Duende Muses: Agata Strzelecka-Janicka. On the power of pearls, the art of letting go, and the beauty of a simple life

Stag Warsaw has been on the market for a decade now. Running an independent brand for ten years is a beautiful yet demanding journey. Looking back at your first designs, what do you feel? How have you evolved over this time as both a designer and a businesswoman?

When I realize that I’ve been running Stag Warsaw for 10 years already, I can hardly believe how fast time flies. My designs have evolved tremendously over the years; I started with very simple forms, eventually transitioning to my own unique castings and precious stones. Yet, my signature element remains unchanged: pearls. I fell in love with them from the very beginning, and I fall deeper with every new piece I design.

I learned everything on my own, making many mistakes along the way. Running a fashion brand is demanding, multi-tasking, and incredibly unpredictable. I feel most at home in the creative, visual, and aesthetic processes. The purely analytical side of business—managing the company through numbers—is the hardest part for me, and it is definitely something I want to work on. It’s also wonderful that for the past few years, I’ve had a small team supporting me with marketing and advertising. I can’t imagine going back to the days when I did everything entirely on my own.

Your designs embody modern romanticism, with natural pearls, gold, and silver taking center stage. A pearl is a unique, organic gem that reacts to the skin's warmth, changing and "living" alongside the wearer. What does jewelry mean to you? Do you view it as a form of daily armor or rather a subtle adornment of moments?

To me, jewelry is just as vital a part of a wardrobe as clothing or a handbag. It can instantly infuse character into even the simplest outfit. Pearls possess so much charm, and they truly do "live" with the person wearing them. No two pearls are identical, and that is exactly what makes them extraordinary. It allows us to create pieces that are inherently one-of-a-kind, even within the same design model.

Precious metals also beautifully accentuate one's features and skin tone. I believe jewelry speaks volumes about a person—you can tell immediately whether you are meeting a minimalist or a queen of opulence.

For a few years now, you’ve been embracing a new and likely most demanding role—you are a mother of two. Motherhood often redefines our sense of time and priorities. How did the arrival of your children alter your workflow, and has being a mother changed your artistic sensibility?

Having children turned my entire life and work completely upside down. It was harder with my first child, my daughter Helena—back then, I didn't really know what I was signing up for while running a business at the same time. Now, with my second child, my son Bruno, I’ve learned to accept help and have mastered logistics to perfection. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I agree with that wholeheartedly.

At the same time, I am very protective of the time I spend with my kids; I am 100% present for them, and I absolutely treasure those moments. I’ve also learned to let go and stop chasing perfection so relentlessly, as I used to do. When you are a mother, the sooner you accept that many tasks won’t be done perfectly or exactly as planned, the sooner you start drawing real joy from motherhood. I love being a mom, but I also adore my work, and I think having that creative escape allows me to maintain a healthy life balance. As for artistic sensibility—to me, it’s simply the ability to find beauty in various moments, places, and situations. It’s something you just feel. I have always looked at the world a bit differently, and I can find inspiration to create absolutely everywhere.

Our motto at Duende is “romanticizing everyday life.” With two children and a thriving business, your days must be intense and filled with logistical challenges. Where do you find the space to breathe through it all? Do you have small, sacred rituals that allow you to see the magic within the daily chaos?

For me, catching my breath is all about my rituals. From simple evening skincare routines—I love cosmetics, and anyone who knows me well knows I am an absolute beauty freak. Additionally, I always make sure to attend my pilates classes, which I’ve been doing for several years now. I go at least twice a week and I never cancel them. Recently, I also managed to slip away for a wonderful, relaxing massage in my neighborhood. Thanks to the kids, I walk a lot and spend a vast amount of time outdoors, which does wonders for clearing my mind.

Jewelry carries the essence of a talisman. We often purchase it to commemorate significant moments, passing it down through generations. When designing a new necklace or pair of earrings, do you imagine your pieces eventually telling the story of someone’s life? Do you have a piece in your personal collection that holds the deepest emotional value for you?

I often wonder what the story behind the jewelry I create will be. Our clients who choose bridal earrings frequently mention that they plan to pass them down to their daughters one day. It touches me deeply. I have pieces in my own collection that I am keeping specifically for my Helena, especially those with precious gemstones: my pearl earrings, a vintage citrine ring, and a beautiful Byzantine chain necklace.

I believe in the power of stones, which bring an added layer of intention to jewelry passed on to someone else. Interestingly, the very first pearls I ever received were a gift from my husband, long before I even started designing jewelry. Today, I am widely recognized for working precisely with pearls. Is it a coincidence? I don’t think so—they truly possess their own magic.

You’ve marked a decade with your brand, built a beautiful family, and established a stable business. What is currently on your personal and professional dream map? Which plans and directions excite you most when you think about the future of Stag Warsaw?

Our anniversary celebration is actually still ahead of us—to mark our 10th year, I would love to invite our clients to a very special event. As for my dream map, I prefer not to reveal my dreams until they come true. Once, a major dream of mine was to create a handbag, and I succeeded in designing one model under the Stag label; quietly, I dream of creating more. Deep down, I have also always wanted to design a clothing collection—that would certainly be an exciting process because I am passionately in love with fashion. As for my personal dreams, I will keep those to myself for now.

Finally, imagine a perfect, slow day in the spirit of Duende. You are wearing your favorite jewelry from your studio. Where are you, what are you doing, and what scent fills the air?

A perfect, unhurried day would likely be spent with my family in Italy—either in Tuscany or by one of the beautiful lakes, like Lake Como. I love that country, and admiring the harmonious architecture or simply being surrounded by beauty always fills me with immense joy. The air carries the aroma of delicious Italian coffee being served to my table.

I am someone who can find happiness and beauty in the simplest acts: listening to music together, taking in the bustling chatter of a street café, enjoying a slow morning. A simple life and the people closest to my heart—these are the things I have come to appreciate more and more with time.