Amber and the Moirai in Zakopane

At the anniversary edition of Polka Folka in Zakopane, one of the most interesting shows was the “Mojry” collection by Wioletta Podsiadlik. The designer turned to Greek mythology to tell a story about time, transience and constant change.

Hand-joined latex elements and reclaimed materials created silhouettes balancing between experiment and craft. Amber jewelry by Daria Dorbur Burkowska became the natural complement to this story.

The collection was inspired by the Moirai, the three goddesses of Greek myth. Clotho spun the thread of life, Lachesis measured its length, and Atropos cut it at the final moment. One of Europe’s oldest myths became the starting point for a collection that did not try to recreate the ancient world, but looked for a contemporary language for a story about fate and transience.

The thread of life

There were no historical costumes on the runway and no literal references to antiquity. Instead, there were forms built on the contrast of lightness and weight, motion and stillness, softness and structure. The individual silhouettes seemed to unwind like the thread spun by Clotho, a reminder that time is the invisible material of every human story.

Amber as the memory of the world

It is hard to find a material that corresponds better to the idea of the Moirai than amber. It is one of the most remarkable records of time that nature has created: light from millions of years ago, sealed in resin that preserved fragments of an ancient world. In Zakopane, amber was not a decorative accessory. Paired with a collection inspired by the Moirai, it took on a meaning beyond jewelry and became a material trace of time, just as myth remains a trace of old ways of understanding the world. That is why the presence of jewelry by Daria Dorbur Burkowska felt entirely natural here.

Natural structure, texture and light

The artist comes from a multi-generational amber-working tradition and has worked with Baltic amber for almost three decades, focusing on its natural structure, texture and the way it responds to light. Her work has also appeared on fashion runways for years. Dorbur jewelry has been shown, among others, at Yavorska shows, where amber was paired with silver and wood. Daria Dorbur Burkowska’s designs have been presented on the runway by models including Katarzyna Butowtt, Karolina Ferenc and Lidia Popiel. The artist also took part in the Amber Vibes Gala 2026 in Gdańsk.

Folklore and mythology

For fifteen years, Polka Folka has shown that inspiration drawn from folklore can lead in very different directions. The project created by Aneta Larysa Knap is not limited to recreating traditional costumes or regional ornaments. More and more often it becomes a meeting place for local heritage and broader themes: history, nature, contemporary art and, indeed, mythology.

Against this background, “Mojry” was part of a wider trend of this year’s edition, showing that inspiration can come from regional traditions as well as from Europe’s shared cultural heritage.

About the event

The 15th edition of Polka Folka took place at Nosalowy Dwór Resort & SPA in Zakopane under the theme “Podhale Forest and the Treasures of Lesser Poland”. The program included folklore-inspired fashion shows, presentations of designer jewelry and projects combining traditional craft with contemporary design.

Designers and collections at Polka Folka XV

Haft Fashion, Paradnica and Jubiler Sezam – “Gorsety i Tiule. Podhalański Salon”
Pracownia Haftu Komputerowego SZYK – contemporary interpretations of Podhale embroidery
Joanna Decowska – “Forest Sounds”
Liwia Trubacz – “Forgotten Walls”
Kamila Froelke – a collection inspired by Kociewie motifs
Justyna Wesołowska-Gamoń – “RUNO”
Katarzyna Biela-Former (BeUpStar) – a collection inspired by minerals
Mariola Turbiarz – “PodSZYCIE”
Laura Skowron – “Noc Kupały”
Wioletta Podsiadlik – “Mojry” with Dorbur jewelry
Sandra Kaczmarska – “Inherent”
Aneta Larysa Knap / Folk Design – the closing collection inspired by the forest, upcycling and the treasures of Lesser Poland

Photo: Dorbur