Can traditional handicraft promote the place it is produced? Koniaków lace proves that it is possible. But are doilies and tablecloths the only traditional lace products? It turns out that Koniaków lace-makers have other ideas – Mr Sergiusz Kozubek of KONI-Art S.C. tells us about them.

Koniaków lace is famous in Poland, how did you manage to be so successful?

Koniaków lace has been well-known for years – it is not a recent hit. It was in its prime in the 1970s and 80s. It was mostly sold in souvenir shops and was very popular.  It was frequently given as gifts to celebrities. Koniaków lace is very specific, practically such lace is made exclusively in Koniaków. The design is unique and Koniaków lace-makers are famous for their art all over the world.


Lace made only by women?

Personally I don’t know any man who could crochet lace.

How do they learn lace-making? Is this trade handed down from generation to generation or is it mastered at school?

In Koniaków the skill is handed down from generation to generation. There aren’t any publications or patterns – owing to this Koniaków lace remains unique.


Why did you take up lace-making?

In the last years the demand for traditional products decreased substantially as the market is flooded by cheaper goods. So we decided to give our lace a different form – we started making lace lingerie and other accessories. They soon gained recognition and became popular. It aroused a lot of controversy in Koniaków – some lace-makers, particularly the older ones, as well as part of Koniaków community regarded that as the profanation of tradition, of the art of lace-making.


What products are most popular: the lace lingerie or accessories (traditional products)?

At the moment we are making more lingerie than traditional products. However, due to the fact that Koniaków lace lingerie became so poplar after many publications in the Polish and foreign press – the demand for traditional lace products has also increased.

How is lace made?

Lace is crocheted. First we make single elements which are next joint together. We use 100% cotton threads. To make lingerie we use special, very delicate and soft threads from long-fibre Egyptian cotton – owing to this the products are pleasant to the touch and durable.


You make lace to order, tell me please what was your most difficult or strangest order?

Because we have to do with handicraft – we can fill the most sophisticated orders. Laborious, large traditional products are most challenging – doilies and tablecloths. The strangest order we got was from a client in Japan who wanted an ornament of beads and feathers.

You run the KONI-art company, how many people cooperate with you? Is it possible to earn money working in traditional trades?

We cooperate with a dozen or so lace-makers on a permanent basis. Their number changes dynamically depending on the number of orders. For most lace-makers it is an additional job. Obviously, traditional trades can be profitable. But because we make everything manually, the ‘capacity’ is limited. We don’t have machines which can make hundreds of items.  

What advice could you give to people who would like to take up traditional, dying trades?

From our experience it appears that many people value handicraft. Anything made by hand and of artistic value will find buyers among those who want to have something really special - even though it is much more expensive than cheap Chinese products. So handicraft, which is still thriving in Poland, is well worth promoting. The Internet offers a lot of possibilities to show and promote products relatively easily and cheaply.