Once I decided to live abroad, I also accepted the fact that every time I went back home I’d have to buy something special for my friends. Of course, the mantra is “something Polish”.

The easiest thing to do is to buy food. But what happens when the budget is limited and you already bought all the “exotic food” Poland can offer?

I needed more ideas. Winter is cold so socks will keep the feet warm. That’s how I discovered Kabak. This small store offers a wide range of colorful socks with different motifs. The most interesting thing is that the high quality material is combined with the Warsaw leitmotif. I bought the mermaid, a symbol of the city, and the Palace of Culture (the most impressive building in town), both for a very affordable price.

Polish design is getting very creative and more interesting than established labels from other countries. It is still an off-product but definitely worth the money. The effort for developing a country market for “new design” is visible in the multiple bazaar events around the city and in the “concept buildings” being constructed all around Warsaw. I highly recommend a visit to this shop to buy something different and affordable, but still relevant to the idiosyncrasy of the city.