Today we’d like to introduce you to Yulia Semchenko.
Hi Yulia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Yulia Semchenko. I was born and raised in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a place known for its rich history, vibrant colors, and beautiful artistic traditions.
My creative journey has taken me across many countries, including New York, Baku, Berlin, Moscow, Kyiv, and eventually the Washington, D.C. area. Along the way, I was inspired by the people, cultures, and crafts I encountered, but I always carried a deep connection to my homeland.
The story of Yul d’Uz began in Kyiv in 2015. During a visit home to Samarkand, I brought back handwoven silk-and-cotton ikat fabric and worked with a talented seamstress to create a few garments. The response was immediate—friends, relatives, and even strangers stopped me to ask about the colorful jackets. That experience showed me that traditional Central Asian textiles could be reimagined in a modern way and appreciated by people everywhere.
After moving to the United States in 2017, I continued developing the idea. I imported more handwoven ikat from Uzbekistan and created my first collection of jackets in 2018. What started as clothing for myself, family, and friends gradually grew into Yul d’Uz, a wearable art brand dedicated to preserving and sharing the beauty of Central Asian textile traditions.
Since then, I have expanded my collections, participated in fashion shows, art markets, and major craft events and connected with customers who appreciate handmade textiles and meaningful design. For the past three years, Yul d’Uz has also had a permanent home at ABRO Collective in Union Station in the heart of Washington, D.C., where visitors can see and try on my work year-round.
Today, Yul d’Uz is known for one-of-a-kind jackets, coats, scarves, and accessories made from handwoven ikat and other traditional textiles from Central Asia. What makes me happiest is knowing that through my work I can share a piece of Uzbekistan, the Silk Road, and the rich artistic traditions that shaped me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. When I started Yul d’Uz, I was building a business in a completely new country and in a language that was not my native one. I had no formal business background, so I had to learn everything myself—from marketing and pricing to taxes, applications, and event planning.
One of the biggest challenges has been working with artisans and manufacturers overseas. Creating garments from handwoven textiles is a slow and complex process, and there have been times when materials arrived late or did not meet my expectations. Like many small business owners, I have also faced financial uncertainty and had to balance family responsibilities with growing a business.
The pandemic was another major challenge. Many events were canceled, and opportunities to meet customers disappeared almost overnight. However, it also taught me to be resilient and creative.
Over these years, I’ve learned to take rejection and being ignored calmly. Often at the beginning of my journey, I looked for stores to sell my products and frequently received a cold refusal. Sometimes people would tell me, “Send us an email,” and then simply never reply…
Sometimes I was given hope that they would work with me, but later they turned me down. Even now, it happens that I’m not accepted to local festivals or exhibitions. But that’s part of the journey. I realized that it’s always worth looking for new opportunities and not being afraid of rejection. If you’ve been turned down—so what? At least now you know the answer and can move on. Many opportunities appear only because you found the courage to ask.
Despite the difficulties, I have never lost sight of why I started. Every jacket I create helps preserve a traditional craft and tells a story about my culture and my homeland. Seeing customers connect with that story makes all the challenges worthwhile.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create one-of-a-kind jackets, coats, scarves, and accessories using handwoven ikat and other traditional textiles from Central Asia. I paint om silk and make beautiful scarves. Through my brand, Yul d’Uz, I combine centuries-old textile traditions with contemporary design, creating pieces that are both wearable and artistic.
I am probably best known for my colorful ikat jackets. Every piece is unique because the fabrics themselves are handmade by artisans using techniques that have been passed down through generations. I work with silk, cotton, velvet, vintage textiles, and sometimes incorporate traditional embroidery such as suzani into my designs.
What I am most proud of is that I have been able to introduce many people in the United States to the beauty of Uzbek and Central Asian textile traditions. When someone wears one of my jackets, they are not just wearing clothing—they are wearing a story, a piece of cultural heritage, and the work of skilled artisans.
What sets my work apart is its authenticity. I was born and raised in Samarkand, one of the historic cities of the Silk Road, and these textiles are part of my own cultural identity. I am not simply inspired by this tradition—I grew up surrounded by it. My goal is to preserve these remarkable crafts while presenting them in a fresh and modern way that appeals to today’s audience.
I am also proud that Yul d’Uz has grown from a small personal project into a recognized artistic business. My work has been accepted into prestigious events such as Smithsonian Craft2Wear, American Craft Made Baltimore, and JRA Craft Day. For me, these achievements are meaningful not only as professional milestones but also because they help bring greater visibility to the culture and craftsmanship that inspired my journey.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I don’t think I have one single favorite childhood memory. Instead, I have a collection of feelings, images, colors, light, warmth, smells, tastes, and sounds that together make up my childhood.
I am back in the courtyard of our home in Samarkand. I’m playing tag with my friends on a warm, sunny day. Above us grows a large grapevine planted by my father, and the sunlight filters through the green leaves. Nearby, our neighbors are shaking a white mulberry tree over a sheet and sharing the sweet fruit with everyone. The mulberries are incredibly juicy and delicious.
Another neighbor is baking traditional flatbread in a clay tandoor oven and gives us children small, hot loaves straight from the oven. My friends and I climb onto the roof of a two-story house to pick and eat apricots. Thank God nobody ever fell off that roof—I would never allow my own children to do that!
In the mornings, my mother prepares a delicious breakfast, and the whole family gathers around the table. My two sisters are still living at home then, not yet married, and our house is always full of conversation and laughter. I often visit my grandmother, who tells me stories about the past, about our family, and about life in Samarkand long before I was born. I could listen to her for hours.
I also remember my father tending to his beehives and caring for his bees. Whenever he went into town on his old Ural motorcycle, he would sometimes take me along in the sidecar. As a child, it felt like a grand adventure. The warm wind, the rumble of the engine, and the feeling of riding beside my father are memories I still treasure today.
When I think about my childhood, I don’t remember a single moment. I remember a feeling: sunshine, friendship, freedom, the smell of fresh bread, the taste of fruit picked straight from the tree, and a close-knit community where neighbors shared what they had and children spent their days outdoors. Those memories remain one of the strongest connections I have to my homeland and continue to inspire me today.
Pricing:
- Ikat jackets $280-$350
- Silk ikat scarf – $55-$65
- Hand painter silk scarves -$90-$150
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yul_d_uz_jackets/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YuldUzUSA
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yulya-semchenko-20700a240/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/YULdUzUSA
