Koniakow
Koniakow's history begins in the second half of XVI century. Around this time, settlers from Cieszynski’s Silesia located in this area, created the following villages: Istebna and Jaworzynka, together with Koniakow, known as the Beskidzkie Tri-Village. However, it was not only settlers of Polish origin that inhabited this area. Also Vlachs (Wallachians) were passing through with their flocks of sheep. Some of them decided to stay, and mixed in with the original habitants. Such mixtures fructified between men and women, and their ethnic differences were exposed in their types of clothing and also their cultural beliefs.
The unspoilt beauty of Koniakow was an attraction to many of its inhabitants. The village sits in a valley surrounded by mountains and rolling and luscious hills. Two rivers Olza and Sola intertwine, making the land fertile and able to feed man and beast.
The best known hills are: Tyniok (894 meters), Sliwkula (790 meters) and Ochodzita (897 meters) which gives Koniakow the infamous status of being the highest settlement in all of the Silesian Beskids.
Many rivers got their springs here; Vistula the Queen of Polish rivers, Olza, and some smaller ones, their waters are joining Wag and Dunaj and those that end in the Black Sea.
The habitants’ main profession was shepherding, which boomed in XVIII century but later declined, because the logging practices given by Habsburg Monarchs, caused the decline. The inhabitants got poorer, and many of them emigrated mainly to France and the United States of America.
In 1816 Koniakow received the status of an independent village and the heraldic sign of a horse with the following inscription: Gmina Kastralna – Koniakow.
When after WWI this land returned to its rightful owner – Poland's shepherding business increased, but never reached the level it had decades earlier.
Presently, Koniakow together with Jaworzynka belong to Gmina Istebna, all called Tri-Cities of Beskid. They are one of the most attractive tourist attractions in Poland.
Laces from Koniakow – because of them this little village is famous worldwide.
Not natural beauty of the land, excellent skiing areas, forest full of game – just skilled hands of Koniakow women.
All that started centuries ago, when a fashion was to wear clothing, including underwear, trimmed with crocheted ornaments. Ladies always loved them. In local schools women started to learn the art of lace-making.
About the year of 1900 the lace additions appeared in pillows, shirts and blouses. Square and round table clothes were next.
A real fame was brought to Koniakow by table clothes. Oval or round made with tremendous patience and skills table clothes and table runers reached royal tables of kings, aristocrats, bishops and all those having some money to spend and desire to live surrounded by splendor and beauty.
Koniakow laces are handmade of cotton threads, using motives brought from fields and forest. Nobody knew better than Koniakow women that if they will be only able to make a poor copies of Mother Nature creations, that will be seen as an art in eyes of those, to whom a privilege to admire them will be given.
Amazingly laces itself became a subject to anger, raised emotions, disapproval and divided small Koniakow society in half.
Lingerie handmade of Koniakow lace: sexy, making women proud and men excited is seen by some elders in Koniakow as sin and disgrace of an ancient respectful profession.
Well, if after Judgment Day I’ll be sentenced to spent eternity in Hell, I would feel much better to see a Devil (female one) wearing G-Strings.