jankiv

The JANKIV brand is run by siblings Karolína and Michal. Our work is dedicated to reviving and preserving a unique craft that has almost disappeared in Slovakia – the art of hand pleating. Pleating is the precise folding of fabric into timeless structures and textures.

Hand pleating has been part of history since the very beginnings of clothing. The oldest textiles with pleated structures, with folds and creases, date back more than four thousand years and were discovered in Egypt. In ancient Rome, inhabitants carefully folded their togas into precise pleats. Later, Suzanne Lenglen caused a revolution when she became the first woman to wear a pleated skirt at the Wimbledon tournament. Actress Marilyn Monroe became an icon thanks to her flowing hand-pleated gown in the film The Seven Year Itch. Hand pleating also played a role in the royal coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Every handcrafted fold continues a thousand-year-old artistic and craft tradition that comes alive in our hands. Today, hand pleating has the power to elevate and transform any fabric into a true work of art.

our mission

At JANKIV, we believe that pleating carries a fascinating history that is worth transferring into contemporary design. Each piece is designed, hand-pleated, and sewn in our studio, where we combine traditional methods with innovative approaches. Our goal is to protect this craft by preserving historical techniques and reimagining them for the 21st century.

Hand pleating is one of the most precious textile craft skills in the world. It is gradually disappearing and is preserved in only a few workshops globally. At JANKIV, we see this technique as a legacy worth protecting and developing for both the present and the future.

Currently, we are the only active creators of traditional hand pleating in Slovakia. Michal learned this technique in England in a family workshop that has been dedicated to preserving this craft for three generations. In their studio, collections for world haute couture brands and royal courts are still hand-pleated to this day.

Our work builds on this tradition and also advances it. Each model is created as a fusion of artisanal precision and contemporary design.

JANKIV invites you to rediscover the beauty of hand pleating as an art form that transforms fabric into art and brings iconic feelings into everyday life.