Boyko Woodblock Fabric Printing Workshop, Slavske

In Slavske you can do more than ski or hike – you can try one of Ukraine's oldest textile crafts. The Boyko woodblock fabric printing workshop is run by craftswoman Natalia Horbonos-Akastiolova at the Centre of Boyko Culture in the Karpaty.Slavsko hotel. In an hour or two you go from the story of the tradition to a piece you have printed yourself and take home as a souvenir of Slavske.

What is vybiyka

Vybiyka is the art of decorating cloth with carved wooden blocks. Paint is applied to the block, which is pressed onto the fabric to transfer the pattern – the Ukrainian name literally means “stamping out”. Homespun linen for clothing, tablecloths, aprons and headscarves was once decorated this way, and printed cloth was a more affordable alternative to embroidery. In the Boyko region the craft had its own motifs and palette: restrained geometric and plant ornaments in contrasting red, black and blue on a light ground.

How the workshop works

• The instructor tells the history of vybiyka, shows old blocks and explains what sets Boyko printing apart from other regions.
• Participants choose motifs and arrange their own composition of ornaments.
• Then comes the practice: paint, block, even pressure – and the pattern gradually appears on the fabric.
• You take the finished piece home – a napkin, a table runner, a tablecloth or even a plakhta wrap skirt.

The instructor presents the session as ethno art therapy: the rhythmic, repetitive stamping is calming, and the result is visible straight away. That makes the workshop a good fit for families with children, groups of friends, corporate outings and retreats.

Who it suits and what to bring

No experience is needed: the blocks are already carved, and the instructor shows how to apply the paint evenly and press the block so that the print comes out crisp. Children love watching a whole ornament grow from simple repeats, while adults enjoy decoding the symbols. Wear clothes you do not mind getting paint on. As sessions run for groups of five or more, solo travellers should call ahead to ask whether they can join an existing group. Let your piece dry properly before packing it for the journey.

Practical information

• Address: 2 T. Shevchenka St, Slavske – Centre of Boyko Culture (Karpaty.Slavsko hotel).
• Duration: from 1 hour.
• Group size: 5 people or more.
• Hours: 11:00–20:00, by prior booking only.
• Price per person: napkin UAH 300, table runner or tablecloth UAH 650, plakhta UAH 1,000. Prices are taken from a catalogue listing, so confirm the current rate when booking.
• Booking: +380 98 200 9922 (also Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram); the instructor's work is on Instagram @mavkainn_art.
• The workshop is held in Ukrainian.

Getting there

Slavske is on the Lviv–Mukachevo railway, so the easiest way is by train or local train from Lviv or Stryi (about 2.5–3 hours). By car from Lviv, take the Kyiv–Chop highway via Stryi and Skole, then turn off to Slavske. Shevchenka Street is the main street of the town, so no. 2 is an easy walk from the centre.

Website and social media: karpaty.info · instagram.com

Photos: static3.karpaty.info.