The war has inevitably left its mark on every Ukrainian furniture company. Some were affected less, others more significantly, and some were brought to the brink of survival. However, the company known in our Association under the unusual name for the industry — “Prostir Yednosti” — ceased to exist altogether. So this story isn’t about the company, but about its founder, Iryna Isyuk, who continued her work, though in a different place and under different circumstances.

When the war began, Iryna — a single mother — relocated her family to Poland. With her small custom furniture manufacturing business, she could have managed operations remotely, since her team was made up of skilled and independent workers. But the war didn’t spare them either: some left due to family reasons, others were mobilized and found themselves close to the front lines.

The company, which had essentially fallen apart, could have been closed due to its obvious lack of prospects. However, there were still open contracts and unfinished projects. Iryna couldn’t neglect her clients’ trust. With significant effort, she managed to remotely assemble a temporary team of craftsmen on flexible terms who revived production and completed all outstanding work.

It was one of the most difficult periods: Iryna had to use all her remaining resources to ensure her clients had no reason to complain. Eventually, she had to say goodbye to the company.

Still, as an experienced entrepreneur and naturally proactive person, she continued. After some retraining in Poland, she founded a new company — a design studio called MebleArt. As it turned out, establishing a design bureau was easier than launching manufacturing abroad — but that “easier” didn’t mean it came without challenges. Especially since she had almost no financial reserves and had to start from scratch in a new country, under stricter and more demanding business conditions. Yet her idea proved effective: today, Iryna develops custom design projects in Poland, holding a diploma in design.

— Are these full-service projects?

— Yes, my current company has completed seven full apartment design projects, and I’m currently working on a full-house interior. I’m heading to Croatia soon to deliver a turnkey project.

She established contact with the Polish branch of the Ukrainian company ViYar, which supports her projects. She also found Ukrainian partners in other countries, giving her the opportunity to take her business beyond Poland. With her deep knowledge of Ukrainian furniture manufacturers’ capabilities, she often directs her foreign clients toward Ukrainian products. And thanks to ViYar, she can now even offer her own furniture — not just in drawings.

— So you already have production capabilities there?

— They’re still quite modest. I found fellow Ukrainians familiar with woodworking, and together we formed a small production team.

After learning Polish, I also began teaching furniture design to those interested — since no one teaches it here, and frankly, barely anyone teaches it in Ukraine either. My teaching is very practice-oriented. Furniture design is highly valued abroad, and in general, all services are.

Design skills are especially important for managers — those who first interact with clients and take orders. It’s crucial that they can present each proposal attractively, calculate the cost of the project, sketch it out, highlight its strengths, and be fully familiar with furniture materials, fittings, and components.

This is just the beginning. I intend to fully realize my educational mission in Ukraine — and not necessarily after the war is over.

I’ve never seen the Polish market as my final destination — as a designer or a furniture maker. It was life’s circumstances that pushed me this way.

— Do you still have any foundation for this work in Ukraine?

— Yes, above all, it’s the continued connection with the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers (UAFM). The leadership sometimes supports me in my business, and I try to contribute in return. My business partner and I are currently planning how to implement international projects that involve Ukrainian-made products. And we can’t do this without UAFM.

— Do you plan to revive your business in Ukraine, perhaps under a new name?

— If our plans succeed, that will be necessary. But for now, managing two companies in different countries is still too much.