SOFFA MINI 08 / September 2015, English edition

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SOFFA: JOY FROM THE HEART OF EUROPE Discover the best and most beautiful from the Czech Republic and Central Europe: exquisite design, inspirational stories, unknown interiors and amazing, hidden locations well worth visiting.

© SOFFA, s.r.o. 2015 I All rights reserved www.soffamag.com I info@soffamag.com cover photo: Adéla Havelková

CONTENTS - MINI ISSUE | 08

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PHOTOSYNTHESIS | 2016 06 EDITORIAL Flower Deli & SOFFA

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01 | FASHION The texture of vintage

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02 | WATER GALLERY On the surface of the Otava river

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AU T U M N N EW S text: Adéla Kudrnová | photo: Lina Németh

We don’t know about you, but we adore autumn. Why? Because it’s when everything sort of gets back on track and our work gets into full swing.

Is it the same for you?

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Speaking of work, we have prepared lots of news for you, which you can read in this mini issue. The most important of these is the unique Photosynthesis time-lapse 2016 wall calendar that we are publishing in collaboration with Květinové lahůdkářství. You may pre-order the calendar now on Hithit.com/Photosynthesis. We hope that you will be delighted with the calendar and the rewards, and we thank you in advance for your support.

Have a wonderful autumn, The SOFFA team

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P H O T O S Y N T H E S I S 2016 A U N I Q U E WA LL CAL EN DAR O F FLOWER S TI L L L I F ES BY S O FFA & FLOWER DEL I P R E- O R DER IT THRO UG H O U R C A M PAIG N O N HITHIT.CO M IT C AN B E YO U R S A S E AR LY AS THE EN D O F O CTO BER !

N U M ERO U S OTHER R EWAR DS AR E A L S O WAITIN G FO R YO U! M O R E O N : H I TH IT.CO M /PHOTO SYN THES IS

We celeb rate 10 years!

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Sept. 19–20, 2015 concerts discussions home-made food flea markets dance

workshops theatre sports games for kids markets

Street celebrations all over Prague

www.zazitmestojinak.cz

EXPERIENCE THE CITY OR EXPLORE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Do you know who lives in the apartment above you? Do you wonder who owns a shop on your street? Different City Experience has been trying to uncover the secrets of the neighborhood for ten years. On Saturday September 19th, 2015, residents from 11 cities and more than 60 locations throughout Prague will gather to turn the streets into a places of cultural and social gatherings. Everyone can indulge in fresh coffee and homemade cakes, sit and talk with friends, or watch a local theater performance. The possibilities are truly endless with various activities – Artistic and musical performances, thematic workshops, seminars, picnics, children’s activities, etc.. The revived streets in Prague are organized not only by individuals, but also people from local organizations, clubs and associations. We asked some of them about the social significance of their Different City Experience environment.

HOW HAS THE DIFFERENT CITY EXPERIENCE CHANGED SINCE ITS INCEPTION? James Hradílek, producer of Different City Experience: The idea to symbolically transform one of the streets of Prague in Korso first came about ten years ago and took us a lot of work to convince not only officials, but also local residents, businesses and artists about the significance of this event. Then the result spoke for itself. The experience of streets full of people started a process that is now spreading with dozens of locations organizing neighborhood festivals. You do not have to convince anyone about the significance of these events anymore as more people interact, artists create pro bono and some town halls encourage participation.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO ORGANIZE SUCH AN EVENT? Zuzana Kameníková, Coordinator Different City Experience Aero: Four years ago, we joined the already functioning action and really liked it. We also wanted to experience the atmosphere of Aero and the city without cars, when you would not have to constantly keep an eye on the street and look back to find possible dangers. Gradually, we began to know our neighbors, and this is now our biggest motivation, to have the opportunity to meet them again and get to know new ones as well.

WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? LOOK AT WWW.ZAZITMESTOJINAK.CZ AND COME SPEND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. ■

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01

FA S H I O N The mystery of vintage

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THE TE X T U R E O F V I N TAG E text: Tereza Schmoranz | styling: Prague Vintage Fair & SOFFA make-up: Make Up Institute Prague | hair: Libor Šula The Salon | photo: Adéla Havelková

IT HAS SHOWN THAT HISTORICALLY VALUABLE FASHION IS INNOVATIVE, WEARABLE, MAINTAINABLE AND FAIR, AND HAS FUSED IT WITH CREATIONS BY PROMINENT CZECH DESIGNERS. WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THE PRAGUE VINTAGE FAIR FESTIVAL, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FOR THE THIRD TIME AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. The first vintage-inspired collection for Prague Vintage Fair was designed by 2014 Czech Grand Designer and Fashion Designer of the Year, Monika Drápalová. As many as nine designers have created the Dress for Love collection for 2015. This year’s thirteen “quick-removal” pieces challenge Prague Vintage Fair’s visitors to “dress for love” and to help women whose partners have abused them.

Our fashion story also touches on the theme of violence against women, and is run through with threads of 1930s fashion and the literary voice of women who have suffered psychological abuse. Vintage apparel, with the backdrop of American author Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, reveals its melancholy face. ►

It would be a shame to break down that beautiful door!

“John dear!” said I in the gentlest voice, “the key is down by the front steps, under a plantain leaf!” That silenced him for a few moments.

Then he said—very quietly indeed, “Open the door, my darling!”

“I can’t,” said I. “The key is down by the front door under a plantain leaf!”

1930s combined chiffon and velvet dress; hair accessory, Aleš Báry

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So I take phosphates or phosphites—whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to “work” until I am well again. (..) but John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad.

1930s tulle dress; Tereza Vu lingerie (Dress for Love collection for Prague Vintage Fair 2015)

… I get a lovely vie w of the bay and a little private wharf belonging to the estate.

There is a beautiful shaded lane that runs down there from the house. I always fancy I see people walking in these numerous paths and arbors, but John has cautioned me not to give way to fancy in the least. He says that with my imaginative power and habit of story-making, a nervous weakness like mine is sure to lead to all manner of excited fancies, and that I ought to use my will and good sense to check the tendency. So I try.

1930s combined chiffon and velvet dress; hair accessory, Aleš Báry 1930s tulle dress; Tereza Vu lingerie (Dress for Love collection for Prague Vintage Fair 2015)

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I have a schedule prescription for each hour in the day; he takes all care from me, and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more.

I used to lie awake as a child and get more entertainment and terror out of blank walls and plain furniture than most children could find in a toy store.

1930s silk chiffon dress

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John is away all day, and even some nights when his cases are serious.

IÂ am glad my case is not serious! But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing.

John does not know how much IÂ really suffer. He knows there is no REASON to suffer, and that satisfies him.

1930s satin crepe hooded dress; antique lace lingerie, Tereza Vu (Dress for Love collection for Prague Vintage Fair 2015)

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Indeed he started the habit by making me lie down for an hour after each meal.

It is a very bad habit I am convinced, for you see I don’t sleep.

And that cultivates deceit, for I don’t tell them I’m awake—O no!

The fact is I am getting a little afraid of John.

1930s lacy nightdress in pale-blue, washable silk

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The patina and mystery usually inherent in vintage clothing are something for the new owner to interpret, in the same way as a reader would interpret a short story. Garments with a tale (and perhaps an eventful one at that) woven into their silken or woollen texture are like passages of text torn out of a book. The juxtaposition of clothing from various eras and the decadence of costly, mint-condition accessories that so fabulously complement apparel from the last century are a post-modern prayer for soulful fashion not devoid of meaning and value. The spirit of an outfit without the patina of vintage may be concealed in the cut, the fabric; but the spirit of one with that patina is also to be found in the destiny of the person who had to relinquish their clothes to somebody else. If we have a period photograph of the clothing but still don’t know for sure the identity of the person in that picture, we feel a thrill of existential anxiety: vintage, after all, reveals mortality, impending doom and decay, but at the same time passion and the potential to create…

THIS YEAR PRAGUE VINTAGE FAIR WILL BE OFFERING MORE THAN 1000 ORIGINAL VINTAGE PIECES. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO AND SEE THEM DURING THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 26 AND 27. MORE ON WWW.PRAGUEVINTAGEFAIR.CZ. ■ We would like to thank the ONE ROOM HOTEL in TOWER PARK PRAGUE for providing the space for the photo shoot.

Quotation source: Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yelllow Wallpaper

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INT ROD U CI N G

SOFFA DESIGN STUDIO INT E RI OR D E S I G N WE CREATE AND DECORATE YOUR HOMES our experienced team offers you full design services: consulting or full architecture - help from first step to realisation

WO R KS H OPS WE TEACH DIY, ST YLING, INTERIOR DESIGN want to learn how to style, decorate, design and create in SOFFA style? we are happy to show you.

CONTACT www.soffamag.com info@soffamag.com +420 777 623 346

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WAT ER G A L L ERY The summer in retrospect

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ON THE SU R FAC E O F T H E OTAVA R I V ER text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA photo: Lina Németh

IN THE AUGUST ISSUE OF SOFFA 10 YOU COULD READ ABOUT HOW OUR SOFFA TEAM WENT DOWN THE OTAVA RIVER. HOWEVER, AS THERE WAS SPACE FOR ONLY A FRACTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN ON THE TWO-DAY TRIP, WE HAVE NOW PREPARED A LITTLE FOLLOW-UP: A GALLERY OF THE OTAVA RIVER’S MANY FACES. TAKE A LOOK UNDER THE SURFACE! A smooth surface with little ripples, burbling eddies and foaming weirs in the river’s wilder passages: all that we tried and experienced during our two days on the river. Now you, too, can feast your eyes on the fascinating element that is water!

WE ALSO SHOT A VIDEO OF THE TWO-DAY TRIP, WHICH IS TO BE FOUND ON WWW.SOFFAMAG.COM/YOUTUBE. ■

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EXH IB IT I O N P O ST–AP O T R O N & X-D O G 11. 9. – 13. 9. 2015 Michal Škapa (aka TRON) and Ondřej Vyhnánek (aka X-DOG), an artistic duo from the domestic street-art and graffiti scenes, are joining the ranks of the new trend of short exhibitions and preparing POST–APO: an exhibition at PopUpStudio of their co-authored series of bold and expressive paintings dealing with modern-day civilization.

Don’t miss it!

n POPUPSTUDIO - GALLERY CURATOR: PAVEL KUBESA HAVANSKÁ 3A, PRAHA INFO@POPUPSTUDIO.CZ T: +420 777 622 375 WWW.POPUPSTUDIO.CZ FACEBOOK.COM/POPUPSTUDIO.CZ

EDITORIAL STAFF Adéla Kudrnová I editor-in-chief adela@soffamag.com Lenka Hlaváčová I art director & designer lenka@soffamag.com Lina Németh I photographer lina@soffamag.com Adéla Havelková I photographer & graphic designer adela.h@soffamag.com Antonín Cífka I production manager antonin@soffamag.com Terézia Bělčáková I marketing & PR terezia@soffamag.com Tereza Gladišová I distribution stockist@soffamag.com

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COTRIBUTORS www.praguevintagefair.cz

Sarah Robertson-Glasgow I English translation

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P H O T O S Y N T H E S I S 2016 A U N I Q U E WA L L CAL EN DAR O F FLOWER S TI L L L I F ES BY SO FFA AN D FLOWER DEL I P R E- O RDER IT THRO UG H O U R C A M PA IG N O N HITHIT.CO M I T C AN B E YO U R S A S E AR LY AS THE EN D O F O CTO BER !

N U M ERO U S OTHER R EWAR DS AR E A L S O WAITIN G FO R YO U! M O R E O N : H I TH IT.CO M /PHOTO S Y N THESIS