Double-warp Weave Bag from Podlasie
For a long time I have been captivated just by how rich the patterns and designs of these fabrics were. They seemed a testament to a peculiar horror vacui, anchored in a desire to tell stories. I imagined a bag that would hold as many traditional Podlasie motifs as possible.
The double-warp weave is crafted on looms from wool yarn in two different colors. This produces the same pattern on both sides of the fabric, but rendered in opposite colors. This weaving technique requires considerable skill and extensive experience. Just a couple decades ago, hand weaving was widespread in the region, with practitioners seemingly everywhere. Handcrafted wall decor and bed coverings were traditionally included in a future bride’s dowry.
However, in the early twentieth century, the practice nearly disappeared due to the rise of textile factories. In the 1930s, thanks to the efforts of Professor Eleonora Plutyńska, hand weaving experienced something of a renaissance, which reinfused the technique with its original character and brought traditional designs back into focus. After the 1990s, interest waned again.
Our story features people holding hands, one of my beloved motifs, in itself a celebration of community.The figures are portrayed in front of their little houses. Across from them are folk musicians playing the violin, the basolia, and the accordion, alongside a mother and daughter dancing together to the tune. Designing this illustration, I kept thinking about my daughter. It’s my own private little story captured in this Podlasie-style image.