Brand bag

Shopping bag Store-issued shopping bag from the textile store belonging to the Łańcut trader Aleksander Chmiel. The store was established in the market square, on the ground floor of a large tenement house, which was one of a few market square houses to belong to a Christian family before World War II. Above the entrance to the store, there was a large, prestigious sign: „Bławat Spółka Handlowa” [Bławat trading company]. The store was opened before World War I and throughout the entire interbellum ranked among the larger and ‘better’ stores in the city. Its offered range included ladies’ coats, winter scarves, duvets, blankets and curtains, as well as an entire range of textiles for sewing both ladies’ as well as men’s attire. The high-quality goods were packed in equally meticulously chosen bags, which wonderfully advertised the offered goods. During the occupation, the store operated as a household goods store. Its owner – Aleksander Chmiel (1897-1986) is a significant personality. As a lieutenant of the Polish Army he participated in the Polish-Soviet War and in World War II. His usual position was that of an employee of the local Bank Ziemski, and in 1937-1939 as well as after 1949 he was deputy general manager of the savings bank Kasa Oszczędności. In 1927 he opened a book store operating together with a book rental facility. As a social activist, he was city council member for many years, and deputy mayor of the city in 1935-1939. He was the last chairman of the civic association „Gwiazda” [The Star] before the war. During the occupation, he participate in secret education organisations. After the war, he was one of the founders of the Łańcut cooperative health care centre, operating Poland’s first cooperative hospital in Poland in 1945-1949. In the 1960s he headed the local Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society [PTTK] branch office and head of the Łańcut supporter club. He was interested for the history of Łańcut, issuing several post cards with view of the city on his own, and later creating a tourist guide to Łańcut. He received the Cross of Valour, the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, and the golden badge of the PTTK. Joanna Kluz