Two lawyers, two best friends and one shared obsession with fashion. Meet the Martas behind POP concept store in Gdańsk, bringing independent Polish designers together under one roof
Two lawyers, one boutique. Did you ever see this coming?
MJ: We met studying law in Toruń. Fashion was always my passion, but never my career plan. MM: We actually talked about becoming wedding planners. POP wasn’t even on the radar!
What made you abandon your legal careers?
MM: After our second children, we realised we could return to comfortable jobs take a risk. MJ: We decided to create the kind of store we’d love to shop in ourselves — a place dedicated to Polish brands, so we wouldn’t have to travel to Warsaw or rely on online shopping. That’s how POP was born.
Who’s the bigger control freak?
MJ: Probably a tie! MM: We each have our moments, but we balance each other out.
Three pieces readers should check out?
MJ & MM: Undress Code bodysuits for versatility, Lebrand bandanas for effortless personality and MAAR jewellery for original, statement-making designs.
What earns a Polish brand space at POP?
MM: Quality, distinctive design and responsible production. MJ: We disagree about individual pieces, never our values.
Why visit POP when everything’s online?
MJ: You can touch fabrics, try things on and discover carefully selected Polish designers without endless scrolling. MM: And shopping should be social, welcoming and personal.
How do you stop business arguments ruining your friendship?
MJ: We know disagreements aren’t personal. We’re working towards the same goal. MM: Some of our best ideas come from arguments. Even choosing display-table colours can become ridiculous!
Two Martas, two strong personalities. What drives you absolutely crazy about each other?
MJ: Marta M is such a perfectionist that sometimes she struggles to delegate. And I wish she’d just tell me what’s on her mind instead of expecting me to guess! MM: Marta J likes things done her way. I’ll arrange a display, she’ll change it, and we’ll rearrange everything for days! But her attention to detail has saved us more than once.
And will you still be friends tomorrow?
MM: We might someday stop running a business together. But stop being friends? Absolutely not an option.
Two Martas, two strong personalities and one shared love of fashion. They’ve survived career changes, business headaches and countless arguments over shop displays. And somehow, they’re still best friends. Turns out, the only thing these former lawyers can’t settle is who’s the bigger control freak. Case closed.