Text: Marta Mach 

Photos: Bartek Wieczorek 

Marcin Gajewski is a beekeeper. He does it as a hobby. In his professional life he also runs his own talent agency and he manages the Division Model Agency.

MM: How long have you been a beekeeper?

MG: Not for long. It’s one of my many passions. I had my 1^st beehive 2 months ago. Now I have four.

MM: How important for you is work?

MG: My work is also my passion and allows me to pay my families’ bills. Since I work a lot it’s important for me to do such things after work that allow me to find balance in life.

MM: What are your professional dreams?

MG: Back in the day I used to have professional goals like booking my model or artist for a Vouge cover. The first time I reached such goal I thought I was the king of the world. By the moment later all I felt was emptiness. Today I simply stick to a few important rules: the road is important, it’s not about getting to the top, it’s about staying there and I don’t have to prove anything to myself. Nowadays, I regularly book Vogue covers. It is important for me to remain human in this challenging business.

MM: How come you become interested in beekeeping?

MG: The animal world fascinates me. I’ve been collecting butterflies and beetles for many yeats. Reading about insects got me interested in bees. I’ve also built beehives for ecological reasons.

MM: How did you learn to take care of bees?

MG: I learned from books. Actually from one book. Also my neighboor Wojtek – helped me a lot. I got my first bee family from him. He’s my bee guru.

MM: How important are clothes in your work as a beekeeper?

MG: The bee’s poison is identical to that of the rattlesnake. 500 bites would kill even the strongest man. If a typical bee family consist of 40 to 60 thousand bees, it is easy to imagine how dangerous this activity can be without a proper uniform. A hat protects my eyes and the rest of the uniform protects me from swelling. Yesterday I did some work with only a hat and today my arm is twice its size.

MM: And in everyday life? How important is clothing in self identification?

MG: Even though I’ve been in the fashion business for years, it’s important for me to feel good in what I’m wearing. You are what you wear.