Kyiv has a serious shopping scene, from Khreshchatyk's department stores to Podil's design boutiques to the food markets that ring the city. Vyshyvanky (the embroidered traditional shirts) and contemporary Ukrainian fashion have become quietly important industries; there are several good independent designers in the centre.
For souvenirs avoid the row of stalls at the top of Andriyivskyy Descent, which is the standard tourist trap. The artisanal shops further down the Descent itself, and the small galleries in Podil, are better.