From Idea to Reality: An MSU Student’s Startup Won the BIKE-HEI Award
Mariupol State University is actively implementing the international project “Boosting Innovation and Knowledge-Based Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Institutions” (BIKE-HEI). The resilient female lecturers have already completed the first cycle of training programs, however the achievements of the university community do not end there.
In November, within the framework of the initiative, the BIKE-HEI Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award was announced to support the implementation of a startup. Many creative young students from Mariupol State University expressed their desire to take part in the competition. Young men and women communicated with the MSU project implementation team, sharing their ideas and concepts.
Vladyslav Chychkanov, a first-year student of the Marketing educational program, presented his startup titled VLW CLOTHES. In 2023, he immersed himself deeply in the world of fashion and the search for unique items. He reviewed dozens of brands and collections but rarely found exactly what he was looking for. This led him to the idea of creating his own production in order to bring to life the visions that existed in his imagination.
After creating my first piece, I decided to take this seriously: I began developing concepts, creating logos, and experimenting with shapes, silhouettes, and materials. My goal was to ensure that each item reflected my vision while remaining accessible to everyone. Over time, I started showing my work to friends, sharing it on social media, and putting selected pieces up for sale. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and this is what motivated me to continue developing VLW, with the hope that one day everyone will know about it,
— noted Vladyslav Chychkanov.
As Vladyslav emphasizes, the overall concept of the VLW brand lies in its radical distinction from mass-market fashion and traditional clothing production. Many of his ideas are inspired by global issues, in particular the catastrophic level of textile waste and the damage the fashion industry causes to the environment. One of the upcoming collections will also feature designs that symbolize protest against war and violence. Nevertheless, a key defining feature of the brand is its conscious approach to the choice of materials.
Approximately 92 million tons of clothing end up in landfills every year, and up to 10% of global CO₂ emissions come from the fashion industry — more than aviation and maritime transport combined. According to statistics, only 1% of clothing is actually recycled into new textiles.
I create clothing from textile remnants, discarded fabric pieces, and reimagined elements of old garments. This is not only an environmentally friendly solution, but also a way to give new life to items that would otherwise end up in landfills, while emphasizing the uniqueness of each piece. Today’s youth want more than just clothing: they seek to stand out, have their own style, support environmental initiatives, and feel comfortable. These three values form the foundation of VLW,
— says Vladyslav Chychkanov.
For aligning VLW CLOTHES with innovative approaches and the values of green entrepreneurship, Vladyslav won the BIKE-HEI competition award — the young man’s startup was recognized as the best among the candidates of the resilient university. The presentation and award ceremony took place on December 16 at the front office of Mariupol State University. Financial support in the amount of €2,000, along with mentoring assistance, will help him take his project to a new level and, perhaps one day, become a brand known worldwide.
