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This collection was carefully curated (and mostly hand-drawn) by a Lithuanian-Ukrainian couple to give you the best idea of the soviet design and lifestyle. We've made this to show many wacky, interesting (and often forgotten) things made in the USSR. Note: this is not an attempt to glorify or whitewash the soviet past.

One illustration takes a few hours to complete, so it's a rather long manual process. Hope you like it! If you would like to see some specific soviet item here, drop us a message.

More info: Instagram

#1

Wacky Soviet Things

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Dmitrij Gorbacsov
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone will know what groceries are consumed by Soviet families plus no plastic waste, these bags lasted forever

Olga Sulgacika
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually im using my soviet grocery bag, still alive and very trendy 😂

Pinkjoelle
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a bag like thing, I love it, it looks small but holds a lot

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    #2

    Wacky Soviet Things

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    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Eggholder and transporter for Soviet Babushkas, very convenient and sturdy design Not to crack one's eggs

    imsouravmitra
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We used to have something like that here in India..

    Miglena Timova
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ohhh, we used to have a couple of these at home :)).

    #3

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    Andres Tejeda
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How would you close it if you don't finish all the milk?

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's only half a liter/quart container, thirsty Soviet citizen would finish it in one big gulp or two/3 sips..

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    Lingon
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tetra Pak is a Swedish invention, not a sovjet one. You can still buy milk in that shape here, but there is just enough milk for one cup of coffee or tea.

    #4

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    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Yula" every soviet child's spinner fun game device. Still very popular breakthrough tech machine

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    #5

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    Kimberly Puchniarz
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So that we could see the inside in case someone actually couldn't see it in their minds...

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    #6

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    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Vanyka vstanyka" - Ivan get up toy , still used and played by children all over

    #7

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    Hugh Cookson
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or as a Russian friend of mine used to call them - Hiz Ugli ; and unreliable, dangerous and scary to drive.

    Lia77
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Put it in H! Put it in H!

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Italian Fiat copycat originally built in Italian named and designed city of Toliatti in USSR

    Arturo Quasimoff
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Let's give credit where it is due. USSR did buy the license from Fiat to legally make it locally and they did heavy re engineering work (though externally the design was left mostly unchanged) https://www.google.com/amp/s/jalopnik.com/the-first-lada-was-way-more-than-just-a-re-badged-fiat-1722260844/amp

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    #8

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    Hugh Cookson
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because nothing says comfort more than a cardboard chair .....

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    #9

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    #10

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    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Old, probably broken armchair covered by a Persian rug. Soviet style refurbishment. Also, it was very common to hang the rug above the bed to have a warmer surface to lean against as the walls were freezing cold in the winter

    #11

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    Andres Tejeda
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I bet the slogan is "If he dies , he dies" - Ivan Drago

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Drago is fictional name that never existed in the USSR

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    Regina Golyuk
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    if you have corona virus use - zvezdochka))

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks Vietnamese to me, Soviet star is always Red !!! Andres, you know to each their own interpretation

    #12

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    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    whole Food stores sell those

    Guilherme Taffarel Bergamin
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, really... This is just caviar. Why is this considered wacky?

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the good stuff, just a spoon needed to eat this salmon ikra. Japanese learned it from Russians and named it ikura. We learned it from persians i believe. Iran has one of the best sturgeon black caviar to this day

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    #13

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    Olga Sulgacika
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oohhh the best dessert you could think of! Nowadays condensed milk doesnt taste the same...

    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    condensed milk same size can with russian lable. come on.

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The multi purpose treat, put it in tea/coffee or cereal, on top of blinchiki or bread. Make milti layered honey cake or boil it for two/3 hours to have caramel sauce that's sooo yummy

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    #15

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    #16

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    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    that sold in every food store in usa

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bbushkas would sit in front of a huge sack/bag of these at every Metro station and sell semechki to anyone who wanted a snack or litter around with the shells

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    #17

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    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Russian name is " Bidon", maybe comes from French??

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    #18

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    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    LOGO inside from 1980 Moscow Olympics which were boycotted by westerners because of Afghans not liking the communist transformation by Soviet Union

    #19

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    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    shaver from 70s verry wacky.

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hmm, must be originally made by Ukrainian SSR as we say the city in Russian "Harkov"

    #20

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    Andres Tejeda
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Soviet Russia Music listens to you.

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    #21

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    Olga Sulgacika
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you would add 2 kopeikas you will get water with syrup 😂

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Soviet union soda machine with max. TWO glasses that you're supposed to clean yourself by an upward stream of water :) genius design

    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    fountain soda machine. found on every gas station in US. verry wacky.

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    #22

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    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    nice basic camera. reliable. but outdated by digital age. i got noikia copy of this apparatus on my table.

    Andrew Gibb
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Soviets made really good cameras

    #23

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    Andres Tejeda
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Complete with built in microphone to record all anti-Soviet conversations.

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hence tye brand named "Surprise" in case you had something to say that surprised the Soviet intelligence LOL

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    #24

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    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My grandmother pickeled tomatoes, cabbage and even small watermelons in Siberia. Good stuff in the long winter months when you wanted some fruit or veggies LOL

    Olga Sulgacika
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Malosolnie ogurciki" freshpickled gherkins - yummm 😂😂😂

    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    pickled cucumbers. americans put those on hamburger.

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    #26

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    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    portable TV. extremely funny.

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Youth" television set, was the first widely available TV to every Soviet citizen. Almost every household had one or two of these

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    #27

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    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had one for my lil brother, but I was riding it with a cast on my broken leg. Useful disign if you had only hands available to move yourself LOL

    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    scuter fir kids. toy store.

    #28

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    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep, its another example of Soviet engineering and development. NO CHINESE goods at that time

    #29

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    #30

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    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    that was an electronic toy alowed to build you own radio transmitter short distance of course.

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    High tech item, only for Soviet geeks of that era

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    #31

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    DeLor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    radio. they had those in radio shack. maybe this is why those are closed now.

    Dmitrij Gorbacsov
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Made for granpas to listen to Soviet propaganda all day long or till the battery lasted