Balagan is an Adventure that Carries Us Forward 

It’s been 10 years since you founded Balagan. Does that surprise you?

Hania: Absolutely! I'm surprised at how quickly time has passed, and this 10-year milestone still feels abstract to me. On one hand, I feel like we’ve firmly established ourselves in the market, but on the other, I still have that initial enthusiasm that we had at the beginning. When I compare who we are now to who we were back then, I think about how we were just kids when we started Balagan. 

Agata: That’s true, although I felt very grown-up at the time. Much more so than I do now. I think it was mainly enthusiasm and a lack of experience that allowed us to dive into the deep end and just say, "Let’s do this." We had no knowledge of business, no experience, no budget. We were driven by both the doubts of others and the support we received. It was enough.

How much of Balagan's inception was spontaneous, and how much of it was planned? 

Hania: Even during our studies, we knew that we worked well together. At the Academy of Fine Arts, we tested this in various group projects. So, it was natural for us to gravitate towards each other after graduation when we were still feeling lost and searching for our paths. We knew we wanted to create our own brand. It took a year from the idea to realization, during which we gained initial work experience in other fields while refining our own concept. 

Agata: Hania went on a student exchange, where she took a course in bag sewing and design, while I attended a footwear design and sewing workshop right after graduation. I left that workshop thrilled and excited, feeling that this was the direction I wanted to pursue.

How was Balagan different from other brands back then, and how does it stand out today? 

Agata: When we started, the concept of sustainable fashion in Poland, on which Balagan is built, was just beginning to emerge. We were local pioneers of this movement, which gave us a strong boost. Since then, many new brands based on similar principles have been created. However, there are still areas where we set the standards—like design and communication.

What was a turning point in Balagan's history for you? 

Hania: The first Hush fairs in Warsaw in 2014 were a real eye-opener for us, showing that people liked our product and were willing to buy it. That made us realize we were doing something with potential. However, we had no idea how to run a business, and we knew that with our own skills alone, we couldn’t grow the brand. The breakthrough came when we hired Magda Kulesza, who now co-manages our brand with us. Magda believed in us, and thanks to her, Balagan is what it is today.

Who makes up Balagan today? 

Agata: We started Balagan just the two of us, but over the years, we gradually expanded the team. Jobs were created as needs arose. Today, there are about 40 of us. We’re happy to have created a work environment where our colleagues want to stay—many have been with us for years. 

Hania: We have amazing people on board; this company isn’t just us but all the people – mainly women – who make up the brand.

How have your inspirations for collections evolved? 

Hania: Balagan has changed over the years, just as we and our customers have changed. When we started, we designed simple, minimalist, elegant patterns without embellishments, inspired by vintage aesthetics. We were very nostalgic for the past. Today, we draw much more from trends and are inspired by contemporary life. Watching Warsaw over the years—the place where Balagan was born—we see it as much more laid-back, colorful, and diverse. 

Agata: We were much more serious and conservative when we started; now, we play with fashion more. If we had stood still, we wouldn’t be here today, so we go with the flow. Technological advancements help us, too. We have more manufacturers and collaborators, allowing us to test our ideas, prototype new designs, and experiment creatively.

Which model are you most proud of? 

Agata: For me, success is a design we came up with at the very beginning and has been a bestseller for years. I’m talking about the Opera model. A classic that never gets old. 

Hania: I’m happy that years go by, and I still hear that our shoes are so comfortable and meet customers who keep coming back for new pairs. A good example is the Tefer, sewn with Strobel technology, which bends every which way. I can’t part with mine, and I know I’m not the only one. It’s one of those designs I’m really proud of.

How do you feel when you see girls on the street wearing your products? 

Agata: Ten years hasn’t been enough to get used to it. I always catch my eye on girls wearing our products. For any designer, it’s the cherry on top when you see your design being used by a stranger who bought it, wears it with pride, and just loves it. 

Hania: Over the years, many people have come to associate our products with a certain aesthetic, a sense of belonging to a group, and a lifestyle. It’s very gratifying, and we’re happy that we’ve managed to make Balagan not just a brand but a whole community around it.

What’s your biggest success? 

Agata: Our partnership. It’s hard to maintain a personal friendship while running a business together. That’s why our shared journey, growing alongside each other, is a huge source of pride for me. Especially since we are so different! We try to manage our differences and find value in points of disagreement. 

Hania: I try not to take our partnership for granted so that I can appreciate and nurture it. Our initial intuition to work together, the alignment of values, and ways of thinking have paid off.

What are your plans for Balagan in the coming years?

Agata: In Balagan, things change often and quickly, so we test and experiment. We’re trying out new product categories. A sneak peek of this is our anniversary T-shirts. We’re curious to see how they’ll be received. For winter, we’re thinking about hats and scarves. That’s the near future; we’re not revealing more distant plans yet. 

Hania: Balagan is an adventure that carries us forward. We’ll see where it takes us next!