One of the most interesting places you can visit during your cross-border trips along the trails of the traditional culture in the Euroregion Beskidy is Matej Rabada’s Workshop in Párnica, a village situated in the Dolný Kubín County.

Matej Rabada is a designer and a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava. He specializes in “modrotlač” – a technique of dying the fabrics with the indigo dye and adding white patterns. (We know this kind of fabric very well from national costumes of Slovakian girls). Matej Rabada opened his workshop in 2015. He uses the traditional method to hand-dye fabrics – a method no longer used today. He dyes them into all shades of blue. The fabrics are not only used for making the Slovak national costumes but were also used on the catwalks in Paris. He also uses newer techniques such as screen printing. He is the only one, still working maker of “modrotlač” in Slovakia.

Matej Rabada organises numerous lectures and workshops during which he explains the rules and the process of dying. Can still be found in Párnica, in his workshop where you can see the whole process of dying the fabrics, necessary equipment and tools. You can see and buy ready products.

In the same building, the local regional museum located and in three halls it houses a permanent exhibition on the history of the village. We will find all kinds of everyday objects dating back to the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century there, as well as household equipment, documents and books. The inhabitants of the village created the exhibition through donating relics, which  were preserved in their homes.

The place attracts people not only due to the fact that you can learn about the traditional technique of dying fabrics but mostly because of the host’s passion which can be easily sensed the moment you enter his studio. Matej Rabada entertains the visitors with the stories about his work and the exposition, as well as about the exposition of the local museum.

Pracovňa Mateja Rabadu
026 01 Párnica, Párnica 130
tel. (+421) 910 908 867
e-mail: modrotlacmr@gmail.com
www.modrotlacmr.sk