In the words of entrepreneur Olha Dryha: ‘I want my business not only to create high-quality products but also to help people adapt to new circumstances’

In the small village of Shershnivka near the city of Lubny, Olha and Dmytro Dryhas, an internally displaced family, settled. After leaving Toretsk in the Donetsk region with only two suitcases, they rented a house, started a farm, and launched a family business, rebuilding their lives from scratch. Olha and Dmytro transformed the summer kitchen into a cozy workshop where they create collections of leather goods, craft unique items from high-quality materials they plan to adorn with hand embroidery, and thoughtfully plan for the future. About the challenges and development of a business — read in the story of Olga Dryha.

‘It all started in 2017. Initially, it was just a hobby that grew into a business. I was making a knife sheath as a gift for my husband. He asked me to sew it, but I kept putting it off, and eventually, he had to do it himself (Laughs). He found a piece of leather and started working on it. That’s how our interest in leather goods began—gradually, starting with small accessories and scraps of material we found and used. We didn’t even know how to sew or process leather properly, but over time, we started learning. Eventually, we bought our first tools: hand punches, threads, small leather pieces—and began sewing. 

We are from Toretsk, Donetsk region. That’s where we began our work, but due to the Russian war, we had to leave. It all happened very suddenly and was incredibly difficult. When we left, we had only two suitcases and a few essential items with us. After the full-scale Russian invasion began, my family and I first went to Dnipro and then to relatives in Lubny. Later, we found a place here and started rebuilding our lives. 

We sold our first item a year after we started seriously working on this craft. Initially, my husband made a bag for himself, which our friends really liked, and they began placing orders. That’s when we decided to continue, purchasing more leather and processing materials. Gradually, the business began to grow, and we started considering it as a real venture. 

I happened to come across an announcement from NGO ‘Studio of Public Women's Initiatives’ supported by UN Women Ukraine and The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) about a program for women entrepreneurs to learn and develop business opportunities. I won a grant from UN Women Ukraine and The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) to purchase equipment for our production, including a sewing machine, and we began expanding the business from there. 

For now, we sell our goods primarily through acquaintances, however, we plan to grow our presence through social media and partner stores, where our products will be displayed alongside other leather goods. I dream of creating collections with a Texas-inspired vibe. I feel our sense of aesthetics aligns with their visual culture. However, to achieve this, we need to enhance our production capabilities to meet higher demand. 

I manage promotion and client acquisition, while my husband oversees production. He creates new designs, and we discuss them together, making decisions as a team. We collaborate on many aspects — staying updated on trends and refining our designs. Sometimes, inspiration comes from noticing something interesting in a store, or it arises from our experiments with leather, such as altering colors or styles. That’s how new products take shape. 

I see great potential in involving people with IDP (internally displaced person) status. This could be a wonderful opportunity for them to adapt to a new place and start working in our company. I also hope to create jobs for those who need support. We are already actively engaging people in our initiatives. I am a member of the IDP Working Council in the city of Lubny and work to contribute to the development of the community. We are also involved in projects at the village level, such as clearing areas and assisting people with disabilities. It’s important for the community to support one another. 

I want my business not only to create high-quality products but also to help people adapt to new circumstances. Involving people in work and social projects can help them feel part of a community and successfully integrate’. 

Read the full story: https://www.shemade.marieclaire.ua/en/portfolio/olga-dryha-family-leather-goods-workshop-kozhumiaky/

The project 'She Made: discovery & recovery of Ukraine' was created by Marie Claire Business Ukraine and UN Women Ukraine funded by The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). WPHF mobilizes critical support for local and grassroots civil society organizations working on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. WPHF is a flexible and rapid financing mechanism supporting quality interventions designed to enhance the capacity of women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.

This publication is produced with funding from the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), however, the views expressed and content included does not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Photos: UN Women Ukraine/Nadiia Berska