Wicker-weaving workshops in Rzeszów bring together local heritage, traditional craft and contemporary design, sharing the story of Lasowiak culture through hands-on creativity.
Tradition needn’t belong to the past. It can live on in the objects we use every day, in the work of contemporary designers and in the skills we pass from one generation to the next. This belief is at the heart of Lasovia Design, our brand inspired by Lasowiak culture, a strong sense of place and a commitment to caring for our local heritage.
On 24 October 2026, we held a wicker-weaving workshop for adults at the Regional and Municipal Public Library in Rzeszów, at 13 Sokoła Street. Entitled ‘Lasovia Design - A Wicker Handbag with a Ceramic Bead’, the workshop explored how traditional craft and contemporary design can come together, making room for learning, creativity and a closer connection with our region’s culture.
Who Are the Lasowiak People, and What Makes Their Culture So Special?
The Lasowiak people are an ethnographic group rooted in the lands of the former Sandomierz Forest, covering much of what is now northern Podkarpacie in south-eastern Poland.
For centuries, nature shaped life here. The forests, rivers and natural materials available locally influenced people’s daily work, the homes they built, the clothes they wore, their crafts and their customs.
This close relationship with the natural world gave rise to a culture of resourcefulness, making the most of available materials and valuing the work of skilled hands.
Craft skills, including basketry and weaving, became an important part of the region’s heritage. Wicker baskets, containers and everyday household objects met practical needs, but they also reflected knowledge, experience and a feel for form passed down through generations.
There is far more to Lasowiak culture than craft alone. It also encompasses distinctive traditional dress, embroidery, music, rituals and decorative patterns. Plant and geometric motifs feature prominently, alongside natural materials such as linen, wood and wicker.
For us, Lasowiak culture is more than a source of historical inspiration. It is part of where we come from, and a story we want to share.
The People Who Helped Keep Lasowiak Culture Alive
Any story of Lasowiak heritage would be incomplete without the people who devoted their lives to recording it and bringing it to a wider audience.
One of them was Maria Kozłowa (1910–1999), an outstanding folk artist who passionately championed the traditions of the communities of the Sandomierz Forest. Through embroidery, paper-cutting, songs, traditional rituals and her wider creative work, she celebrated the richness of Lasowiak culture and inspired generations to come.
Another key figure was Franciszek Kotula (1900–1983), a Rzeszów-based ethnographer and researcher who documented folk culture. His work preserved a wealth of accounts of the region’s customs, crafts and everyday life.
Their legacy reminds us that cultural heritage does not survive on its own. It needs people willing to discover it, care for it and pass it on.
At Lasovia Design, we want to carry that spirit forward in our own way. Through wicker-weaving workshops, original designs and contemporary craftsmanship, we show that Lasowiak tradition is still a living source of inspiration, with room to grow and find its place in today’s world.
Lasovia Design - Rooted in the Traditions of Podkarpacie
When we created Lasovia Design, we wanted to show how regional heritage could provide a foundation for contemporary design.
Our aim is to give tradition a new lease of life through modern shapes, practical designs and details inspired by Lasowiak culture.
Our work brings together generations of wicker-weaving knowledge and a fresh approach to design.
We believe good design can have roots, a story and a distinctive identity. Every handwoven piece carries something beyond its everyday purpose: the time taken to make it, the craftsperson’s skill and respect for the material.
Lasovia Design is our way of bringing the cultural heritage of Podkarpacie into modern life.
Wicker-Weaving Workshops in Rzeszów - A Contemporary Take on Lasowiak Tradition
The workshop held on 24 October 2026 centred on an original wicker handbag design, finished with a ceramic bead.
Participants had the chance to learn the basics of traditional wicker weaving and make their own piece, combining time-honoured techniques with a contemporary look.
A special feature was a ceramic ornament in the shape of the traditional Lasowiak heart, made by Manufaktura in Bolesławiec. It echoed the distinctive decorative motifs associated with Lasowiak culture.
A fabric liner and a red strap completed the design, creating a beautiful, practical handbag to pair with a range of outfits.
Details like these give contemporary pieces their individual character. They add meaning to the simple shape of a wicker handbag, making it both a useful accessory and a subtle nod to regional traditions.
The workshop was also a reminder of the patience, precision and experience behind every handwoven basket or bag.
Why Do Workshops Inspired by Lasowiak Heritage Matter to Us?
So many of the things we use today are mass-produced, and it is easy to lose touch with where they come from and how they are made.
That is why we believe there is particular value in learning traditional craft skills first-hand.
Our workshops teach more than wicker weaving. They also share the values that have shaped regional craftsmanship for generations:
- Respect for tradition - showing how established techniques and patterns can continue to inspire.
- An appreciation of handmade work - revealing the knowledge, patience and care involved in making an object.
- A connection with nature - exploring the possibilities of natural materials.
- Creativity and individuality - encouraging people to make pieces with a character of their own.
- A sense of regional identity - helping people discover the richness of Lasowiak culture and its connection to Podkarpacie today.
Above all, we want these traditions to live on.
Books, exhibitions and archives all have a part to play. But picking up a willow rod and trying to weave something yourself brings a different kind of understanding: a real appreciation of the effort and skill behind traditional craftsmanship.
From Traditional Baskets to Contemporary Handbags - A New Chapter for Wicker
For many years, wicker was most closely associated with shopping baskets, harvest baskets and practical household items.
Today, it is finding a place in contemporary interiors, fashion and product design.
Wicker handbags, decorative pieces, furniture and accessories reveal just how much scope there is within this traditional craft.
This is a direction we feel particularly passionate about.
We want people to see Lasowiak culture as a source of ideas for today’s makers and designers, with plenty to offer contemporary life.
That is why our Lasovia Design pieces seek a balance between traditional craftsmanship, everyday practicality and an aesthetic that feels relevant today.
A Craft That Brings Generations Together
Traditional skills need people who will learn them, practise them and pass them on.
Wicker weaving is a wonderful example.
Working with wicker encourages concentration, patience and care. It offers a chance to slow down, focus on the making process and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands.
Craft workshops are also places to meet. They bring together people of different ages, backgrounds and interests through a shared activity.
In this way, tradition becomes something we can experience for ourselves, return to and share with others.
Our Mission - Preserving Heritage and Inspiring the Future
We are proud to work in a region with such a rich craft heritage.
At Lasovia Design, we care deeply about preserving the authenticity of handmade work, championing local skills and helping people recognise the value of handcrafted objects beyond their price or everyday use.
We also want to show that regional design can appeal to contemporary audiences, both in Poland and further afield.
In a world where the origins of the things we buy can be difficult to trace, we believe there is something special about objects with a story of their own.
Our ambition is for traditional Lasowiak craftsmanship to thrive, inspire new generations and continue to find its place in contemporary design.
Discover Lasowiak Culture with Lasovia Design
Our ‘Wicker Handbag with a Ceramic Bead’ workshop, organised in partnership with the Regional and Municipal Public Library in Rzeszów, is one example of how hands-on activities can introduce local communities to traditional crafts.
Every gathering like this means a great deal to us.
It shows that Lasowiak culture can still inspire, engage and delight, and that traditional skills can provide the starting point for fresh, original designs.
Tradition truly lives on when we use it, develop it and share it with others.
We invite you to explore the world of Lasovia Design, discover the region’s crafts and join us for future wicker-weaving workshops.
Lasovia Design - rooted in tradition, inspired by today.
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