10. Polish Fashion and Europe: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow - Paulina Latham

Europe and Fashion: Questioning Identities and Cultures. EFHA Conference 2018

In recent years the Polish fashion industry has experienced a renaissance. In Poland, the growing interest in Polish fashion manifested itself via numerous publications on the subject, formation of fashion schools, competitions, and shows. Additionally, Polish fashion designers became household names with some of them running successful international businesses. This process has often been turbulent, and even now the burning question ‘What is Polish fashion and how it seats within the European context?’ is not straightforward. Using case studies from the past and present, the paper offers answers to this question by exploring the five relevant themes across the Polish fashion industry - ‘National’, ‘French’, ‘Defiant’, ‘Artistic’, and ‘Recycled’.