‘Mountain girl’ hits new heights with her stunning highland fashions
A fashion designer from the Tatra mountains is hitting new heights with her gorgeous collection of highland embroidery.
After wowing judges at international fashion shows, Joanna Galica-Dorula’s intricate handmade designs have now been snapped up by high-end Warsaw boutique Petite Maison and have become a hit with celebrities including former Miss Poland Paulina Krupinska.
After wowing judges at international fashion shows, Joanna Galica-Dorula’s intricate handmade designs have now been snapped up by high-end Warsaw boutique Petite Maison.
The 33-year-old from Poland’s Podhale region told TFN: "I am proud that by working at home and carrying out a 'niche' profession, I am able to reach clients like Paulina Krupinska and the Warsaw boutique.
“These are small successes for me, but I approach each client individually with great care, we choose colours, finalise the design which is 'just for her' and I think that distinguishes my workshop."
Using a combination of traditional embroidery and a complex medieval technique known as acupictura, Joanna’s intricate homemade designs create an illusion of ‘painting with a needle and thread’.
Using a combination of traditional embroidery and a complex medieval technique known as acupictura, Joanna’s intricate homemade designs create an illusion of ‘painting with a needle and thread’.
Taking inspiration from traditional ‘Górale’ mountain designs, the designs take 2-3 months on average to complete a full length outfit, with Joanna often working over 10 hours a day to complete them.
Former Miss Poland Paulina Krupinska wore Joanna’s designs at her wedding to singer Sebastian Karpiel Bułecka.
She told TFN: “Roses are a traditional element of highland embroidery designs and they are my favourite pattern.
“I never get tired of doing them - they can be embroidered in so many different ways.”
Roses are a traditional element of highland embroidery designs.
After learning the craft from her mother, Joanna went on to win first place at a competition organised by the Central Museum of Textiles in Lódź in 2012.
Last year she won the hearts of judges at a Hand and Lock Embroidery Competition in London where she earned 3rd place and critical acclaim for her colourful embroidery on a green velvet cape.
Last year Joanna won the hearts of judges at a Hand and Lock Embroidery Competition in London where she earned 3rd place.
Now Joanna is flat out with orders and says her calendar is fully booked for the next two years.
She said: “Clients who come to me are very aware of the amount of work that goes into embroidering their designs and achieving the effect of 'painting with a needle and thread'. I often hear 'it looks like it’s been painted'.
