Chichka shop of Hutsul handicrafts, Kosiv

Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukraine

Chichka shop of Hutsul handicrafts, Kosiv — 2

Chichka shop of Hutsul handicrafts, Kosiv — 3

Chichka shop of Hutsul handicrafts, Kosiv — 4

Chichka shop of Hutsul handicrafts, Kosiv — 5

Chichka is a shop of contemporary handmade Hutsul goods in the very centre of Kosiv, at 76 Nezalezhnosti Street. It was founded by two sisters from Kosiv, Tetiana and Roksolana, who from day one conceived it not as a souvenir stall but as a place gathering the best of what Kosiv-area makers create today. In the Hutsul dialect chichka means “flower”, and the shop does look like a bouquet: a bright room with wooden shelving holding painted bowls and candlesticks, woollen shawls, bead necklaces, frames and woven belts. You are greeted the Hutsul way — “Dobroho zdorovʼiachka!” — and told the story of each piece.

Why visit Chichka

Kosiv is one of Ukraine’s most important craft capitals, but a visitor cannot always tell a master’s work from a factory souvenir. Chichka solves that problem: the sisters work directly with Kosiv makers and create some items themselves, so you buy an authentic, contemporary Hutsul object with a story. In the shop you can look closely, hold and try things on; customers write that after a Kosiv mug no other tableware satisfies them, and that the woollen shawls and bead necklaces bring joy for years.

What to buy

Painted Kosiv ceramics — bowls, mugs, jugs, candlesticks and tiles with traditional painting. Since 2019 this ceramics has been on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Woollen shawls and woven or knitted goods — belts, slippers, warm items.
Beadwork jewellery — sylianka and herdan necklaces, pompom hair clips.
Carving and inlay — boxes, photo frames and plates in the Hutsul technique of wood and bead inlay.
Painted décor and seasonal pieces such as Christmas ornaments.

Kosiv crafts: a little history

For centuries Kosiv was a centre of Hutsul crafts: dynasties of potters, woodcarvers and weavers worked here, and the local painted ceramics — with characteristic green, yellow and brown designs on a white ground — became the emblem of the region. Its motifs of deer, riders, birds and flowers tell of the Hutsul world. Today’s makers do not copy the old pieces but continue and reinterpret them, and that living tradition is exactly what Chichka shows.

How to choose genuine Kosiv ceramics

Genuine Kosiv ceramics is painted by hand, so the pattern on two bowls is never identical — and that is its charm. Look at the colours: the traditional palette is green, yellow and brown on white slip, with a fine graphic outline. Turn the piece over: makers often sign or stamp the base. Ask whether the tableware is fine for everyday use and the dishwasher — the sisters gladly explain how to care for it and will pack your purchase securely for the journey.

Practical information

Address: 76 Nezalezhnosti St, Kosiv — the town’s main street.
Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–16:00, Sun 12:00–17:00 (per Google Maps).
Phone: +380 96 356 3599; e-mail [email protected].
Online: catalogue at chichka.in.ua; Nova Poshta shipping across Ukraine within three working days, abroad via Nova Poshta or Ukrposhta within five working days. The shop’s items can also be seen at Chichka’s café-shop in Lviv.
Getting there: Kosiv is 30 km from Kolomyia and about 100 km from Ivano-Frankivsk; buses run from both, and the bus station is a few minutes’ walk from the centre.

Tip: on Saturday mornings Kosiv’s famous bazaar is in full swing, so a visit to Chichka pairs nicely with it, followed by an afternoon wandering the town’s workshops and galleries.