Hello Poland!

This friendly country welcomes its visitors with a friendly smile and a beuatiful country. The rich culture and innovative ideas make Poland an exciting destination for the arts, fashion and culinary scene.

The Designer

Dawid Tomaszewski is a German-Polish fashion designer who founded his own label in 2009 after working for a number of different established designers and studying at the London College of Fashion and Akademie der Kunste in Berlin under Vivienne Westwood. In 2010 he was awarded the Premium Young Designer’s Award and also recognized and praised by magazines such as Vogue, Elle and Vanity Fair. His newest collection,  Torqued Elipses, was presented during the Mercedes-Benz Berlin fashion week and received great reviews by Anna Wintour among many others. His designs are a unique blend of elegance, glamour and simplicity. Tomaszewsk’s main source of inspiration comes from his passion for art and architecture.

The Drink

Polish cuisine reflects its influences from Italy and France that date back to the medieval Polish court. The Polish traditional foods you might encounter today are flavorful, hearty, and complex. The Kompot is a traditional Eastern European drink that dates back to the 14^th century A.D. It is a very flavorful and refreshing beverage made from dried or fresh fruits that have been boiled in water with sugar and alcohol added to it. The Kompot is typically offered at Polish dinner parties.  

Ingredients

3 cup water

1 pound dried fruit (pears, figs, apricots, peaches)

1 cup prunes

½ cup raisins

1 cup sweet cherries

2 peeled and sliced apples

½ cup cranberries

1 cup sugar

1 sliced lemon

6 cloves (whole)

2 cinnamon sticks

1 orange

½ cup grapes, pomegranate seeds or plums

¾ Brandy

The Art

Traditional Polish folk art includes everything from paintings to sculptures, wood engravings, straw-decorations, painted eggs and paper cut-outs. The technique of creating the cut-outs is a craft that has been handed down from generation to generation since approximately 100 years back in history. Traditionally, the art was made as decorations for Christmas and Easter celebrations. Now however, they are made and sold all year long and appreciated by both Polish and tourists. They have also inspired several artists and fashion designers because of their unique designs and color combinations.

The YPDF

YPDF, the Young Polish Designers Foundation is an organization that was created to bring together the young, new and talented fashion designers of Poland. Their mission is to show support and help these young talents make a name for themselves in the fashion market place by giving them opportunities to present their collections in fashion shows, media events and in their very own showroom in Warsaw. The founder of YPDF, Dion Heijmans, has plans of making Polish fashion more recognizable to the world fashion market.

 

South Africa - "The Rainbow Nation"

Zulu baskets made from old telephone wires 

It's diverse, it's beautiful and it's got style. South Africa is not only the "Rainbow Nation" when it comes to its people; the food, the art and the fashion is as diverse and exciting as its residents.  

The Designer

Palesa Mokubung started her own clothing label, “Mantsho” in 2005 after graduating from Vanderbijlpark Technical College where she studied clothing production. Even though Mokubung was still in school she landed a design job for the label “Stoned Cherrie” and eventually became one of their top designers. The inspiration for her designs comes from fabrics, art and culture of Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Mozambique, New York, Paris, Dakar and Argentina, as a melting pot of patterns, shapes and colors.

 

 

The Photographer

Pieter Hugo is a South African photographer who was informed by a friend about an interesting group of people in Nigeria. He was intrigued by what he heard and decided to go to Nigeria to see it for himself. Sure enough, in Abuja, Nigeria, he found a group of  men, a girl, three hyenas, four monkeys and a couple of rock pythons. They were a group of traveling performers who used their tamed wild animals to entertain people, a tradition which had been passed down for generations in their family. Hugo spent eight days traveling and photographing them.

 

 

The Food

The South African cuisine reflects the “Rainbow Nation” in all its cultural diversity and excitement from geography, culture and history. It is a fusion of East and west, north and south. Indian curries and spices meet British comfort foods, Dutch pastries and Indonesian chutneys. In South Africa, corn is known as "mealie" and it's an ingredient used heavily by many different ethnicities and chefs, especially in soups and stews.

 Mealie (Corn) Soup

• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 1 cup onions, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cups canned whole corn, well drained
• 2 cups creamed corn
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 3 cups chicken broth (about 1½ cans)
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper.

• Procedure

• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat.
• Add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes.
• Add the corn, milk, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
• Serve with crackers.

The Jewelry & Fabrics

 

The Beauty of Brazil!

Brazil is the largest country in South America. It has the largest rain forest in the world; the core culture of Brazil is derived from Portuguese, African, and the Indigenous. Brazilians are very warm, free spirited, fun, athletic, and family oriented people. The diversity shines through each part of this beautiful place.

The Fashion

        Brazil Fashion Week is also known as Sao Paulo Fashion Week and Spfw. The show celebrated its fifteenth year this year. The event is staged bi-annually (each January and June). The Brazil Fashion Week began in 1996 and was originally called "Morumbi Fashion Brazil”. Now in 2010, the Brazil Fashion Week is the most prestigious and important Fashion Show in the whole of South America. The Brazil Fashion Week is particularly renowned for its beachwear. One very successful beachwear designer is Amir Slama his talent has become known throughout the fashion community with his line Rosa Cha. Naomi Cambell has become somewhat of a muse for him and appears in most of his fashion shows.

    ·        

The Food

Brazilian cuisine varies greatly by region, reflecting the country's mix of native and immigrant populations. Feijoada is considered the country's national dish; the cuisine differs from region to region. Some parts consist of stews; some parts consist of tropical fruits and others of seafood. You have such an eclectic mix of food to satisfy your palette.

^{The Coconutty Treat (Cocadas)}

1 lb grated coconut 

1 lb sugar

1 cup water

Dissolve sugar in water and boil the mixture until it spins a thread (I use a candy thermometer; 232 to 234° F). Remove syrup from heat and add the grated coconut. Stir well until it becomes sugary. Pour onto a buttered platter (a marble pizza stone is great for that purpose) and let cool, then cut into squares (about two inches). Pictured above are three different types of cocadas: the ones on the left are made with condensed milk (see recipe below), the dark ones are chocolate cocadas, and the ones on the right are made with passion fruit.

The Last Call(Caipirinha)

1 lime

2 ounces of cachaça

Sugar to taste

Ice cubes

Wash the lime and roll it on the board to loosen the juices. Cut the lime into pieces and place them in a glass. Sprinkle with the sugar and crush the pieces (pulp side up) with a pestle. Just enough to release the juice, otherwise it'll get bitter. Add the cachaça and stir to mix. Add the ice and stir again. It is delicious and potent!

INDIA-EAT, PRAY, AND FALL IN LOVE!

India has been regarded by some historians as the "oldest living civilization of Earth”. India has several elements which give it such a diverse culture. Hinduism and Buddhism were born in India, therefore making it a very religious country. Poetry, dance, and music are a huge part of the traditions as well. Tradition in India is about values that transcend down generations automatically. The values in India is about living life with a zest and observing the belief that there is one God prevailing despite so many religions, it is place for self reflection.

The Textiles

India is known for its silk fabrics since ancient times. The present day silk weaving tradition revolves around the sari, the ethnic dress that is worn in most parts of the country. Silk is said to be the queen of textiles because of its shine and the glamour associated with it.

The Fashion Designer

Naheem Khan, born in India, learned from both his father and grandfather, who designed for royal families. He later apprenticed with American designer Halston as a teenager, and presented his debut collection in 2003. His clientele includes Beyonce, Marcia Gay Harden, and Princess Aga Khan, to name a few.

Khan’s collection is carried by Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus and other upscale stores.

What is truly unique about Khan’s designs is how he combines textiles that are delicate and ornate with designs that are clean and simple. The result? Pure magic.

The Dance

A very important feature of Indian classical dances is the use of the mudra or hand gestures by the artists as a short-hand sign language to narrate a story and to demonstrate certain concepts such as objects, weather, nature and emotion. Many classical dances include facial expressions a

 s an integral part of the dance form.

The Food

The multiple varieties of Indian cuisine are characterized by their sophisticated and subtle use of many spices and herbs. Each family of this cuisine is characterized by a wide assortment of dishes and cooking techniques.

A sweet taste of India

Ingredients

         1 1/4 cups evaporated milk

         1 1/4 cups sweetened condensed milk

         1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

        4 slices white bread, torn into pieces

        1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Directions

   Combine evaporated milk, condensed milk and whipped topping in a blender and blend in pieces of bread until smooth.

    Pour mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish or two plastic ice cube trays, sprinkle with cardamom and freeze for 8 hours or overnight.

Japan- Lights, Creativity, and Fashion.

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, the characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin" (because it lies to the east of nearby countries), which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun".

The Nightlife

Tokyo's nightlife is wild and crazy, there is no place one can consider "the place to be" over other spots. Hotspots of the night are all over the city, varying in their price range, workers and most importantly, their atmosphere. Famous spots include Roppongi and Ginza, Kabuki-cho found in Shinjuku. A good way to start the night off is to just walk around the town, taking a look at the neighborhoods and just taking it all in. The atmosphere is unlike any other city. The streets will be overflowing with people and the neon lights will blind your eyes, but there are plenty of surprises to keep an eye out for.
The Fashion

The first Tokyo Fashion Week began in the 70’s, a period where Japanese apparel industry was a booming business and the demand for newer designer clothes was growing. At that time, the world knew little of Japanese fashion, but couldn’t dispute the fact that the work these designers presented were artistic, creative and different.

Keita Maruyama

After graduating from Fashion Apparel Design course of Bunka Fashion College in 1987, Maruyama started his career as a designer in a Japanese apparel company. He designed costumes for musicians and actors for freelance in 1996, making his debut in Tokyo collection in 1994. Maruyama won Mainichi Fashion Grand Prix New Face Award and Shiseido Sponsorship Award in 1996. He made a debut in Paris collection in 1997. Maruyama won FEC Designer Award in 1998, Maruyama celebrated the 10th year since Paris Collection debut in 2008.

The Tattoo Artist

Hiroshi Kawai is a well known Japanese tattoo artist. He has travelled extensively throughout Europe and South America as an importer. In 1990 he eventually decided to take up tattooing as a result of seeing tattoos from around the world from his many business trips.

Hiroshi Kawai is located at:
Tattoo Art Maruyama
1-25-12, Dearheim 203,
Nakamachi, Meguro-ku,
Tokyo, Japan
(Tel / Fax) 81-3-3715-586


The Harajuku

Adjacent to Shibuya, Harajuku in Tokyo one of the eye opener for most tourist with the most hip, trendiest for the very young Japanese. Here you can find almost anything with the latest clothing, accessory especially along the narrow pedestrian lane called Takeshita Dori. However, to some, the fashion there could be weird or so to speak too outstanding to be going out except in Japan.

Chaniwa Cocktail

Chaniwa cocktail (Cha mean “tea” and niwa means “garden”) which combines vanilla ice cream, fresh banana slices and the light
 flavor of Zen Green Tea Liqueur, for a creamy alternative to tea time.


1 part Zen Green Tea Liqueur
¼ parts Banana Liqueur
1 part Light Rum
2 Scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream
2 Biscuits
Banana Slices for Garnish
Matcha Powder for Garnish 
Mix green tea liqueur, banana liqueur, rum, and ice cream in a blender until smooth. Break biscuits into pieces, add, and stir. Pour into a chilled martini glass. Place a few banana slices on top and sprinkle with matcha powder. Serve with a spoon.