FAINA & the Soul of Live Minimalism: A Story of Heritage, Emotion, and Quiet Craft
There are designers who craft objects — and then there are designers who craft feeling.
Speaking with Ukrainian architect and founder of FAINA, Victoria Yakusha, reminds us that design is not simply visual; it is deeply human. Her work sits at the intersection of memory, material, and emotion — a world where objects feel alive, carrying histories and hopes into the homes they enter.
This philosophy resonates with everything we believe at Ever Lasting: that the spaces we rest in shape how we feel, how we heal, and how we return to ourselves.
Victoria’s voice offers a rare clarity — a reminder that design can be a form of care.
Table of contents
1. The Philosophy of Live Minimalism: Design With a Soul
Yakusha describes her approach as live minimalism — a way of creating that places emotion before form.
“For me, design is not just about form – it’s about emotion.
I call my philosophy live minimalism, because every piece I create must have a soul, a sense of life within it.”
Her belief is simple yet profound:
Objects carry energy. They influence how we exist in our spaces — whether we feel grounded, restless, or at peace.
Live minimalism is built on:
Emotional intention
Honest materials
Quiet, intuitive forms
A sense of life within the object
Space for the viewer to breathe and feel
It echoes Ever Lasting’s own ethos: creating objects that feel like exhaling — pieces that soften the day and bring us back to presence.
Ever Lasting's Live Minimalism Picks
2. DREVO: Preserving Cultural Memory Through Modern Craft
At the heart of FAINA’s collections lies a deep respect for heritage.
The DREVO collection is one of Yakusha’s most moving expressions of this connection.
“My recent collection, DREVO, was born from the hand-painted symbols Ukrainian women once drew on the clay walls of their homes — symbols of protection, symbols that brought the house to life.”
These symbols — passed from mother to daughter — had slowly faded from collective memory. By reimagining them in stainless steel, Yakusha created a bridge between what was nearly lost and what must endure.
DREVO embodies:
Ancestral feminine knowledge
Protective symbols reinterpreted for modern homes
Emotions encoded in pattern and gesture
A cultural language revived in a durable, contemporary medium
The collection is not just art or décor; it is a vessel of history.
A reminder that the stories of our ancestors can still live among us.
3. Craftsmanship, Human Touch, and Slow Creation
In a world defined by speed, Yakusha’s process is intentionally slow — a commitment to craft and care. “Each piece is made by hand in Ukraine. No two are the same — each carries the imprint of the person who shaped it.” This slow, human rhythm mirrors the quiet intentionality we hold close at Ever Lasting. It reflects the belief that sustainability begins not with trends, but with respect — for material, for the artisan’s hands, and for the time it takes to create something meaningful.
FAINA’s craftsmanship is anchored in human-made uniqueness and the honest beauty of tactile, natural materials. Traditional techniques are revived and reshaped for modern living, allowing the past and present to coexist with quiet dignity. Sustainability becomes a lived practice, rooted in care rather than speed, and every piece is designed for emotional longevity rather than visual novelty. Collections like the ZTISTA table and the Grun’ lamp remind us that imperfection is not a flaw; it is a fingerprint — a subtle trace of the human touch behind it.
4. Objects That Invite Presence: Design Between Art and Function
Yakusha’s work often feels like a quiet companion — still yet alive, minimal yet warm. It resists the notion that design must perform or demand attention; instead, it invites you into a relationship with the object itself.
“Design has the power to nurture stillness, belonging, and presence… When design moves us in that way, it becomes more than an object – it becomes a living companion.”
Pieces like the Volyk bench sit at the intersection of sculpture and utility, evoking feeling before function yet offering both with ease. Her work awakens presence through textured surfaces that draw the hand, organic silhouettes that ground a space, and forms that carry memory and emotion within them. There is a sense of weight and stillness in every curve — a quiet beauty that reveals itself slowly, with time.
This is the kind of design Ever Lasting champions: design that deepens a sense of belonging, nurtures calm, and transforms a home into a sanctuary.
5. Why This Matters to Ever Lasting: The Emotional Power of Home
At Ever Lasting, we believe that home is not made by objects alone, but by the emotions those objects hold. FAINA’s work reminds us that craft is a form of care, and that heritage can live with quiet dignity in modern spaces. It shows us how deeply the objects around us shape how we feel — how slowness becomes a kind of luxury, and how beauty is meant to be lived with, not simply looked at.
We resonate deeply with Yakusha’s insistence on emotional design, her commitment to creating pieces with intention, memory, and soul. This emotional integrity is what transforms a house into a place of belonging.
The values shared by Ever Lasting and FAINA are rooted in the same gentle philosophy: design that centers the human experience; materials chosen with emotional intelligence; and a devotion to cultural storytelling. Craft is approached with care rather than speed, allowing spaces to be shaped by warmth, quiet, and intention.
FAINA’s work expands our understanding of how design can touch us — not loudly, but softly, with the kind of presence that lingers long after the first glance.
Final Thoughts: Carrying Memory, Craft, and Soul Into the Future
Victoria Yakusha’s work is a reminder that the objects we live with matter — not because they decorate a home, but because they shape how we feel inside it.
Her practice embodies everything we hold dear at Ever Lasting:
calm beauty, emotional connection, the poetry of craft, and the belief that every home deserves pieces with soul.
Design, at its best, is a form of care — a quiet companion that holds our stories, our histories, and the spaces where we rest.
Summary:
FAINA’s “live minimalism” philosophy centers emotion, honest materials, and soulful design that nurtures presence and calm
The DREVO collection revives ancestral Ukrainian symbols in modern steel forms, preserving cultural memory through contemporary craft.
Each piece is handmade in Ukraine, embracing slow creation, sustainability, and the beauty of imperfection as a human touch.
Ever Lasting aligns with FAINA’s ethos: design as emotional care, transforming homes into sanctuaries of belonging and warmth.
Looking for another Read?
FAQ:
What makes FAINA’s design approach unique?
How does FAINA preserve Ukrainian cultural traditions in its work?
FAINA reinterprets ancestral symbols, crafts, and materials through a contemporary lens. Collections like DREVO revive historic wall markings once painted by Ukrainian women, transforming nearly forgotten traditions into enduring modern objects that carry the spirit of the past into today’s homes.
How can designers or artists be featured by Ever Lasting?
We welcome designers, makers, and creative thinkers whose work reflects emotional depth, slow craft, and a meaningful connection to material and place. Our EverInspired features spotlight individuals who create with intention — those who see design as a form of care and who shape objects that bring calm, beauty, and presence into the home.
If your practice aligns with these values and you feel your story belongs in this series, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach our editorial team at: collabs.everlastingfabrics@gmail.com
Anything We Missed?
Thanks for reading till the end — we hope it brought a little calm and inspiration to your day.
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