"GLORIA: When Light Becomes Experience. The Ephemeral Worlds of Joanna Hawrot"
May Warsaw / June Osaka / September Paris 2026
The GLORIA project opens a new chapter in the work of Joanna Hawrot — a multidimensional undertaking that brings together fashion, visual arts, performance and new media, the fields that have long defined the interdisciplinary nature of her practice.
The starting point of the project is the titular gloria, a rare optical phenomenon in which concentric rings of light appear around the shadow of the observer, most often on the surface of clouds or fog. This ephemeral phenomenon, dependent on a specific perspective and the presence of light, becomes a metaphor for an experience that exists only in relation — between body, gaze and space.
"Gloria is, for me, a liminal experience — it appears only for a moment, at the intersection of light and the gaze. I am drawn to that transience, to the moment when an image is not yet a form but is already a feeling. It is an attempt to capture what disappears, and at the same time what light allows to be seen, if only for an instant," says Joanna Hawrot.
The central element of the project is a new, original collection by Joanna Hawrot — exceptional within her body of work and representing a clear step forward in the brand's evolution. The designer consciously moves away from her signature kimono forms and digital patterns, opening herself to new directions, silhouettes and creative challenges. This move marks the next stage of aesthetic evolution — a distinct "level up" that redefines the brand's visual language and signals its continued development.
In their place emerge original silhouettes — romantic, at times inspired by Victorian aesthetics — introducing a new dynamic of form and proportion. The collection is built on a monochromatic narrative and natural fabrics such as cashmere, silk, raw silk and chiffon. Craftsmanship plays a central role: intricate construction, richness of detail and a precise, almost couture approach to tailoring. This is a proposition for a new brand aesthetic — more material, intimate and focused on structure and form.
The collection was photographed by Zuza Krajewska in the studio of Aleksander Prowalińśki, in a session exploring light, shadow and the ephemeral nature of the gloria phenomenon. The photographs create a new, metaphysical world — androgynous silhouettes with an elfin, Victorian quality that align with the romantic, magical aesthetic of the collection.
The GLORIA project unfolds in stages, guiding the audience deeper into its created world. The first unveiling will be an exhibition at Joanna Hawrot's own atelier, planned for the end of April 2026. The transformation of this space will serve as a symbolic entry point into the world of GLORIA — a prelude to the entire project and its visual-spiritual narrative.
As with every collection the brand releases, the exhibition forms an integral part of the creative process — each new line is accompanied by a reconfiguration of the boutique and a dedicated display. This time, the atelier space will feature an original neon work, a visual object interpreting the gloria phenomenon and materialising it as a light installation. The exhibition will also include works by Aleksander Prowalińśki, whose aesthetic and painterly language contribute to the broader context of the project.
The next stage will be the Polish premiere of the project, taking place at the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw in late May. Its centrepiece will be a fashion performance using light as one of its primary means of expression, co-directed by Aleksander Prowalińśki. Costumes inspired by his paintings will be created for the performance, extending the dialogue between fashion and art and translating it into the language of movement and bodily presence.
The project also extends into new technologies — a multimedia layer is being developed in parallel, encompassing 3D environments, a digital fashion show and immersive digital presentations of the collection. This marks the first time that Hawrot's designs have been fully translated into the digital world, forming a coherent, multidimensional GLORIA ecosystem.
The final stage will be the international presentation of the project in June 2026 in Japan, as part of the Osaka Art and Design Festival.
GLORIA is a collection, an exhibition, a performance and a digital environment — a comprehensive project that redefines the way fashion operates, transforming it into a process, an experience and an instrument of knowledge.