Fashion is art and a games

If you try to find a definition of the word fashion, you will find out that the word means “the prevailing style or taste at a particular time”. Someone, of course, must dictate what the style or tastes of the time are. So, who decides what the next fashion will be in the Czech Republic?

Fashion is apparent not only in clothes, but also in accessories, shoes and even hairstyles. It can be applied to people, as well as to architecture, car design and works of art. In fact, practically anything can fashionable.

Anywhere we go, we can’t help but find clothing shops, boutiques and fashion salons. And almost all of these stores sell the same things. The world of fashion, of course, isn’t immune to the phenomenon of globalization. Store shelves groan under the weight of all these clothes. You can buy the same shirt at a shop in Prague, Paris, Barcelona or Budapest. Though big brands try to accommodate for national tastes, this is the exception, rather than the rule.

If you want to wear something distinctive and original, you’ll have to look for it somewhere else, namely in designer shops. Here is where you cross the barrier between fashion as art and fashion as a consumer good. Today, only a handful of people are involved in this kind of fashion.

Czech designer boutiques

Just as there are very few excellent chefs or people capable of creating an exquisite perfume, the designer’s profession is, in its own way, exceptional and rare.

Are you looking to buy something for you and only you? This desire doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend a lot of money. Instead, you only need another perception of fashion. Or better yet, a different perception of yourself.

“People are convinced that designer clothing is financially unattainable for them. But that isn’t true,” says top Czech designer Josef Klír, who has designed clothing for Miss Czech Republic and Miss Slovakia, as well as for the Czech girl band Black Milk. His designs range from luxurious to provocative and are very original. They are for people who are not afraid to be the center of attention. He works with what seems at first to be mismatched materials. For example, he adds a little jewelry to a look that is punk. A one-of-a-kind design of so-called haute couture, sewn and made to measure to show off the wearer’s individual style as well as the designer’s originality and professional skills.

Blanka Matragi is a rare personality among Czech designers. Based in Lebanon, she creates haute couture designs. Her life story is as original as her fairytale dresses. The Czech designer, who originally worked as a glass cutter, married into the Arab world, one that is completely different from that of her homeland. Thanks to her talent, she has earned herself a place as one of the world’s top designers. She has received the European Art Award and the Salvador Dali International Award for her work.
Her declaration that "the ordinary kills" is asserted in her exquisite gowns. Her creations are very specific and almost exclusively designed for gala occasions. High-priced designs for well-known clients, including Arab princesses and wealthy women, are hand-made under the strict control of the designer herself. Each item is, of course, an original. This combination of material, cutting and sewing brings the timeless story of One Thousand and One Nights to life.

Blanka Matragi has been involved in the world of fashion for 25 years. She recently traveled with her oriental creations to Europe for a retrospective exhibition at Prague’s Municipal House (Obecní dům). Streams of visitors and an extended exhibition are indicative of her talent.

Matragi, however, isn’t the only name in Czech fashion. Well-known Czech fashion houses, which now rank among some of the best at home, began to emerge after 1989.

So is the Czech Republic catching up to the rest of the world or just stumbling along after it?

“Czech fashion designers are very worthy competition for the rest of world. They follow the latest trends. The Czech Republic puts out a large number of young, creative and ambitious designers. We really can’t talk about catching up to the rest of world now. We simply go along with it,” says Jarmila Jelínková, marketing manager of Style and Kabo, the largest Czech fashion trade fair.

Several people are now involved in what we can call Czech haute couture. While these designers often look to their national identity for ideas, their creations are internationally known and admired. Czech designer Liběna Rochová sees enormous potential for deriving inspiration from Czech traditions and Czech folklore.
The design team of Daniela Flejšarová and Eva Janoušková, who work under the unusual moniker E.daniely, are two of the Czech Republic’s top designers. Their label, which was established in 1991, has been presented with Designer of the Year awards several times already. Their distinctive, elegant creations can be bought at selected shops across the Czech Republic.

Hana Havelková is another celebrated name among Czech designers. While she has won many Czech fashion awards, she stepped onto the world stage when the beautiful Taťána Kuchařová was crowned the world’s most beautiful woman at the 2006 Miss World competition. The frenzied flashes of photo cameras were reflected off the wide, sparkling waistband of an otherwise simple white dress, while the new Miss World shed tears of emotion. The beautiful gown even grabbed the attention of the jury and was awarded sixth place in the Miss Designer competition for the best dressed participants in the competition.



Source : http://www.czech.cz/en/current-affairs/cultural-heritage/fashion-is-art-and-a-game/