapes fashion choices, lifestyle, and the perception of designer clothing across different European countries.

Before discussing brands, trends, or retail formats, it is essential to acknowledge a fundamental point: every country has its own cultural code. This code determines how people dress on a daily basis, for which occasions they choose designer fashion, and what role appearance plays in their everyday lives. Fashion never exists in isolation. It is a direct reflection of culture, mentality, and social habits. For this reason, the same brands can enjoy very different levels of popularity in different countries — not because of quality or price, but because of cultural alignment.

Kateryna Nechyporenko — owner and chief designer of REPULO’S

The Warsaw fashion market has a clear and distinctive structure. There are relatively few large, standalone monobrand boutiques of global luxury houses. While brands such as Louis Vuitton or Chanel are present, most international labels operate within shopping malls in the form of smaller brand corners. Independent boutiques do exist, but they are often associated with local designers rather than global fashion giants. At the same time, Warsaw strongly represents Polish fashion: many domestic brands have their own studios, showrooms, or boutiques. In addition, Ukrainian brands are visibly present and have become a natural part of the city’s fashion landscape.

Another important characteristic of Poland is its approach to everyday style. Wearing highly festive or evening outfits on a daily basis is not common. More expensive and designer pieces are typically reserved for specific occasions. This clearly differentiates Poland from Ukraine, where in major cities such as Kyiv women tend to dress more formally and elegantly even in everyday situations. This is not a matter of judgment, but a reflection of cultural differences.

My previous experience of living in Canada further reinforced this perspective. In Canada, everyday fashion is often extremely basic and functional. Poland sits somewhere between these two approaches. Here, people generally look elegant and well put together, but without overt luxury or visual extravagance. It is an aesthetic of restraint, balance, and conscious choice.

For REPULO’S, these cultural differences are critically important. The brand specializes in formal, occasion-based, designer fashion. This is a deliberately chosen niche. That is why we opened a studio in Warsaw specifically for women who are looking for clothing for significant life moments — birthdays, weddings, graduation events, formal evenings, and other occasions that may not happen often, but carry strong emotional value.

Our studio is designed as a space for dialogue and individual attention. Clients can visit without rush, receive professional consultations, try different silhouettes, and carefully refine their look for a specific event. The result is a designer piece that fits perfectly, reflects the nature of the occasion, and aligns with the woman’s personality.

Personal communication with clients is extremely important to me. The more I interact with women who visit our studio — Ukrainians, Poles, Belarusians — the better I understand the cultural nuances that are not always visible at first glance. These conversations allow us to adapt our designs more precisely: from silhouettes and styling combinations to overall aesthetic decisions tailored to real needs.

At first glance, it may seem that we are all very similar — Europe, a shared market, familiar trends, and well-known brands. In reality, cultural differences remain significant and have a tangible impact on fashion. They appear in details: in how a woman perceives herself, for which occasions she chooses designer clothing, and what role fashion plays in her life. This article is precisely about those differences and their importance for design, style, and fashion business in Europe.стиль і fashion-бізнес у Польщі та Європі й іде мова в цій статті.