Kinga Król

DZIWOżONA

Kinga Król’s collection draws from the fascination of a nymph as a feminine icon, a figure who lives on her own terms as a wild woman. In Slavic etymology, „dziwo“ means god, sacred, wonder, and „żona“ stands for female, wife. If the name is taken literally, she becomes a wonder woman or strange wife. In other Slavic languages she is called
“diva lena” or “divá žena” and is known in folk tales of many countries in South-East Europe.

Dziwożona relates to a wild, independent woman. She lives the life of an outsider as she is a fairly dangerous creature that raises both fear and fascination. She is a nymph of swamps or forests, a spirit of a young woman who died suddenly before her marriage, during or after childbirth. She did not have the opportunity to fulfil her social role as a woman, so she seduces men and abducts other people’s babies to replace them with her own offsprings, called “foundlings” or “changelings”. At first, she is perceived as a young, beautiful girl but reveals a face of an old, unattractive woman when approached. So now, in her afterlife, she suffers as a female demon. According to folk belief, only herbs can protect us from her visits and spells.

Król’s collection DZIWOżONA (Wild Woman) revolves around three intertwining elements: patterns, cuts and textures. The printed patterns are based on various hand-drawn herbs, which were used in the past as protection against evil eyes and evil itself. The pleats are a contemporary interpretation of festive, woolen, often very colourful
folk pleated skirts. Dresses designed as oversized chemises reference traditional peasant clothes. The collection takes a contemporary and abstract approach to embroidery, a traditional technique of decorating clothes. Loose threads correspond with an aura of independence and primal connection with nature.

Kinga Król

DZIWOżONA

Kinga Król graduated from the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Nałęczów, where she specialized in toy-making and puppetry. In 2002, she completed her master’s degree in Culture Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Adam Mickiéwicz University in Poznań.

In 1994, she worked on the stage design and production of the play Spring Festival at the Znak Theatre in Gdansk. She collaborated with the well-known Polish fashion brand Solar, working as the main designer between 2008 and 2010. Between 2016 and 2020, she gained experience as a teacher at the Fashion School in Poznan. Between 2018 and 2019 she also lectured at the School of Form in Poznan. In her career, she has collaborated with different clothing brands and companies (Aryton, Vito Vergelis, Semper …).

In 2011, Król launched her brand Confashion, which designs unique garments for women. Her signature style is always evolving. She creates her own fabrics, because she believes that each piece of her collection deserves to be perfect. In her effort to rebel unification in life and fashion, she has taken her collections to Kiev, Berlin, New York, Copenhagen, Paris and Harbin. With the Confashion brand she also took part in Textura – Polish Design Exhibition during London Design Week.