26th May, at 6.00 p.m.Fashion show by Ewa Łukawska, Agata Kuliczkowska, Monika Pawelec, Justyna Gamoń-Wesołowska, Kinga Gola, Aleksandra Jendryka, duet Małgorzata Popis & Agata Słońska oraz Iwona Raczyńska.venue: Echo Gallery, ul. Świętokrzyska, Kielce.Ewa Łukawska is a designer from Kielce who for almost 20 years has been creating women’s clothing collections in the modern and elegant style, made of materials of excellent quality. Łukawska designs for women who are brave, strong, self-confident, and at the same time sensitive and delicate. Her clothes are classic elegance in which every woman will look splendid, regardless of size. In collections of Łukawska you can find: matched dresses, elegant coats, trousers and skirts as well as casual clothing and ball gowns for outstanding occasions. The designer worked out her own, individual style in which exquisite tailoring and well thought out details play an important role, and which essence is femininity.Over the years, she cooperated with clothing companies with a consolidated position in the market. Presently, she works under her own name, running a boutique and an original atelier in Kielce. Her collections are available in partner boutiques in Poland, among others, in Warsaw, Cracow, Wrocław, Radom and Kielce. You can find collections of Ewa Łukawska in widely-read fashion magazines and websites. Additionally, they are eagerly worn by the Polish music and movie stars.Agata Kuliczkowska, born in Kielce, 19/03/1992. Cultural anthropologist and fashion designer – a graduate of SAP. She was three times a semi-finalist of OFF Fashion in Kielce, she presented her SAP diploma collection during Cracow Fashion Awards show as part of Cracow Fashion Week 2016. She made stage creations in the course of cooperation with artist Kuba Zaborski – a highly talented winner of Must Be The Music programme. She draws inspirations from her travels which are her great passion.EtniCity is a streetwear ethnic men’s and women’s collection for Spring/Summer 2016 season. The collection was designed for people who love black colour and subtle gold accessories, and like to delicately stand out from the crowd, and wear something special. Original Ceylon batik was used in the collection, enriching modern city cuts with ethnic spirit. Black colour softens patterning and colourfulness of batik woven into the collection. The collection also includes accessories which, despite fresh cuts, reminiscent native bags, baskets… After all, ethnic and city are right next to one another.Urban jungle, Sri Lanka, or maybe African Himba? Everyone has own ethnicity, folk, legends and myths. Our Internet pop culture is as exotic to Himba people as their culture is to us. Similarly, our culture will be inscribed into history for next cultures as something exotic, just like Ancient Egypt for us.Photographs: Roman Słomka – Norman Straw PhotographyPosed: Mateusz Życiński, Adrianna Paciorek, Karolina Pałka, Fit Ewa, Agata Słonina
Monika Pawelec, a student at the Design Department at Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce; she deals with product design on a daily basis, she focus on clothing design in particular, in her spare time she takes photographs and writes books. Monika has already had few individual shows, including a show taking place during pageant; she was a laureate of “Świętokrzyskie Talents” in 2012 and 2014 for her total artistic achievements; she took part in 12th, 14th and 18th edition of Off Fashion; As far as fashion is concerned she enjoys surprising combinations and minimalism.
Kinga Gola, was born in Kielce and she lives here. She completed design studies obtaining a bachelor degree in visual communication and is currently working on a master’s degree in fine arts. She perceives designing clothes as an opportunity to realize her own vision by shaping, cutting and sewing the material. This is a form of an art which is unusual as it coexists in close relation with human beings. Most projects gain the desired form only after being placed on a human body. The designer still feels like a debutant and is still learning. Nevertheless, the participation in the OFF Fashion contest is a great pleasure and every edition constitutes for her a temptation to face the material.
One way ticket
The collection has a simple form resulting from using quite thick velvet with lining. Nevertheless, observing the silhouette one can notice folds and wilful clinches providing diversion. The material used by the designer corresponds to the curtain which used to decorate the interior of the Orient Express train.
No more uniforms
In some respect the collection is a revolt against uniforms, it incorporates elements of official clothing, but in a modified, casual version. The Japanese district of Harajuku served as an inspiration as in this area workers and students go out into the street dressed up in fancy clothes, completely different from what they usually wear. The collection is based on using suede material combined with denim and organic leather. Those materials are supplemented by the original graphic design made of black sequins, symbolizing breaking the rules.
Photographs: Bartłomiej Nowak.
Jutyna Gamoń-Wesołowska, a graduate of Cracow Schools of Art. She was appreciated for her innovative collection titled Cyclist – fashion for stylish bicycles, which was presented during Warsaw Fashion Street, Poznan International Fair, Off Fashion as well as incorporated for the needs of TV shows such as X Factor, “Kawa czy Herbata”. What is more, she created an extremely feminine collection featuring dresses and skirts for the Beauty Gallery and was responsible for styling many fashion ventures in Cracow and also in her hometown area – Tarnobrzeg and Sandomierz. As people were interested in her innovative attitude, innovative in reference to the region of Podkarpacie and Świętokrzyskie, (fashion shows, the organization of fashion shows) it inspired Justyna to make one of the most important steps in her life – she launched her own business “Atelier Gamon” in Tarnobrzeg. It is here where a design studio was created as one of the few in Podkarpacie region, accessible for every woman who values the uniqueness. GA MON Atelier is a place created to realize the designer’s dream as well as the dreams of every woman who wants to look and feel special, no matter if they live in a small town or in a big city. In Atelier one can design and sew a dream size dress from xs to xxl. What is more, the visitors can also obtain professional advice from stylists, dressmakers, professional make-up artists, hairdressers and photographers with whom Justyna was pleased to cooperate in correspondence to her career. This is not the end as the offer is addressed to businesses, business people and all those who are not afraid to look at themselves from another perspective as well. It resulted in a proposal to change the image as regards the representatives of state administration, clergy, cyclists, young mothers and their children, as well as unrepeatable projects of wedding dress, evening dresses, outfits for first communion – for every occasion. What is more, atelier is also a chance for bringing up to life a sleeping city, that is Tarnobrzeg – it is a huge promotion for the Świętokrzyskie and Podkarpackie voivodeships as well as nearby towns. Thanks to this, the image of a small town changes, attracting people from the world of art, culture, fashion and style. The Atelier owner’s intention is also to promote local crafts such as, for example, striped flint.
Małgorzata Popis & Agata Słońska is a duo of fashion enthusiasts from Kielce who are interested in unusual forms and unique solutions. Much of their inspiration is taken from Asian cultures and modern architectonic forms. They have been finalists of Off Fashion and winners of the 3rd place of Modetyka.
KODAMA is a collection that is to draw attention to the ecology issue. The inspiration for that collection was drawn from Japanese folklore. It has been fully created from natural materials, such as bark, linen, and jute.
Iwona Raczyńska – a graduate of journalism and public communication, a student of design within the scope of product design at the Institute of Fine Arts in Kielce. A semi-finalist of the 18th Off Fashion show. Dance, art, fashion, travels – all of that makes Iwona a person full of inspiration. Her curiosity of the world and passion are reflected in the design she creates. He “Plate of” collection stands for courage, femininity, modernity, and original choice of materials. Whiteness, transparency, silver, and shine mean the search for balance between elegance, simplicity, and sensuality. She is a beginner fascinated design, eager to learn, and open for professional experience. Currently, she is working on her new collections.
The Institute of Fine Arts has a great teaching infrastructure. It has 8 crafts workshops (painting, drawing, sculpting, artistic printmaking, and visual structures), 5 computer classrooms (3 of which are facilitated with state-of-the-art Mac computers and 2 of which are facilitated with PCs), a multimedia room, and a professional photo studio with a darkroom. The major in design offers students designing studios and workshops with modern tailor and modelling equipment (including a 3D printer). Lectures and classes in fine arts are conducted on the basis of original programs of teachers who, at the same time, are active designers. The designs prepared for Off Fashion 2016 were made at the product design workshop conducted by Mrs. Justyna Pikulska.