Panorama Hard-De-Core – A unique fashion boutique on Prague’s Senovážné Square

Josefina Bakošová Recently, I caught up with Josefina to discuss the workshop/boutique:

“I got the idea while I was still studying theatre at university and I was able to put it together in 2006, when I was given access to a decent space by the city for a reasonable rent. The idea was to create a space that was both creative and a shop, where items could both be made and sold. I think it’s a great space.”

Nor was she afraid to jump into the world of business, being used to tackling tasks head-on from when she studied at the theatre academy:

Chi-chi collection “At DAMU I was always a bit of a solo player: I studied alternative theatre and everyone always worked in teams. But instead of waiting for people, directors and so on, to come to me, I approached them. I always put together my projects, my productions myself. It wasn’t so different to running this.”

Josefina Bakošová has caused a splash since: last year she and fellow designer Petra Krčková turned heads with their collection “Czech Woman in a Czech Forest” at DesignBlok, the country’s premiere annual event focussing on top design. The collection contrasted how a city girl coped in “adverse” conditions. DesignBlok’s Jana Zielinski, recalls both the collection and the performance:

“I saw her fashion show and it was really very beautiful. It was combined with a laser show, but the lasers were used in a way I had never seen before. The lasers made little animals that could walk all around on the walls in the exhibition area. I really liked it very much. Concerning the fashion, what Josefina does is a very strong stream in Czech fashion, a sort of mixture of street style also focused on a traditional way, made in a very modern way, in modern materials.”

Chi-chi collection The designer sums up her preferences like this:

“I like both sporty but also elegant clothes. I’ve kind of combined them both. I like to play with sporty elements but, for example, but to use more elegant material. Women often want to have something they can wear in the city but at the same time to be able to put it on in the evening if they prefer. I buy materials from Czech producers when I can. I like natural materials but I am also unafraid to use synthetics or Lycra. I like shiny materials, satin, but also knitwear.”

As for Czech woman in a Czech forest?

“The whole thing was presented by Petra Nesvačilová and the story was based on Little Red Riding Hood and we even had a hunter. Compared to what I am designing this year, last year was sportier. These were darker items with colorful or reflective material, namely green. Only this year I’ve given up green for pink.”

Chi-chi collection Pink is the new green, I suggested, which made the designer laugh. Certainly many will be looking forward to her show this autumn.

Back to the boutique, anyone visiting Hard-De-Core of course does not necessarily have to shop. Along with offering collections, the boutique also offers hands-on workshops teaching visitors the basics so they can design items of their own. Josefina explains:

“Because I have a workshop with seamstresses here, I can offer customers a chance to work with textiles, to print their own designs, even to weave. Some want to design their own accessories, a bag for example, from an outline to final product. I offer courses here to show them how it is done: they learn to cut out, sew, print their own designs and leave with their item in hand.”

Chi-chi collection Hard-De-Core also offers creative courses for children, although, there says the designer, it has become hard to compete with schools and summer camps, offering cheaper prices although not necessarily the same level of quality. When it comes to similar boutiques or workshops in Prague, there are not all that many. DesignBlok’s Jana Zielinski again:

“I don’t think that there are that many shops like it in Prague. One of the good things is that you can find all kinds of different Czech designers’ work all in one place and that is good for customers to make choices. You can buy an original item, which is always very welcome. Five years ago it was really great that you had Mango and Zara on the market and that people went to shop there. But now, people are trying to be more original. I also think that the Czechs have a very strong tradition in spreading design among the middleclass as well.”

Hard-De-Core workshop Although shopping at stores like Hard-De-Core will set consumers back a bit a bit more than they’d normally pay for a mass-produced item, they can walk away knowing they have bought something truly original. Josefina Bakošová agrees that consumers – especially younger customers over the last couple of years – have grown more aware of good design.

“I think that a lot of people want to have original clothes and want that special pair of earrings. Of course, there’s the money… My view could be influenced by customers who come here, but it seems to me more people now are willing to pay more for something original. Instead of buying several items from more commercial stores, younger people now are pacing themselves, waiting a month or two to buy designer items, one piece of clothing or jewelry. Rather than buying a lot from big stores, where you can only get things everyone else is wearing too.”

Photo: www.harddecore.cz