The lecture „Polish National dress or a Costume of a Sarmatian? Reflections upon historical and cultural aspects of national fashion” by dr Maria Molenda, head of the Nomina Rosae Foundation in the SOKÓŁ Lesser Poland Culture Centre.

The kontusz ensemble is seen as a Polish national symbol – it expressed the love of fatherland, affirmation of traditions and values, that Poles followed. But we relatively seldom reflect that it was an exclusive garment, belonging above all to the gentry. The analysis of the historical phenomenon of kontusz ensemble provokes questions about the essence of Polish society and is also important in the context of narrative of contemporary Poland, its democracy, its society, its divisions, its historical self-awareness and visions of its future.
The lecture will also cover, apart from kontusz ensemble, also other forms of garments, that conveyed patriotic and national messages, both in history and in modern day. We will also take a look at “fashionary” decisions of Polish women of the past, wondering how and to what extent women could exist and express themselves through fashion.

The lecture at the Roman Sichrawa auditorium of MCK SOKÓŁ in Nowy Sącz on March 30th, 2017 at 18:00 prepared by the Nomina Rosae Foundation and the SOKÓŁ Lesser Poland Culture Centre

Dr Maria Molenda — founder and head of the Nomina Rosae Foundation; historian, costume researcher and costumer. Graduate of the Jagiellonian University Her doctoral thesis covered the garments of the Jagiellon court from the times of Kazimierz Jagiellończyk reign until the death of Sigismundus Augustus. She studied in France at the University of Orléans within the Sokrates-Erazmus programme. During her doctoral studies she took internship in the Textile Department of the National Museum in Kraków. She taught a course on the history of medieval clothing in the Institute of History of the Jagiellonian Univeristy. Currently, she gives lectures and leads workshops in the field of costume history for museums and educational institutions. Since 2004 she directs the works of the Nomina Rosae Foundation she founded, in which she created the Atelier for Recreation of Historical Garments and Costumes She designs theatrical costumes, works with cinematic industry, designs clothing inspired by historical or folk fashion. She prepared numerous exhibitions of the garments from theNomina Rosae Atelier. She also directs, writes scripts and is involved in movie production. She also initiated the “Labyrinth of History” and is a part of the “Shtetl of Tsanz” Within the Foundation she also created the “House of History” in Nowy Sącz – a facility, where temporary exhibitions are presented and lectures, workshops and plays are organized.