Koza Dereza Shop, Lviv

Koza Dereza is a cosy shop of a Ukrainian brand of embroidered clothing and handmade gifts on Brativ Rohatyntsiv Street, a few steps from Rynok Square. It's easy to spot: the window is framed by a fairy-tale tree with lantern branches, and in winter by lush fir garlands with Christmas ornaments. Inside you'll find vyshyvankas and dresses on rails, shelves of hand-painted textile toys, coral necklaces and boxes decorated with folk patterns. It's a good place to bring home something made by Ukrainian craftspeople rather than a mass-produced souvenir.

About the brand

Koza Dereza has been around since 2008. The brand was born in Ternopil, where its workshop still is: clothes are sewn and embroidered there, toys are painted and décor is made. The Lviv shop is one of two flagship stores, together with the one in Ternopil. Shoppers note in reviews that most of the range is made in-house, from natural fabrics and with safe paints. The brand is also known for collections with a story — for example, matching couple vyshyvankas inspired by the shirt of Vasyl Vyshyvanyi, the Austrian archduke who chose Ukraine as his own.

What to buy

• Vyshyvankas. For women, men and children, couples and whole families; linen, white, black and modern cuts; hand-embroidered and machine-embroidered shirts, plus embroidered dresses, including wedding dresses.
• Jewellery. Traditional-style necklaces of coral, beads and natural stone, and tassels.
• Textile toys. The signature hand-painted goats, cats, sheep, bunnies, bears and birds, stuffed with fibre or buckwheat husks. Children love them and adults buy them as gifts.
• Festive décor. Christmas stars, bells, textile tree ornaments, nativity scenes, Easter wreaths and pysanky, plus a "Carpathian Collection" of souvenirs.

Tradition, reinterpreted

The vyshyvanka is one of the strongest symbols of Ukrainian identity, and every region has its own patterns and colours, from the white-on-white embroidery of Poltava to bright Hutsul designs. Koza Dereza reinterprets these motifs in clothes you can wear every day, while the painted toys and décor continue the tradition of folk toys and festive ornaments. The brand's name refers to a well-known Ukrainian fairy tale about a cunning goat — hence the goats in every possible form on the shelves.

For groups, schools and tourists the brand runs tours with toy-painting workshops, but these take place at the workshop in Ternopil, not in the Lviv shop (workshop bookings: +380 67 824 3723).

The shop is especially lovely before the holidays: ahead of St Nicholas Day, Christmas and Easter the shelves fill up with new ornament collections and the room turns into a small festive fairy tale. It's also an easy place to put together a gift for friends abroad — the light toys and jewellery travel well.

Practical information

• Address: 17 Brativ Rohatyntsiv St, Lviv — a 3-minute walk from Rynok Square.
• Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–20:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–20:00.
• Contacts: shop +380 68 702 5622; retail orders +380 67 350 5952; website and online shop kozadereza.ua (delivery within Ukraine and abroad).
• Getting there: from Rynok Square along Ruska or Virmenska Street to Brativ Rohatyntsiv; from the station by tram to the centre, then on foot.
• Tip: try handmade vyshyvankas on in the shop; if your size isn't available, staff will explain how to order one.

The shop is rated 4.5 out of 5 on Google Maps (over 400 reviews): guests praise the friendly staff, original gifts and moderate prices.

Please confirm by phone before your trip.

At a glance

• Address: Lviv
• Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–20:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–20:00
• Season: All year; especially rich in decorations before Christmas and Easter
• Phone: +380687025622, +380673505952

Please confirm by phone before your trip.

Website and social media: kozadereza.ua

Photos: lh3.googleusercontent.com.