ABOUT FAINA

"Like our ancestors, I believe in the spiritual essence of things, the souls of our objects. And it's one of the core elements of what we call live design — creating something that is alive. Something with a spirit"

FAINA is a live collection of furniture, lighting, and décor. Established in 2014 as a reflection of the strong social-cultural changes in Ukraine, FAINA takes roots in the country's cultural heritage, drawing inspiration from folklore, traditional pottery, and nature

The central tenet of FAINA is rooted in live minimalism - a harmony where minimalism meets nature and animistic traditions, blending natural materials like clay, wood, and wool with the cool touch of stone and glass. 

Victoria takes minimalism’s essence—the purity of forms and monochromatic vibes—and infuses it with nature’s energy - circular shapes, earthy colors, and organic textures - and the animist tradition that recognizes the presence of spirits in everything around us. 

Live minimalism rebels against mere functionality. In the animist tradition, handcrafted objects are believed to possess their own spirit, so that pieces come alive, each with its own soul. Being made by Ukrainian artisans, the object is endowed with its own energy.

This is partly reflected in the animalism inherent in the collection, where many objects exhibit shapes reminiscent of ears, arms, or legs. Additionally, the outlines of furniture pieces evoke mythical beasts.

Live minimalism is an aesthetic that looks forward while respecting nature, ancient traditions, and roots in history.

One of the key things to note about FAINA brand is its commitment to sustainability. When crafting the items, they exclusively use natural fabrics, local wood, clay, wicker, and a signature blend Ztista, invented by Victoria Yakusha - a blend of cellulose, clay, flax fiber, wood chips with a biopolymer cover, which structure resembles raw dough ready for baking (from Ukrainian - “made of dough”). In line with the philosophy of live minimalism, it is eco-friendly and can be ground and decomposed in the soil, being returned to nature.

Another essential aspect of FAINA is how each item is named. Victoria Yakusha choses Ukrainian names for everything, drawing inspiration from various phenomena—whether it’s a natural occurrence, a historical event, or a cherished childhood memory. This thoughtful naming process adds depth and interpretation to each piece

FAINA has received prestigious awards, including the Elle Decor Awards and the Dezeen Awards. Additionally, the pieces are prominently displayed in over 40 galleries worldwide, as well as in private collections.

In 2018 the brand launched a unique project — the design expedition “Land inspires” aimed to draw attention to the rich cultural heritage of Ukraine. Explore more here.

In 2021, Victoria Yakusha opened her Gallery in Antwerp, Belgium, where, in particular, are presented works from the FAINA collection 

Grun’Grun’
Grun’

Who is Grun’? A mysterious presence from the forests of Ukrainian Polissia, living among ancient swamps and moss-covered woods. Grun’ represents an enduring spirit, guarding the wisdom of past generations while offering a sense of peace and inspiration for the future.

The Holiday editionThe Holiday edition
THE HOLIDAY EDITION

The Holiday edition of "The Land of Light" collection embodies resilience and a belief in goodness during challenging times. It serves as a set of guiding companions to navigate through darkness, with each creature possessing a distinctive superpower. These creatures come to life when engaged through expressions of love, touch, and belief.

TiaraTiara
TIARA

The collection was unveiled at Milan Design Week 2024 as part of Victoria Yakusha’s exhibition, SKARB.

ZTISTAZTISTA
ZTISTA

ZTISTA, invented by Victoria Yakusha, is a unique blend composed of cellulose, clay, flax fiber, and wood chips, all encased in a biopolymer cover. Its appearance is reminiscent of raw dough, as if it’s ready for baking. Aligned with the principles of live minimalism, ZTISTA is environmentally friendly and can be ground down and naturally decomposed in the soil, returning to the earth

STEPPING ON UKRAINIAN SOILSTEPPING ON UKRAINIAN SOIL
STEPPING ON UKRAINIAN SOIL

The unique texture of each piece holds the enigma of its artisanal birth, channeling the spirit of Ukrainian craftsmanship into every singular form. The Duzhyi collection is crafted from the sustainable ZTISTA material, a signature blend of natural elements by Victoria Yakusha. The unique texture of each piece holds the enigma of its artisanal birth, channeling the spirit of Ukrainian craftsmanship into every singular form.

SonyahSonyah
SONIAH

SONIAH are art lighting objects inspired by sunflowers, a powerful symbol in Ukraine. Like sunflowers, which always turn toward the sun, these lamps represent life and the eternal light that triumphs over darkness. These handcrafted pieces are made from the unique ZTISTA blend, whilst  the lamp-making process pays homage to ancient techniques used by our ancestors to coat their mud huts. The lamps evoke a gentle volume infused with ecological meaning, fostering a connection between people and the natural world 

PLYNPLYN
PLYN

PLYN / ‘inevitability and flow of life’ in Ukrainian/, represents a captivating collection of furniture and decor. Primitive massive blocks of PLYN sofas recall the outlines of the smoothness of coastal stones, which forms were naturally polished by water, whilst soft forms of PLYN vases evoke the fluidity of water. The underlying narrative is profound: in life, the only constant is change.

LAND OF LIGHTLAND OF LIGHT
THE LAND OF LIGHT

‘The Land of Light’ collection, handcrafted from ZTISTA—an eco-conscious material pioneered by Victoria Yakusha—emerged as a symbol of resilience and belief in the power of inner goodness during times of profound challenge. Each piece is a work of functional art, serving both as a sculpture and a bench, seamlessly blending purpose and artistry. The collection was unveiled at the Design Miami 2023 

ToptunToptun
TOPTUN

TOPTUN / the one who loudly stomps -  Ukrainian/ is an animistic collection of seating furniture created with the idea of “soft geometry” that includes a chair and an armchair covered with high-quality textile. The pieces in the collection have wide-set, plump legs that give them the appearance of children who are confidently standing on their feet but still learning to walk. They seem to stomp around loud and playfully. 

MOVCHUN
MOVCHUN
ZTISTA
ZTISTA
SLUHACH
SLUHACH
Limited editions
Limited editions
STRIKHA
STRIKHA
DOMNA
DOMNA
Sonyah
Sonyah
HLYNA
HLYNA
Toptun
Toptun
PLYN
PLYN
PAMPUKH
PAMPUKH
The Holiday edition
The Holiday edition
ALL COLLECTIONS