Have you seen this year’s lovely Wapuus? If you did, you’ll know there were two of them and each carried its own beautiful story. Let’s take a closer look at what inspired them.
Wandzia, or Little Wanda, is the spirit of Poland’s great river, the Vistula — a princess so devoted to her independence that she became one with the water itself. Daughter of Krak, the legendary founder of Kraków, she is woven into the very origin of one of Europe’s most beloved cities. She wanders, she flows, she brings people together along her banks. Her name has always felt like more than a label; it feels like an invitation. She is the founding feminine heart of the Polish landscape.
Witold is her perfect counterpart — lord of the forests, keeper of the ancient trees, rooted and steady in a sun-dappled woodland clearing. Poland is blanketed in vast, extraordinary forests, and Witold is their guardian. Where Wandzia flows outward, Witold holds the centre.
Together they cover the whole country between them — she connects, he grounds, and everything in between is a community worth belonging to. From the legendary streets of Kraków to the ancient treelines that stretch across the Polish landscape, these are names that carry a whole homeland inside them.
Traditional Kraków costume developed at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. Due to its uniqueness, even though it originally belonged to the peasants, upper classes took interest in it and often used it for various balls and masquerades. Which wasn’t surprising due to the trend of romanticizing the countryside at that time.
At some point in history it was even the official military uniform. Due to the history of Poland which involved a lot of battles and therefore divisions it went through a lot of changes over the years which led it to be unique for this specific area. There are a few variations of the costume depending on the region, but they all have a few things in common – it’s made of expensive materials, very colourful and important for the national heritage.
There were a few rules that influenced slight differences of how one was supposed to wear certain elements of it, for example maidens paired it with flower headpieces, while married women had to use headkerchiefs.
Today the costume is still popular and often worn, mostly during countless ceremonies with important political and church guests, weddings and other festivities. It also became a distinctive element of Polonia all around the world.
This year our Wapuus were dreamed up by Zuzanna Miśniakiewicz, Design Team member from Poland who knows her homeland’s magic better than anyone. She took the rivers and the forests she grew up with and turned them into something you can hold in your hands.
Take a look at the photos from the event to see the Wapuus in their natural element.
