I just can’t emphasize enough how important the Arkadius exhibition at Central Museum of Textile in Łódź (Poland) is! Seeing all these garments finally IRL, masterfully preserved and in dialogue with works by contemporary Polish artists is a heartwarmingly emotional experience. What makes Arkadius’s oeuvre resonate especially now is its sensitivity towards humanity. He interprets cultures, religions and traditions from around the world in a beautiful and informed way, calling for global peace and love. Also, it’s eternally inspiring to see how the legendary designer and the creative who enamored London in the late 1990s and early 2000s plays with the idea(s) of Polish-ness: folklore, countryside life, Catholic imagination… all creating a joyful, exuberant mosaic of an artist’s creativity. Misunderstood in Poland at first, finally understood in 2020s – better late than never. This is a very significant moment for Polish fashion and I’m absolutely proud and happy to witness it.

The exhibition is open through July 2025 – you’ve got a year to visit Łódź!

You can revisit my interview with Arkadius here where we talk about the “Finale Icon” look from his iconoclastic “Virgin Mary Wears The Trousers” collection.

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.
Don’t forget to follow Design & Culture by Ed on Instagram!

Hey, did you know about my newsletter – Ed’s Dispatch? Click here to subscribe!