Read more about Ukrainian craft inVolume 37: Craft.

WhenWhenthe war in Ukraine started, Kate Zubarieva and Asya Varetsa were ready. The founders of Kyiv-based clothing labelSleeperhad a back-up atelier ready to go in Turkey, and quickly swung into action evacuating their team from the capital.

"Our first priority was to keep our people safe. We had a plan in case of war because of the rumours in the press. As soon as our team relocated to Europe, Turkey and Western Ukraine, we were able to function," they say.

Striving to keep their businesses afloat while surviving a war has called on every ounce of ingenuity, chutzpah and tenacity Ukrainian business owners have, but many say they feel motivated by something bigger than profit margins.

"We are going through a lot, so we feel the need to continue working more than ever," says jewellerOksana Boriychuk. "This is the way to help our army, support the economy and inspire people to discover their own history."

Designs from Lviv-based jeweller Oksana Boriychuk, left, and Gunia Project's ceramics

"We pay Ukrainian taxes and provide workplaces for Ukrainians," say Zubarieva and Varetsa. "It's important to us, and to any Ukrainian brand, to stay profitable to support our country and business in these hard times of Russian aggression."

For many, the stakes couldn't be higher: for instance,Gushka Wool, which makes contemporary rugs and carpets using traditional Ukrainian weaving techniques. Here, some team members were able to stay at the looms, but others went to fight on the frontline.

Sisters Olha and Helen Norba, founders of luxury sportswear labelNorba, manufacture most of their pieces in Kharkiv, one of the heaviest hit cities. "Naturally the full-scale war disrupted everything," says Olha. "The first weeks, our only focus was to make sure our team was safe. It was really hard for us to perceive any prior goals as meaningful - but life has to go on, so at some point we moved part of our stock to the west of Ukraine and managed to resume sales to support our team with a stable income." She says that even now the frontline has moved away from Kharkiv's residential areas, the city is still being hit by missiles daily.

With their workshops and factories either unreachable or in ruins, many Ukrainian businesses have found new ways to continue production. Others, such as accessories labelKate Kore, have had to rely on existing stock.

"Our manufacture has temporarily stopped working, [but] we are adjusting processes and hope to be back to work in July," says the label's co-founder, Anton Kore. "We continue to work selling stocks that we produced before the war. We transfer part of the funds to the armed forces and humanitarian aid, we cooperate with volunteers."

Most, if not all, Ukrainian businesses still in operation are making similar donations to the army, hospitals or aid organisations. Sleeper has donated more than £27,000 to the army and more than £16,000 to Ukraine's largest children's hospital, Okhmatdyt. International sales are essentially part of the war effort, as well as a much-needed morale boost for Ukrainians. Overseas sales help "both practically and mentally," says Olha Norba. "In terms of emotional support, it is really inspiring to see that people all around the globe care about our work and its future."

The Ukrainian craft brands to support now, and always

Discover more stories from the Craft issuehere.