Five Minutes with a Friend: Daryna Lukaniuk, Gushka
We are delighted to introduce Gushka, the latest artisan to join the Selvedge Artisan Goods shop, bringing with them the warmth, texture, and enduring traditions of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Rooted in the mountain region of Hutsulshchyna, Gushka’s work reflects a way of life shaped by sheep, wool, and the steady rhythm of the highlands.
A weaver at the Gushka studio at work on the a loom, the textured woollen threads stretched taut in the background.
Founded in 2016 by Daryna and Oleg Lukaniuk, the studio was born from a desire to honour and preserve the rich weaving heritage of the region. With the guidance of their neighbour and third-generation weaver, Lyubov Rybenchuk, what began as a local practice has evolved into a contemporary expression of craft that remains deeply connected to its origins. Today, Gushka works exclusively with 100% Carpathian wool, sourced from sheep grazing freely on mountain pastures, transforming it into handwoven rugs, cushions, blankets, and traditional textiles.
A soft pile of pink fibre being gathering and preparing it by hand in the Gushka workshop.
The wool is central to Gushka’s identity — shaped by the climate of the Carpathians and transformed through a time-honoured process of spinning, dyeing, and weaving. Rendered in earthy tones drawn from the surrounding landscape, each textile balances traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary sensibility, resulting in pieces that feel both rooted and relevant.
At the heart of the studio is a profound respect for nature and community. For Lukaniuk, whose creative vision continues to shape the brand, inspiration lies in the simplicity of the natural world. Her belief that “nature has already created everything” is woven into every design, resulting in pieces that feel both grounded and timeless.
Detail of a Gushka handwoven rug, crafted from the wool of Carpathian sheep, giving it a dense, tactile surface and a soft milky tone.
Gushka’s textiles carry stories of family, landscape, and craftsmanship, each piece a testament to heritage and care. In this edition of Five Minutes with a Friend, we speak with Daryna Lukaniuk about weaving, community, and the enduring beauty of life in the Carpathians.
Daryna Lukaniuk
Portrait of Daryna Lukaniuk. Photo: @martamysak
Daryna, what is your earliest memory of a textile?
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about my childhood and textiles — and what served as a kind of anchor — is the rugs on the walls. When you go to sleep, it feels as though you’re not next to a cold wall, but something textile, warm, and comforting is close to you, making the space feel more cheerful. Different rooms had their own storylines, with distinct rugs with patterns and colours that created a unique mood in each space.
How would you describe what draws you to textiles and the world of making?
In general, the story of weaving, loom, hands, and thread is captivating in its magic. There are just two components — the loom and human hands… You can craft anything that will then have various functions, whether it is clothing, a rug, a blanket, a scarf, or something else. It’s really amazing when you look at a roll of threads and the colours selected… You can’t really see the final product yet; you just see the stretched base on the loom and the threads nearby. If you don’t know the entire process, it seems like pure magic. One clap of the hands, and the product comes to life.
I really like the rhythm of weaving. It puts me into a state of meditation and calmness, working like meditative tracks — the rhythmic beating of the reed, the pumping of the pedals. It is calming for the brain and gives it a sense of safety, taking away feelings of anxiety.
The hills of Hutsulshchyna, Ukraine, surrounding the Gushka studio.
Where do you feel most inspired to work?
Well, probably the town where Gushka is nestled. It’s a mountainous place, and everything around us makes me feel inspired. The people who live there, who are building and restoring tradition, carrying it through the years. It’s the nature all around — wherever you look, you see mountains here and forests over there. I also find the way the seasons change in this place inspiring. In general, anywhere you can observe the cyclical nature and changes of the natural world is very powerful (and inspiring).
What has sparked your imagination or inspired you recently?
It is now the blossoming spring season in our region — all the trees are covered with white flower blossoms. The colourful beds are also in bloom. Sometimes, in the mountains, snow can fall during spring. Yesterday, I was driving down the road and noticed snowflakes resting on the white, blossoming trees, and it was extremely beautiful. It seemed as if it wasn’t snow at all, but rather that the city, all the trees, and the flowers were covered in white foam. It was truly captivating, because as the snow falls from the trees, it gives the illusion that the blossom itself is falling.
A handwoven Lizhnyk on the loom at Gushka
What is your most treasured textile, and what story does it carry?
It’s difficult to choose only one, as we have a collection of authentic rugs woven by my husband’s grandmother, as well as by other family members, so they are very treasured to us. We don’t use them in our daily life. We dream that one day we will open a museum space and display them there. These pieces date back 80–90 years.
Where did you first learn your craft, and who shaped your early approach to making?
I was introduced to this craft 10 years ago when I moved to the region where my husband is from. Kosiv is the capital of the ancient craft of Lizhnykarstvo. The craft is very widespread here; in almost every house, people were skilled in weaving or had a loom. When we moved here, the craft had begun to fall into decline — pieces were sold very cheaply, and the quality was poor, as the goal was to produce more and weave as quickly as possible. We set ourselves the goal of changing the approach to the craft, making it more valuable, shifting the perception of a weaver’s profession, and elevating it to a higher, more prestigious level, while providing fair pay for the craftswomen.
Weavers at work in the Gushka studio
Is there a piece of music you return to while you work, that sets the rhythm of your making?
I’d like to refer back to the point I mentioned before — that weaving is quite a rhythmic process. Here at the Gushka workshop, we always turn on the local radio station, which all the weavers enjoy, and we listen to different songs by different artists — from traditional to modern, including pop.
As for me, the weaving process is so self-contained that it doesn’t really need any music or external rhythm. The loom can create a work of art and its own music — the movement of the threads and the striking of the wooden reed give a truly meditative feeling.
Detail from a Gushka, Handwoven Grey Pillow, crafted on a traditional loom using wool from Carpathian sheep.
What material or technique are you currently experimenting with or curious to explore further?
The material Gushka works with is a technique known as “Lizhnykarstvo” — a type of loose weaving using thicker thread, with a light beating on the loom to create a soft, open fabric; it has a particular specificity. We are currently exploring handmade cloth — homespun, finer textiles that were traditionally used to make shirts, outerwear, skirts, and so on.
We are also interested in the technique of fine weaving, known as rug weaving (Kylymarstvo), which uses thinner threads and more complex patterns. In general, we’re interested in experimenting with both techniques and the forms that can be created with them — exploring what kinds of pieces can be brought into a contemporary context using these traditional methods.
A farmer stands in a green pasture holding a sheep, a quiet moment that connects the landscape to the craft of shearing and the making of wool textiles.
If you could collaborate with any maker—past or present—who would it be, and why?
I’m interested in creating something today and involving young minds — their visions and perspectives. I find excitement in the people who are close to me, those who walk alongside me — whether they’re students, weavers, or someone I know who is creating today.
If we’re speaking of famous designers, I would be interested in creating a collection with Dries Van Noten. I really like his combination of colours. There are many people I’d love to collaborate with, but if I had to choose just one, it would be him. He thinks completely differently, doesn’t copy anyone, and creates an explosion of seemingly uncombined techniques and colours — yet makes it all feel so harmonious that there are no questions at all.
That resonates with me, to some extent, with what we do at Gushka — we preserve the craft, but we also want to combine things that might seem incompatible, and to explore more complex forms.
A young lamb stands in a blossoming orchard in the surrounding Hutsulshchyna countryside.
What does a perfect day of making look like for you?
It would start with a walk through the forest, enjoying nature. I’d put on some pleasant music, grab my camera and a thermos of warm tea. I would walk to the forest, to a river, to the trees, observing nature as it wakes up — noticing the weather, the changing shades of the landscape, whether they are wet or dry, or touched by sunlight.
Then I’d have breakfast — a colourfully arranged meal made from vegetables from the local market. After that, the creative process would come. It’s important to note that the creative process is unpredictable and very difficult to plan. When I tell myself that tomorrow will be a day for creation, it often turns out to be very, very difficult. Creation is like a bird — it flies in and lands on your shoulder and doesn’t wait for the right moment; you feel the need to act on it immediately.
But if we’re speaking about an ideal day, it would definitely include spending time with women — people I enjoy being with — surrounded by flowers and gentle scents. It would be a beautiful space filled with music, the sound of looms, conversation, and the happy, comforting chatter of the weavers, alongside nature.
With thanks to Daryna Lukaniuk for sharing her thoughts and inspirations.
-
Further information:
Discover more from Gushka at the Selvedge Artisan Goods shop.
-
Image Credits:
Lead: Two lambs rest among wildflowers, perched on stacked Gushka wool cushions. Image: Tania Synchrodogs
All further images as credited in captions.