MONA is a brand that brings the rich cultural embroidery of Ukraine's vyshyvanka to the global stage. More than just beautiful attire, for Ukrainians, vyshyvanka embodies emotional and spiritual values, representing health, beauty, destiny, ancestral memories, decency, honesty, and even serves as a talisman.

Founded by Natalia Moltó, a lawyer who moved to Panama in December 2018, MONA combines fashion with a passion for Ukrainian design. Utilizing comfortable fabrics suited to Panama's tropical climate, Natalia started with vyshyvanka designs, creating women's clothing that maintains elegance across different regions.

The brand kicked off a few months before the pandemic, setting up an atelier and fashion workshop in Ukraine by August 2019, and launching its first collection in January 2020. Despite facing operational halts due to the March 2020 quarantine, Natalia kept the Ukrainian workshop going and moved sales online, continuing international deliveries throughout 2020.

By late 2020, after quarantine lifted, MONA showcased new designs in one of Panama’s premier boutiques. In October 2021, construction began on a dedicated showroom and studio in Panama, where new models are developed.

The onset of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 forced the closure of the Ukrainian workshop due to safety concerns, and the Panamanian showroom suffered from low inventory. However, despite severe challenges like fabric shortages, air raid disruptions, and halted transport services, the team managed to resume operations and even expand production, leading to new business in Israel and Ukraine by mid-2022.

Today, MONA's showroom in Panama is open, offering a taste of the Ukrainian spirit through its clothing. The brand is also involved in a new project representing various Panamanian brands, proudly reflecting its resilience and cultural heritage.

You can check out the original post and the photos gallery on the following link: https://fashionweekpanama.com/mona-brand/