Polish fashion showcase
Monday 12 May 2025
Track Brussels
Marking Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, EAST BOUND showcases Polish fashion as cultural diplomacy in action.
This Brussels event celebrates how Central and Eastern European designers have transformed historical challenges into creative strengths – blending craftsmanship with innovation and tradition with modernity.
Polish fashion has pioneered sustainability through necessity, valuing resourcefulness and local connection.
The showcase brings together established figures and emerging talents from Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus, presenting a diverse regional aesthetic that challenges outdated perceptions.
Through nearly 100 looks, EAST BOUND demonstrates how fashion serves as a powerful medium of cultural expression, positioning Poland as a creative leader during its EU Presidency.
Designers:
Acephala – Bohema Clothing – CACKO – Dreamland Syndicate – DZHUS – Gosia Baczyńska – HAWROT – Jerzy Antkowiak/Julia Kromolicka – KANVA – Katsiaryna Nestsiarovich – Michał Szulc – ORSKA – Pat Guzik – Rad Duet – Radek Anais Laro – Tanya May – Tasha Katsuba – Tomasz Ossoliński – Vanda Novak
01
name:
Jerzy Antkowiak
Julia Kromolicka
brand:
Jerzy Antkowiak/Julia Kromolicka
location:
Warsaw
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Julia Kromolicka is a textile and fashion designer, artist and educa- tor whose work combines commit- ment to sustainable fashion with traditional craftsmanship techniques. She is a graduate of SWPS University, where she defend- ed her thesis titled “Visual Pleasure and Women’s Clothing”, exploring the concept of femininity and its representation in fashion. Her passion for ecological design led to the founding of the Julia Kromolicka Circular Brand, where she applies natural dyeing techniques and upcycles second-hand materials into unique textiles, garments, and plant-based artworks. She expand- ed her expertise in natural dyeing at the Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, gaining in-depth knowledge of sustainable textile practices. Her work was showcased at Dutch Design Week 2021 and in 2022, her brand received the Modop- olis Recommendation for its innova- tive approach to circular design.
Alongside her grandfather, Jerzy Antkowiak, a legend of Polish fashion, she is working on opening an artistic studio and space dedicat- ed to his work, celebrating his artis- tic legacy and contribution to fashion. Jerzy Antkowiak is best known for his long-standing work at Moda Polska, where he served as the chief designer. His innovative designs played a key role in shaping Polish fashion during the commu- nist era, introducing modern and bold styles that often broke conven- tional norms. After Moda Polska was dissolved in 1998, he continued his career in the fashion industry, running his own design studio. In addition to fashion design, he is also a painter, creating expressive and distinctive artworks. The EAST BOUND’s family collaboration Kromolicka/ Antkowiak is the very first time the grandfather and grand- daughter work together creating a metaphorical bridge between polish fashion’s past and its future.
02
name:
Irina
Dzhus
brand:
DZHUS
location:
Warsaw
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DZHUS is a Ukrainian conceptual brand internationally known for its multi-purpose outfits, made of cruelty-free materials. Designer Irina Dzhus’ pattern-making innovations help minimise physical shopping and create a versatile yet sustain- able wardrobe from a few transform- able garments. Since the war began, DZHUS has relocated to the EU and has been donating 30% of its profit to Ukrainian animal rights organisations. From the day of its launch in 2010, DZHUS is a vegetarian-friendly brand and uses only ethical materials. In 2019, DZHUS won the Cruelty-free Fashion prize at Best Fashion Awards Ukraine. Short-listed for the International Woolmark Prize back in 2015, DZHUS is now stocked at concept stores in Japan, China, Belgium, Portugal, USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Australia, Poland, and sold online world-wide. Initially designed as womenswear, many of DZHUS garments have unisex aesthetics and fit. DZHUS incorporates gender repre- sentation dilemmas in the core of its design, challenging the social standards and glorifying human physique in its versatility. Genuine and straightforward throughout its entire 14-year history, DZHUS mission is contributing innovation into the fashion industry and breaking established stereotypes about animal-friendly and eco-oriented design. DZHUS aims at popularising ethical fashion through its emblematic eye-catching yet exquisitely intellectual allegories.
03
name:
Paweł Eibel
Michał Kozłowski
brand:
Dreamland Syndicate
location:
Warszawa, London
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Dreamland Syndicate is an independent, interdisciplinary label from Warsaw. Since 2016 they have collaborated with musicians and artists releasing cassette tapes, records and zines and simultaneously developed a clothing line. Their main focus are graphic T-shirts referencing existentialist imagery with counterculture ideals and punk attitude. With time the T-shirt line emerged to jackets, trousers, shirts, accessories and jewellery. So far Dreamland Syndicate have worked with established brands such as Comme des Garçons, Doublet or Deva States, and most recently with London based literature magazine WORMS. Collections by Dreamland Syndicate are available worldwide, for example at Dover Street Market, Hypebeast and Comme des Garçons. Their latest collaboration is a capsule collection with modern surrealist painter, Aleksandra Waliszewska.
05
name:
Monika Kędziora
Bartosz Korzeniowski
brand:
Acephala
location:
Warszawa
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Acephala was founded in 2015 by Monika Kędziora and Bartek Korzeniowski. The brand combines minimalism with experimentalism, juxtaposing simplicity of form with intricate details and elements of craftsmanship. The brand’s clothes are distinguished by fabrics with unusual weaves and rich textures. Based on recycling and upcycling techniques, the brand uses discard- ed materials and leftovers, incorporating them into collections using original experiments in embroidery and patchwork. All collections are produced on site in Warsaw in a limited number of copies. Acephala is known for its conceptual approach to fashion and numerous references to art, literature and culture (collections inspired by, among others, Susan Sontag, Alina Szapocznikow, the suffrage movement) and also for its feminist edge.
06
name:
Michał
Szulc
brand:
Michał Szulc
location:
Łódź
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ORSKA creates jewelry with charisma and flair – her designs are expressive and often controversial. The severity of the forms, the roughness of the textures and the different ideas behind each collection reflect the temperament of the brand. ORSKA jewelry is not an accessory. It is a fashion statement that creates an entire outfit. ORSKA designs for bold people, looking for an original form of style. Each piece has an individual character. This is due to handmade workmanship and reaching for unusual, often unique materi- als. Components come from all over the world’s cultures and from different eras of science, art and human experience, just like the concept of the collections themselves. Anna Orska is an intensely curious, educated designer, interested in exploiting different fields of folklore, identity expression, technology and craft, some deeply tribal, some futuristic. Always sustainable. ORSKA is unruly, diverse and unpredictable. She is not afraid of experimentation. She is constantly searching. One thing that remains constant about the brand is her taste and courage.
08
name:
Joanna
Hawrot
brand:
HAWROT
location:
Warszawa
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The starting point of HAWROT and Joanna Hawrot – the designer is the deep relationship between fashion and art. For 14 years, the designer has consistently implemented her philosophy “FROM FASHION TO ART,” creating modern versions of kimonos, which today constitute the DNA of her brand. The design process takes place in three stages: in the first stage, the designer reaches into oriental roots, drawing inspiration to create her ORIGINAL FORMS; in the second, she focuses on the precise design of FABRICS; and in the third phase, she adapts ART itself, collaborating with contemporary artists and uniquely translating their works onto fabric. In her work, the designer remains faithful to the Japanese aesthetics of polarization – expressing the maximum amount of content in minimal form. In her collections, she corresponds with Asian culture and tradition, giving her answer that fits into the space of contemporary Europe. Recently, she held a solo exhibition “Kimono as an Experience. The Art Language of Joanna Hawrot” at the NATIONAL MUSEUM in Wrocław. Her designs have gained international recognition, and collec- tions have been presented at many excellent exhibitions in Tokyo, Paris, and New York. In June 2025, the designer will present her works during the international EXPO exhibition in Osaka. Hawrot builds her manifesto on the foundation of the Polish School of Textiles, creating fashion interpretations of objects by Magdalena Abakanowicz and Wojciech Sadley.
09
name:
Katsiaryna
Nestsiarovich
brand:
Froufrouandloukum
location:
Minsk, Warszawa
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10
name:
Tomasz
Ossoliński
brand:
Tomasz Ossoliński
location:
Warszawa
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11
name:
Maciej Jóźwicki
Juliusz Rusin
brand:
Rad Duet
location:
Poznań
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RAD DUET was founded in 2017 by fashion designers Maciej Jóźwicki and Juliusz Rusin. The Poznań-based brand draws inspiration from Polish culture, identity, social changes, and history. The designers enjoy using unconventional resources, recycling and upcycling fabrics, reviving old craft techniques. Brand’s name derives from the element discovered by Maria Skłodowska-Curie – the only woman in history to be awarded the Nobel Prize twice.The duet gained recognition with “Wiesia” collection in 2019. It won all the most important awards in fashion and design in Poland, has been repeatedly called one of the most important collections in the history of Polish fashion, with the designers described as pioneers of Polish haute couture.In 2020, RAD DUET created “Dom Kujawski” collection. The collection’s campaign, featuring Wiesława (86 years old), Maciej’s grand- mother, after whom the previous collection was named, became a viral moment for RAD DUET on social media. In 2021, together with drag queen and activist Shady Lady, they created the “Sawa” project. In early 2022, RAD DUET represented Poland at the Expo exhibition in Dubai with the “Kowalski in Space” project. December 2022 marked the premiere of “Irena” collection – the second part of a trilogy named after women important to the designers. It was shown at Budapest Central European Fashion Week (BECFW) and was distinguished by publications in Vogue Italia, Vogue UA, Vogue CS, among others. Finally In January 2024, came “Maria” collection – the third and final part of the trilogy – it premiered also during BCFW.
Tasha Katsuba is an artist and fashion designer from Polesie, work- ing at the intersection of fashion and art. In her work, she transforms personal experiences into public space performance, giving her projects a bold honesty and emotional depth. She has participated in over 30 group exhibitions and presented 6 individual projects in Belarus, Poland, Lithuania, France and Sweden. Her works were mentioned in VOGUE Poland (2020, 2023). Since 2020, she has been creating clothes, masks and soft weapons as an artistic commentary on the events in Belarus. In 2021, she founded her own clothing brand, moved to Ukraine and then to Poland after the outbreak of the war, and continues her artistic and design activities. In 2024, she was accepted to the MA studies in fashion design at the Academy of
Fine Arts in Łódź. She currently collaborates with the Dramatic Theater in Warsaw, the Contempo- rary Theater in Wrocław (Un-puck- ing) and the Gorki Theater in Berlin (I’ll Huck U Dictator).
13
name:
Gosia
Baczyńska
brand:
Gosia Baczyńska
location:
Warszawa
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14
name:
Tanya
May
brand:
Tanya May
location:
Minsk, Warszawa
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Tanya was born on the Belaru- sian-Polish border, in a town where religions, languages and cultures mix. She received a diploma in cloth- ing and textile design from the Vitebsk State Technological University in Belarus. She participated in Belarus Fashion Week, Lviv Fashion Week (Ukraine); Lodz Young Fashion Award and fashion shows in Berlin, Sweden, Paris and Lithua- nia.Her clothes are made of natural fabrics and decorated with author’s hand embroidery. In her designs great attention is paid to her local traditions, which gives her works a strong sense of authenticity and embodied experience. Her clothes are inspired by nature, provincial home decor and domestic weaving. She is committed in lifting this tradi- tional women’s activities often- times held in disregard by the art world to the level of appreciated and recognized artisanal mastery.
15
name:
Radek Anais
Laro
brand:
Radek Anais Laro
location:
Warszawa, Londyn
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Radek Anais Larø is a non-binary artist and collector, dividing their life between London and Warsaw. In Poland’s capital, they collaborate with local goldsmiths to create their projects using traditional metalworking methods. The result of the artist’s creative explorations are works that defy traditional categorizations, with the human body as their point of reference. Their works, mainly handmade unique forms, balance on the border between jewelry, sculpture, and artistic installation. The artist perceives them as sacred objects, always designed with personal use in mind, which constitutes a key element in the process of their initiation. Radek’s work has been featured in publications such as Vogue Polska and used in music videos of many Polish and international artists including Brodka, Nosowska, Mata, Quebonafide, Bambie Thug, and Roisin Murphy. Currently, several of their works can be seen at the Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź as part of the exhibition “Arkadius. Great Passions. Confrontations.” The exhibition summarizes the work of Arkadius Weremczuk, one of the most famous Polish designers, and Larø’s works accompany the exhib- its as interpretations of issues present in Arkadius’s work. Among other projects, Larø’s work includes collaboration on the VR film “Sektor,” where they were responsible for costumes and jewelry. The film was presented at various festivals, including the Immersion Festival and Retroperspektywy 2020. Their objects can also be seen in Netflix’s latest series based on Jakub Żulczyk’s novel “Wzgórze Psów” (Dog Hill).
Cacko is a brand created with passion in a small town near Poznań. Each piece of jewelry is handmade with attention to the smallest details. The main material of the designs is resin. Ola Jabłonka, the designer, draws inspiration from both nature and street fashion – combining organic shapes with bold ideas. CACKO is a manifesto of freedom and expression, aimed at women who value both subtlety, strength and sense of humour and gained particular popularity among writers and journalists, actresses and singers. The latest “Flowers” collection was received with enthusi- asm and featured in major fashion publications. Ola Jabłonka, now a self-made jewelry artisan, previous- ly worked in the music world and transferred her artistic sensitivity to three-dimensional, almost sculp- tural forms CACKO is recognized for. Her experience in creating sounds and emotions is reflected in jewelry that not only adorns and “makes” the outfit but also energizes the imagination and makes reality a little bit more surreal.
17
name:
Wioletta Wiertel
Sebastian Szypuła
brand:
Bohema Clothing
location:
Kolbuszowa
instagram:
Bohema blends timeless, classic design with comfort, crafting shoes and bags from natural, plant-based leathers that are utilized down to the last thread, embodying their less waste philosophy. Each product is handmade by Polish artisans, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary, street flair. The brand draws inspiration from urban environments and architecture, creating versatile accessories that transition seamlessly through all daily situations, regardless of dress codes. The founders are committed to transparency and respect – both for their customers and the environ- ment. They exclusively use cruelty-free, planet-friendly materials and incorporate recycled resources whenever possible so that their brand is an epitome of what sustain- ability in the field of accessories should look like.
18
name:
Dominika
Nowak
brand:
Vanda Novak
location:
Warszawa
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In 2006, after obtaining her master’s degree at Jagiellonian University in the Faculty of Art History with a specialization in costume studies, Dominika Nowak moved to Paris to continue her education at the prestigious Studio Bercot. The year 2007 was pivotal for her, as she decided to dedicate herself to accessory design. For her shoe design, she won two awards at the prestigious Grand Prix Européen de la Chaussure competition. In 2007, she also presented her first shoe collection under the name NUNC, entirely made of leather with hair. It generated significant enthusiasm from the international press, and Italian Vogue named her a talent of the season. Since then, Dominika Nowak has showcased her NUNC shoe collections in Paris and Milan, in over 50 boutiques. Since 2011, Dominika has collaborated with Mario Amerigo Di Castri in designing shoes for brands such as Trussardi 1911, Hugo Boss, Helmut Lang, Jimmy Choo, Coccinelle. Since 2015, she has held the position of artistic director at the Baldowski brand, and in 2018, she founded her own brand, Vanda Novak, taking the name from her beloved grand- mother. It combines the quality of traditional craftsmanship with a modern perspective on functional design. Each pair of shoes is designed from scratch, with an uncompromising guiding principle that merges sensuality with comfort. Prepared in the workshops of Italian masters, from soles, and heels to original designs of upper leathers, the shoes are assembled in Polish shoemaking workshops.The influence of Polish and Italian design is evident in the brand’s collections. The spirit of Slavic heritage, a post-romantic view of reality, modernist form, and the fulfillment of functional needs make the brand’s shoes not just a product, but a kind of manifesto of a contem- porary femininity.
19
name:
Nastya
Vasjuchenka
brand:
KANVA
location:
Mińsk, Warszawa
instagram:
KANVA is a folk fashion brand that explores the Belarusian cultural code blending ancient traditions with modern aesthetics. The founder – Nastya Vasjuchenka, is a professional costume designer and she founded KANVA in her hometowne Minsk in 2018. The name “KANVA” holds a double meaning: it refers to the embroidery canvas, a base for creating intricate patterns, and symbolizes a foundation — something to build upon. Since the autumn of 2022, Nasta has been developing KANVA in Warsaw, bringing Belarusian heritage to the global stage. KANVA transforms symbols of folk art into bold, wear- able statements. Each piece is a tribute to craftsmanship, storytell- ing, and cultural pride. Inspired by the Belarusian “pauk” — protective straw talismans symbolizing balance and harmony. Nastya reimagines this ancient form as striking metal earrings. KANVA is bringing new life into the ancient craft of straw weaving by combining straw with unexpected materials like pearls, metal, and glass. She uses a unique technique of lightly toasted straw, adding depth and warmth to the color palette. The collection also features art objects, like the Straw Crown — a symbolic piece inspired by Belarusian traditions, blending contemporary design with folk elements. Her works feature sentimental embroidery, inspired by folk songs and quotes from Belarusian poets.
East Bound
Polish Fashion Showcase
Organizers: Polish Creative Industries Development Center, KRAINA Foundation
Partners: Adam Mickiewicz Institute
Curator: Karolina Sulej
Director: Waldek Szymkowiak
Producer: Magdalena Christofi
Production Team: Ewa Truszkowska, Katarzyna Wojtera, Anna Chomiczewska, Małgorzata Rogujska-Galińska
Music: Spievy Choir (Nadzeya Sayapina, Diana Airapetian, Maryna Shukiurava, Eugenia Kurdo, Karalina Poliakova, Ivanna Kovtun), Tomasz Butowtt
Technical Operations & Support: Stickman
Communications: Agata Kozak, Marta Obłuska
Graphic Design: Konrad Smoleński
Web Design: Michał Algebra
Print production: Łukasz Rychlicki
Video: Matylda Jabłonka
Typeface: Dinamo Typefaces
