Lachy Sądeckie - men’s traditional folk costume

The costume worn by Lachowie Sądeccy is considered to be one of the most beautiful Polish folk costumes. It pleases the eye with colourful, embroidered, chain-stitched applications (made by men) on jackets and trousers, colourfully embroidered shirts and delicate, linear, bead embroidery on female corsets. Men’s costume is traditionally believed to have stemmed from Swedish uniforms, as – during the 17th century Swedish Deluge – local Lachowie Sądeccy conquered the Swedish soldiers in the battle of Kopaliny and, as a reward, they were allowed by the king, Jan Kazimierz, to wear the seized Swedish uniforms.“Ciosek”, uknown in other regions of Poland, serves as a tie and is worn with men’s shirt. The name means “a hewer” and alludes to the garment’s shape, which resembles the shape of the tool used for raking ashes from bread ovens.