For centuries Polish highland clothing bore no decoration.  Then at the end of the 18th century and in the 19th century, the fashion of decoration became popular among young highlanders.  This bore a connection with acquired wool dyeing skills and with growing Hungarian influence.  Highlanders returning home from the Austro-Hungarian army brought their old uniforms with them.  Those who had been attached to units of the Hungarian "honveds" wore tight red (sometimes green) trousers and jackets embroidered with various designs.  Hungarian decorations called parzenica, embroidered on the hips and in the front, were the first to find their way onto highlander trousers.
Eventually the parzenica design found its way into broaches and metal design as well as clothing.
The design has come to be the symbol of the highlander himself.  

This beautiful leather parzenica is decorated with engraved brass buttons and was made by Polish saddler Jan Gracjasz.