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VOLUME | 14
life
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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
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ISSUE THEME: TRADITIONS Issue 14 is dedicated to TRADITIONS and CUSTOMS: Journey with us to uncover the meaning behind various traditions, customs and the cultural heritage that has been passed from one generation to another!
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CONTENTS - VOLUME | 14
SWEDEN 04
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01 | CULTURES & CUSTOMS The Beauty of Traditions
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The Villa Known as Rusalka
03 | FASHION Modernism and Tradition
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EDITORIAL
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05 | EDITORS’ CHOICE Traditional Icons versus Trends
06 | SPRING FOOD Superheroes Six
02 | INTERIORS & PEOPLE The Apartment of Dr. Vogel
04 | TRAVEL Ostrava
Spring Lettuce from Polabí
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07 | SOFFA & IKEA What Shall It Be Called?
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08 | CREATIVE PEOPLE The Folk Costumes
10 | MEN’S GROOMING 136 11 | TECHNOLOGY Men's Club Cubrico - He Ain't No Square
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09 | CZECH BRANDS The Winding Path to Success
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12 | TRADITIONS The Source of Our Traditions
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13 | DIY PROJECT Wardrobe as a Home Gallery 7
ANC H O R PO I N T S text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Adéla Havelková
One of the main reasons why we love traditions, be they religious holidays or the unique customs of our family, is that they help provide a much needed order to our lives. After all, little is as certain today as the fact that Easter follows Christmas, and so on. Each culture and family has its own anchor points of tradition, and it is thanks to them that we can move forward in our lives, always aware of their profound importance. This issue of SOFFA proves how valuable they are to us.
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In addition to many fascinating stories that explore various Czech and world traditions, this issue presents three new developments in the life of SOFFA, ones we hope will help us become an even better magazine. The first and biggest change is one you probably felt the moment you touched this issue, the beautiful new paper supplied to us by the firm Fedrigoni. Printing on paper is an age-old tradition and SOFFA is wonderful proof of its renaissance. To make sure you are well supplied by paper, we have prepared a stationary set designed by SOFFA, found on the back flyleaf. The writing of old-fashioned letters is a thoughtful tradition, so when you have finished reading this issue, sit down at your favourite desk, take a pen and our paper, and write a letter to someone near and dear. The excitement they will feel when opening the sealed envelope is irreplaceable! You have probably become used to the layout of the various themes in our magazine, so to give you a little jolt, we have added a new section on technology. We think this new element will be appreciated not only be men. We hope you will enjoy this issue on traditions presented somewhat nontraditionally in true SOFFA style, and that you will find in it some food for thought as well as inspiration. Your SOFFA team
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CULTURES & CUSTOMS Traditions from around the world
THE WISDOM AND BEAUTY OF TRADITIONS text: Helena Stiessová | illustrations: Lucie Šatková / Eyeej!
WHILE CZECHS EXPECT TO BE OFFERED SLIPPERS WHEN VISITING SOMEONE’S HOME, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO EXPECT AN OFFER OF A SHOWER, WHICH IS WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS IN BRAZIL. THEY MAY ALSO NOT KNOW THAT IT IS IMPOLITE TO VISIT A JAPANESE HOME EMPTY-HANDED. FOLLOWING THE CUSTOMS OF THE LAND YOU ARE VISITING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MARK OF A WELL-MANNERED TOURIST. EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD HAS ITS ESTABLISHED CUSTOMS, AND THESE WOULD OFTEN REMAIN UNWRITTEN WERE IT NOT FOR TRAVEL GUIDES THAT HELP US AVOID MANY A CULTURAL FAUX-PAS. Most decent travel guides devote at least a few pages to the do’s and don’ts of behaving in a foreign country. It often makes for amusing reading, and journalists and bloggers even compile lists of the greatest curiosities, so we can shake our heads at the idea that the British take their hats off in front of a magpie, or that the Americans throw their shoes on trees, while elsewhere old shoes are tossed directly at the bride. Alongside humorous customs are countless regional traditions that make life more interesting and help the rest of us open our minds, whether in relation to everyday etiquette or to more important life events. The world is colourful and the inspiration it provides is perhaps one of the best aspects of discovering different cultures. SOFFA loves inspirational journeys, and so we have decided to look for traditions that are so wonderful they could be set in stone. Can you think of others? ■
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SERBIA
LET IT GROW The nature lover Audrey Hepburn used to say that to establish a garden means to have faith in the future. And the same can be said about planting trees. The custom of planting a tree to mark the birth of a child or a marriage connects many cultures across the world. It is deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition and in places as distant from each other as Serbia and Jamaica. In fact, many parts of the world have a proverb that states that each person should plant a tree during his or her lifetime. There is something exhilarating, even cosmic, about the idea of contributing to future generations through the life of a tree. Not everyone has to build a house or write a book, but we all have the ability to dig a little hole for a sapling. So find yourself a good spot and plant a tree or a bush. If you are not sure how to go about it, you can make a contribution towards ’your’ tree at sazimestromy.cz.
BULGARIA
THE MAGIC OF BABA MARTA The first day of March sees all of Bulgaria in radiant displays of red and white tassels to celebrate the coming of spring. Bulgarians imagine the month of March as a mythical old woman known as Baba Marta, and her name marks the tradition of gifting red and white tassels shaped as little dolls, known as martenitsas. Red and white symbolise milk and blood, and by extension purity and life. People wear martenitsas as adornments until they see clear signs of spring: the first stork, a swallow or a tree in bloom. Once spring has announced its arrival it is time to take the martenitsas off and maybe hang them on a flowering tree in the hope that this will bring health and good luck to the wearer. Bulgarians as well as other nations like to adorn living trees, an act that is supposed to grant deeply held wishes. Whole groves and alleys are transformed into natural sanctuaries full of colourful objects fluttering in the wind, a magical display we all should experience on an ordinary day.
IRAN
A PERSIAN LESSON IN RESPECT All cultures teach their children how to be courteous, but some have elevated courtesy to a real art. While Europeans can sometimes be brutally honest with one another, in Iran they cherish an old tradition of respect called taarof, a form of etiquette that may appear like a relentless verbal duel to the uninitiated. You can see it in restaurants where people argue incessantly over who will pick up the tab, or when a taxi driver refuses to accept payment from a customer, and a dinner guest will not take the food that has been offered, despite the hunger signals coming from their belly. There are strict rules to follow in taarof: the person offering must insist and the person receiving must in turn vehemently refuse, at least three times, before accepting. Taarof is an expression of a culture that places respect towards others above all, and poetic Persian describes it in many beautiful forms. Many of us could take a page from the book of this old Iranian custom and show more respect to one another.
PHILIPPINES TO POINT OR PUCKER? Gestures with fingers can send a very different signal depending on where in the world you find yourself. And most of us have been taught by our mums that pointing at things is impolite, a rule that probably holds the world over. But what to do when you simply must point at something? The name that many languages have given to the finger that sits between the thumb and the middle finger is a testimony to the fact that in most countries people have not found a more polite way to ’point’. But in the Philippines they have come up with a very endearing solution. Instead of using their pointer finger, they pucker their lips and ’point’ with them in the desired direction. It is difficult to imagine what would happen to the social climate of Europe if instead of pointing with their fingers people used mass puckering of lips. The idea is fantastic, seeing as the puckering of lips has a different connotation in Europe. There would be no end to the fun we could have!
RUSSIA
FAREWELL – TILL WE MEET AGAIN! The Russians are well known for being superstitious. Their respect for all manner of supernatural phenomena shows up in all aspects of everyday life, and sometimes it makes it a bit complicated, like when you are not allowed to place your keys on the table. But the Russian custom that requires the whole family to sit quietly for a moment before someone embarks on a long journey, perhaps even on the packed suitcase, is a sign of true ancient wisdom. It has its roots in the distant past, when people believed that a hurried departure would upset the spirits of the house. Think of how horrible you have felt when standing at the airport, realising all you had forgotten in the madness of a rushed departure. From here onward this wise Russian tradition can keep that horrible feeling at bay. And more importantly, what better way to part than to share a quiet moment of togetherness with your loved ones. Bon voyage and many happy returns!
SWEDEN
STOP EVERYTHING, IT’S COFFEE TIME! One of the most popular Swedish words must surely be the short and punchy fika (pronounced feeka). It’s hard to resist. Fika means a coffee or tea break complemented with a sweet treat. Yes, we all like our coffee, but the Swedes consider fika to be an almost sacred affair. At a given hour during the workday all employees drop what they are doing and congregate around their coffee and cinnamon buns. Sometimes even twice a day, making psychologists rejoice, as the daily break is energising and helps to bring people together. In Sweden you can have a fika anywhere - at the weekend while relaxing in the garden, after mass, or during your shopping spree in the city at one of the countless cafes that dot the Swedish landscape. Even the most remote part of this great land has a chair and a steaming cup of coffee waiting for you, because there is nothing better than to sit down for a while and take a fika from all that hurry.
“eyeej!“ [ayay] is what they say in California when they see a beauty.
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“Eyeej,” the tiger replied, as if in pain, its head moving out still farther to see a beauty, while. Farther, while Tracy’s own eyes dived into the young lady’s. The hum and the diving happened at the same time. The girl heard the hum, received the dive, almost stopped, almost smiled, pushed herself tighter against the yellow knit dress, and then danced on, the tiger moaning softly. “Is that what they say in California?” Nimmo said. “Eyeej,” Tracy said. “Say it again,” Peberdy said. Tracy, watching the girl go, watching the tiger lope after her, said it again. “Hear that, Ringert?” Peberdy said. “That’s what they say in California when they see a beauty.” William Saroyan - Tracy‘s tiger
Lucie Šatková WWW.EYEEJ.COM
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SOFFA & NORDIC DAY STYLING WORKSHOP OUR SOFFA & FRIENDS STYLING WORKSHOP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORDIC DAY WAS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO LET OUR GUESTS’ IMAGINATION RUN WILD WHILE EXPERIMENTING WITH STYLING AND PHOTOGRAPHY. www.nordicday.cz
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THE ONLINE RETAILER NORDIC DAY OFFERS ORIGINAL HOME FURNISHINGS AND ACCESSORIES IN THE CLEAN NORDIC STYLE WE LOVE, AND FOR THIS REASON WE DECIDED TO PARTNER WITH THEM IN ORGANISING A FOOD AND INTERIOR STYLING WORKSHOP. PARTICIPANTS LEARNT THE BASICS OF STYLING AND CREATED A RANGE OF FABULOUS STILL LIFE ARRANGEMENTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON OUR BLOG AT WWW.SOFFAMAG.COM. YOU WILL SEE THAT THE NORDIC STYLE IS ANYTHING BUT BORING! Shop for plates, vases, bowls, textiles and other products at www.nordicday.cz
THE VIL L A K N OW N A S RU S A L K A partner for the article: The Dvořák Prague Festival | text: Helena Novotná styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh
PEOPLE USUALLY TRAVEL TO VYSOKÁ U PŘÍBRAMĚ TO SEE THE LOCAL MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE FAMOUS CZECH COMPOSER ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK. REAL MUSIC CONNOISSEURS, HOWEVER, KNOW THAT ONE CANNOT LEAVE VYSOKÁ WITHOUT VISITING ANOTHER PLACE CONNECTED TO THE MUSICAL GENIUS – VILLA RUSALKA. IN THE COMPANY OF THE COMPOSER‘S GRANDSON AND GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER, SOFFA VISITED VILLA RUSALKA WHERE DVOŘÁK AND HIS FAMILY SPENT THEIR SUMMERS. THEY SHOWED US A PLACE THAT CAPTIVATED ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK AND HELPED HIM CREATE SEVERAL OF HIS FAMOUS WORKS. YOU CAN SAVOUR THESE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER OF HIS MUSICAL TREASURES, AT THE ANNUAL DVOŘÁK PRAGUE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL.
Although Villa Rusalka is not officially open to the public, one can obtain permission for a visit from the composer’s descendants, Mrs. Hana Kakešová and Mr. Antonín Dvořák. Several volumes of visitor books with messages and accolades from all around the world affirm that it would be a great shame if the villa were closed to the public. The tales from the composer’s grandson and great-granddaughter transformed us effortlessly to the year 1884, when Antonín Dvořák ► RIGHT: Mr. Antonín’s resemblance to his grandfather is unquestionable. The name Antonín has over time become a family tradition, passed from one generation to the next to help preserve the memory of the phenomenal composer.
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bought an old granary and a sheep pen in Vysoká u Příbramě. He found a soft spot for Vysoká after becoming acquainted with it on his visits to the Kounic family. Count Václav Kounic, Dvořák’s brother-in-law, bought the estate at Vysoká and built here a stately residence in the Neo-Renaissance style as a wedding gift for his wife Josefína. At first Antonín Dvořák stayed with his family in a building known as Dvorek, which stood on the edge of the estate near a woodland path leading to the lake that is today known as Rusalka’s lake. Later Dvořák purchased from Count Kounic an outbuilding that was used to store grain and had it reconstructed into a two-storey home in which he and his family lived during the summers. He visited Vysoká for almost 20 years until his death in 1904. The villa stands in a garden surrounded by a massive stone wall, and there are also two summerhouses and a small outbuilding. “Mother always said that the walls remember even Maria Theresa,” recollects Mrs. Kakešová. She does not know when the granary was originally built, but she admits that each such question beckons her to research the many interesting details of her great-grandfather’s life. On the ground floor we first visit the composer’s bedroom, which also served as a dining room. From Dvořák’s time remains the original bed, couch and commode. The remaining pieces of furniture, which served the composer’s family in their home on Žitná street in Prague, were brought here in 1931 after Mrs. Dvořák’s death. From ►
LEFT: Arriving around April each year, Antonín Dvořák and his family used Villa Rusalka as a summer residence. After his death the villa stayed in the family to be enjoyed by his descendants, including Mrs. Kakešová, who as a little girl spent some of her summer holidays here.
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the bedroom we climb a narrow stairway to the composer’s study on the first floor. It would not be a composer’s study without a musical instrument, a beautiful piano that had to be hoisted through a specially built window in 1884. All of the furniture on this level is original. On the piano sits a larger than life bust of the composer by the Czech sculptor Josef Mařatka, originally created for the then director of the National Theatre František Adolf Šubert. The exterior of the villa has been recently renovated. The sandstone facade with a subtle Art Nouveao decor was completed around 1908 and is the work of Mrs. Kakešová’s grandfather and the composer’s son-in-law. Before this time the walls of the villa were rendered only in simple lime plaster. With the new facade came also its current name Rusalka. How did it get this name? Another son-in-law, the composer and violinist Josef Suk, decided to name it so after Antonín Dvořák’s death as a tribute to his greatest operatic triumph. Every Czech school child has learned that Antonín Dvořák was a composer and that he wrote Rusalka, but we often forget how well regarded he is throughout the world. His fame is brought home to us not only by the stacks of visitor books in Villa Rusalka, but also by the popularity of the Dvořák Prague International Music Festival. This September, already for the ninth year, the festival will celebrate the life and work of this Czech musical genius. Undoubtedly it will feature some of the musical works that were created here, in the beautiful villa in Vysoká u Příbramě. More on www.dvorakovapraha.cz ■
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“DAVID LACHAPELLE’S EXHIBITION ‘MUSES’ HIGHLIGHTS THE VISUAL SYMBOLS AND CODES THAT EVERYONE SEES DIFFERENTLY. WHEN TWO PEOPLE LOOK AT THE SAME PHOTOGRAPH, ONE CAN PERCEIVE IT AS AN HOMAGE TO THE SURREAL WORLD OF CELEBRITY, WHILE THE OTHER SEES A SCATHING AND SARCASTIC CRITIQUE OF CONSUMERISM. IT IS THIS VARIED INTERPRETATION THAT MAKES LACHAPELLE’S WORK CONTROVERSIAL AND WHY CRITICS DEBATE IT TO THIS DAY.”
Olga Trčková | curator of the exhibition DSC GALLERY, DLOUHÁ 5, PRAGUE 1, 22. 3. – 7. 5. 2016
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E DI TO R S ’ C H O I C E Traditional icons versus latest trends
IN T H E N A M E O F T R A DI T I O N styling: Adéla Kudrnová photo: company archives
THEY ARE FAMILIAR, RELIABLE AND … TIMELESS. WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? OLD-TIME FAVOURITES THAT ARE GETTING A CONTEMPORARY MAKEOVER.
ARTIS SAPPORO SKATE JUNIOR | www.artis.cz | CZK 2 450; 01M BLOODY SNOW | www.botas.cz | € 81; MERKUR CLASSIC C04 CONSTRUCTION SET | www.merkurtoys.cz | CZK 1 040; R21C REMOSKA ORIGINAL TEFLON 2L | www.remoska.cz | CZK 3 000; RYBIČKA POCKET KNIFE | www.mikov.cz | CZK 75; ČEZETA 506 www.cezeta.cz | EUR 9 999; SLIVOVICE BARTIDA | www.bartida.multibrands.cz | CZK 450; EMBROIDERED SKIRT www.folkdiva.cz | CZK 6 000; DROP CHAIR | design Arne Jacobsen | www.fritzhansen.com | from € 334; OLYMPUS PEN-F WITH 17 MM LENS | www.olympus.cz | CZK 41 999; MULA ABACUS | www.ikea.cz | CZK 249
S PR I N G NEW S F L A S H styling: Adéla Kudrnová photo: company archives
SPRING IS HERE AND MAJOR FASHION BRANDS ARE COMPETING FOR OUR ATTENTION WITH THEIR HOTTEST TRENDS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON. WHICH WILL WIN THE JOSTLE TO BECOME OUR FAVOURITE?
MEGAPHONE TABLE LAMP | Nordal | www.outhereinteriors.com | £ 200; BARSTOOL LEAF | www.ton.eu Price upon request | ONJA STOVE | Primus | www.fjallraven-shop.cz | CZK 3 690; IITTALA X ISSEY MIYAKE BAG www.finnishdesignshop.com | € 139; UASHMAMA FLOWER SACK | www.uashmama.sk | € 6; CIRCLES OUTDOOR TABLE | design Maria Jeglinska | ww.ligne-roset.cz | CZK 19 000; OTO BULB HOLDER | www.bomma.cz from € 140; GILTIG GLASS | www.ikea.cz | CZK 59
opera PRESENTED AT THE STATE OPERA
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GOUNOD
ROMEO AND JULIET CONDUCTOR: MARCO GUIDARINI STAGE DIRECTOR: SLÁVA DAUBNEROVÁ PREMIERES: 21. & 23. 4. 2016
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MINDTRAVELLERS BY SOFFA F O R M O U V O F E S T I VA L Introducing animations made for the motion design festival Mouvo by five Mindtravellers by SOFFA. Have a look at their Mouches Volantes inspired designs! Watch the animations by Diana Govina, Jan Kokolia, Space Bar and Tragic Terror at www.soffamag.com. The MINDTRAVELLERS BY SOFFA platform is intended for creative spirits from all fields the world over: illustrators, graphic designers, photographers and writers. You and your work will be visible not only to other creative people, but also to potential clients. WE HAVE MANY NEW CHALLENGES PREPARED FOR YOU. EXPLORE THEM BY JOINING MINDTRAVELLERS BY SOFFA!
Diana Govina I Space Bar
Jan Kokolia | Tragic Terror
WWW.SOFFAMAG.COM/MINDTRAVELLERS
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SP R ING L E T T UC E F RO M PO L A B Í partner for the article: Tesco Finest | text: Helena Novotná styling: SOFFA | photo: Adéla Havelková
WE LEFT PRAGUE IN THE DREARY RAIN BUT THE CLOUDS BEGAN TO PART ALONG THE WAY, AND BY THE TIME WE REACHED THE GLEAMING GREENHOUSES OF ZVO IN PŘEROV NAD LABEM, THE SUN HAD FINALLY COME OUT. JUST AS WE HAD IMAGINED THE SCENE ON THE DRIVE UP, WE WERE GREETED BY FRESH SPRING LETTUCES ARRANGED IN A PERFECT CHESS-BOARD PATTERN. Tesco Finest has been working with local suppliers for some time, and one of their newest partners is the ZVO Sales Cooperative Polabí. Starting this spring Tesco markets are offering lettuce from Polabí, sometimes called the Garden of the Czech Republic. On offer is the Salanova variety in both the classic and crispy versions, and both are available in green and red, so you can more easily colour-coordinate your salad. At the time of our visit the lettuce plants were still quite small, requiring another three weeks to grown into abundant heads. Once sufficiently large the lettuce plants are packed in their planters and travel directly to the customers. Nothing is cut or picked; the lettuce heads stay in the planters and that is how you bring them home. While the head of the classic variety is best cut off whole, leaving the individual leaves to ►
LEFT: In the greenhouse it is difficult to tell the neatly arranged plants apart, as they look exactly the same. The key to their uniform look is the quality of the growing substrate and the ideal growing conditions, which include lower temperatures to enhance the colour of the leaves.
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separate, the crispy variety can be picked little by little, allowing individual leaves to grow back. Thanks to the planter the lettuce remains wonderfully fresh for a very long time, assuming you look after it properly. What to do to help the lettuces grow? Mr. Bělohlávek, the lettuce expert, shared some good advice. Lettuce does best in a cool environment with a temperature range between 15 and 17°C, so it is wise to keep the lettuce plant in a window, on a balcony or in a winter garden. You can certainly keep it in a flat, but it will not last for many days, and you will have to pay close attention to watering. Lettuce grows back in about three weeks to a month, which is the same amount of time a seed requires to grow into a seedling before transplanting. Inside the greenhouses the seedlings have the same ideal conditions which explains why they look identical. We left Přerov nad Labem with a small crate of lettuces which we are tending carefully with Mr. Bělohlávek’s advice. Rightfully or not, we feel like experienced gardeners - a small dream of any city slicker. You can find the classic and crispy varieties of the Salanova lettuce in the Tesco Finest selection of your local Tesco market. For more information go to www.itesco.cz and www.tescorecepty.cz ■
RIGHT: The Salanova variety has a pleasant taste, sweeter than iceberg lettuce. Try it for yourself!
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WI N T WO S 10 S P R ING CH A I R S FROM S LEZ Á KOV Y Z ÁVODY!
Win two stylish S10 SPRING CHAIRS! Write to us at info@soffamag.com (subject: Slezákovy Závody) and tell us what type of interior is most suitable for these chairs and why. The most interesting response wins! For complete contest rules go to www.soffamag.com
More at www.slezakovyzavody.cz
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S O F FA & I K EA IKEA nomenclature
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W HAT SHA L L I T B E C A L L ED? text: Helena Stiessová | illustration: Janka Murínová
ARE YOU A FAN OF IKEA? IF YES THEN YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW THAT INGVAR WAS 90 YEARS OLD IN MARCH. ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT GRACEFUL OLD SOFA OR ARMCHAIR INGVAR MIGHT BE? WELL HERE IS A HINT: THE SWEDISH COMPANY IKEA WAS FOUNDED IN 1943 BY A MAN WHO INCORPORATED HIS INITIALS INTO THE COMPANY’S NAME. YES, THAT’S RIGHT, ON MARCH 30, 2016 INGVAR KAMPRAD CELEBRATED A VERY IMPORTANT LIFE JUBILEE. THE STORY OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS COMPANY IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO HIS NAME, AND SO WE HAVE DECIDED TO FOCUS THIS FEATURE ON THE ART OF IKEA PRODUCT NAMING. A visit to an IKEA store is inextricably linked to the tongue-twisting names of various IKEA products, which IKEA fans from around the world attempt to pronounce and in some cases even memorise. They belong to the pleasantly wacky cultural milieu that is understood perhaps by no one else than Ingvar Kamprad’s compatriots. And that’s because unlike the rest of us they actually understand what these names mean. The founder of IKEA apparently had a difficult time remembering numbers, but he had an easier time remembering names. This turns out to have been great for us, as it is much more pleasant to sit at home on a chair named Ingolf than on some nameless piece of furniture with only a serial number. By now Ingolf, an old Scandinavian name for a man, has more wooden namesakes than human ones, and IKEA has taken it as its duty to look after other obscure first names or remote localities in far northern Europe. ►
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So how does IKEA go about naming a new product? There is an elaborate system in place to manage the flood of possible first names, place names or Swedish words. Carl von Linné, the ‘father of modern taxonomy’ and Ingvar’s countryman, would rejoice over IKEA’s system. For example, sofas are named after Swedish towns and cities and carpets after Danish ones. Curtains and textiles carry the names of flowers and girls, while boys’ names are given to writing desks and chairs. Garden furniture reminds us of Swedish islands (you know it by the last letter ö, which is an economical symbol for an island). The fun really begins when you move into the kitchen department or small decorative objects. Drinking glasses are named after mushrooms or fish, and the best names are those created from adjectives: chopping board PROPPMÄTT would be translated as STUFFED (from food) and the cooking pot OUMBÄRLIG is simply INDISPENSABLE. We find little plays on words in every department, so the block-out curtain TUPPLUR could be named in English as CATNAP, the round table lamp KNUBBIG translates as CHUBBY, and if you are serving dinner on plates ALLVETANDE, you know they are ALL-KNOWING. With so many different products sold all over the world there is of course the danger that some innocent Swedish word will be given a whole new meaning in its host country. That is one of the reasons why IKEA likes names with letters Ä, Ö and Å, which minimise this risk. And so thanks to Ingvar Kamprad people all over the world are passively studying Swedish and geography, the internet is awash with IKEA dictionaries (e.g. http://lar5.com/ikea/) and old-fashioned names like Oddvar, Algot, Ullastina or Verna have a bright future. Is it time for IKEA to create a product line with its founder’s name? That just might be the perfect present for his 90th birthday! ■
FREDRIKA Fabrics and curtains: Scandinavian girls’ names The unusual women’s name Fredrika hides the word “fred”, which means peace. Is it now clear why fabric with a fun and colourful print is named this way? The simple retro flowers are perfect for a window dressing, but they could also work on a flowing hippie skirt, the kind that Fredrika used to wear with her long flowing hair. EKORRE Children’s products: names of mammals, birds and descriptive names the wooden rocking moose (Scandinavian version of a rocking horse) was named EKORRE, which means squirrel. The poor moose simply has to put up with this injustice. But what wouldn’t it do for a smile on a child’s face.
HURDAL Beds, wardrobes and hallway furniture: names of Norwegian localities Thanks to nature’s wood grain pattern, each piece in the HURDAL series has its unique character. Robust beds, cabinets and cupboards made from pine are named after a Norwegian district located just 70 km from Oslo, which beckons with its unobtrusive beautiful nature. Charming without frills.
RANDERUP Carpets: names of Danish localities The RANDERUP carpet with the fun stripy pattern will last and last. It got its name from a village in Denmark that takes pride in its lovely church from the 13th century. We wonder whether in naming the carpet the designer was inspired by the straight lines of the church, or whether the credit should go to the Swedish word “randig”, which means stripy. HEJSAN Storage boxes and baskets, wall decorations, pictures, frames and clocks: Swedish slang words, names of Swedish localities Ahoy there! That’s the call shoppers hear when passing shelves full of colourful storage boxes. Those who hear the call and bring these pretty boxes and files folders home can be sure that their home office will never be boring. Now, they know how to say hello when visiting Sweden. Hejsan! MURKLA Kitchen items: names of fish and mushrooms Murkla, or pufferfish, is a Scandinavian version of the fugu fish. It is a speciality that must be prepared according to strict rules; otherwise it is very poisonous. The drinking glass that carries its name presents no such danger, so you can supply your kitchen with as many as you want. The colourful pattern will liven up any birthday party.
PATRIK Writing desks, office chairs and swivel chairs: Scandinavian boys’ names Among men sporting the nice name Patrick are surprisingly many sports stars. But just because they are good at sports doesn’t mean they didn’t do their homework. Whether or not you are an active type, you need to be comfortable when sitting at the computer, so your figure wouldn’t suffer. And this chair looks good too! SILVERÅN Bathroom accessories: lakes, rivers and bays Just as a landscape comes alive in the reflections of lakes, rivers or brooks, so will your mirror when you look into it in the morning, even if you are still a bit sleepy. A river with the romantic name Silverån (pronounced silverón) gave the name to this white framed-mirror with a shelf. The river flows through the Småland region in the south of Sweden.
KVARTÄR Lighting: measurements, seasons, months, nautical terminology and names of Swedish localities The fresh and airy ceiling light is named after a quarter, or rather the Quaternary Period. This geological time began more than two million years ago and is still with us. The sectional light cover seems to beckon on a journey into a time when dinosaurs roamed the streets of Prague.
ÄPPLARÖ Garden furniture: Scandinavian islands The stable and comfortable pieces of garden furniture ÄPPLARÖ (pronounced eplaré) invite you to an afternoon chat with friends under a bushy pear tree. Sunrays weave their warmth through the leaves and the table is set with home-made elder flower lemonade and cakes fresh from the oven. This is how life goes on the island of Äpplarö in Stockholm County, perhaps after the harvest of hay. HASSELNÖT Bowls, vases, planters and candles: names of Swedish localities, descriptive names, herbs and fruit Naming a planter after hazelnuts? Why not? After all a hazelnut is full of good nutrients and a good planter works similarly – supplies water to a plant so it can grow well. The planter HASSELNÖT (pronounced haselnét) got its name from a hazelnut, but don’t think about it too long, because you just might eat your children’s hazelnut chocolate. KIVIK Sofas, armchairs, chairs and dining tables: names of Swedish localities The idyllic town of Kivik lies in the southern part of Sweden on the coast of the Baltic Sea. In a local restaurant you can feast on freshly caught fish and then stroll through an apple orchard in bloom, with white beaches glistening in the distance. Or you can dream about it on a white KIVIK sofa.
PAPELOTE
LIVE LOUDER
Papelote is a Czech brand of stationery where paper is not a mere base for writing, but a material full of flavour, fragrance, sound and colour. Papelote offers a wide range of original notebooks, sketchbooks, textile cases and much more – all designed and made in the Czech Republic from environmentally friendly materials.
This April IKEA is launching GILTIG – an eye-catching collection of tableware and home textiles. It’s the result of a uniquey collaboration with London-based menswear designer Katie Eary and is guaranteed to turn up the volume at any party. #FURNISHWITHFASHION
papelote.cz
n WIN A PAIR OF ARTIS SPURT COMBI CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS! Write to us at info@soffamag.com (subject: ARTIS) to tell us which Artis product you best remember from your childhood and why. The two most interesting responses will each win a pair of Artis SPURT Combi cross-country skis. For complete contest rules go to www.soffamag.com
More at www.artis.cz
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C ZEC H B R A N DS and their enduring faces
THE WINDING PATH TO SUCCESS text: Martin Sova | collage: Lenka Hlaváčová | photo: company archives
YOU DON’T BECOME A CLASSIC, AN ICON OR A LEGEND JUST BY DESIGN. IT TAKES MORE THAN THAT. A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT, LUCK AND GOOD TIMING IS NEEDED, BUT ALSO THE ABILITY TO CAPTIVATE PEOPLE IN A UNIQUE WAY. THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAS SEVERAL BRANDS THAT HAVE NOT ONLY MANAGED TO ENDURE, AND RIDE-OUT THE TOTALITARIAN REGIME OF THE PAST, BUT IN SOME CASES ALSO RISE FROM THE ASHES TO RETURN TO THEIR RIGHTFUL PROMINENCE. THEIR STORIES ARE VARIED, BUT THEY HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON: THEIR PASSION FOR GOOD WORK. Every nation likes to indulge in romantic notions about its exceptional skills or qualities. The Czechs like to boast about their ‘golden hands’, by which they mean their innate talent for craftsmanship. They started to translate this talent into entrepreneurial success during the period between the two world wars, and many of their coveted brands originate from this period. It was a time when people left their villages for work in cities, when entrepreneurs looked out for their employees and trained them, and when business leaders were willing to work with designers, architects and project managers in the quest to create truly unique products. The political events that followed the Second World War clipped their wings, however, and all enterprises were nationalised. Some continued in full production, but others underwent radical changes. Yet, in a land hidden behind the Iron Curtain and shrouded for a time in a general atmosphere of grey, notable creators were nurtured, exceptional products created, and the quality of craftsmanship retained. Thus, when freedom returned in the 1990s, the country’s often hidden potential was given an opportunity to flourish. Some brands were able to come back straight away, while others needed more time. ■
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WOOD IS A FASCINATING MATERIAL. IT IS CREATED SLOWLY AS THE TREE GROWS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND SO REQUIRES THAT A WOODWORKER APPLY GREAT CARE AND SENSITIVITY WHEN WORKING WITH IT. THE ABILITY TO BEND WOOD OPENS UP MANY POSSIBILITIES IN WOOD DESIGN, AND THE CZECH BRAND TON HAS BEEN EXPLORING THESE POSSIBILITIES WITH GOOD RESULTS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THEIR EFFORTS ARE HELPED BY CZECH AND INTERNATIONAL DESIGNERS, AND BUILD ON A 150-YEAR OLD TRADITION OF FURNITURE MAKING IN THE TOWN OF BYSTŘICE POD HOSTÝNEM. Bending of wood moved into industrial production in the second half of the 19th century after almost a century of research. Michael Thonet was a pioneer in this area and developed a technique in which he first steamed wood and then bent it with the help of various forms. Based in the German Rhineland, Thonet made bent wood furniture only for custom orders at first, and his customers included, among others, Prince Metternich. The popularity of his furniture soon led to mass production, first based in Koryčany and later in Bystřice pod Hostýnem. The reason for his move to Moravia was simple: the cost of labour was less than in Vienna, where most of his chairs ended up, and the area had sufficient raw material. Problems created by the two world wars were further compounded by nationalisation in 1953, and the Gebrüder Thonet company became the state-owned enterprise Ton. During socialism the company survived on tradition, but after 1989, when it was transferred to private ownership, the company began to capitalise on the existing technical know-how and on the unique skills of the local craftspeople. The brand has begun to make its mark thanks to collaboration with designers like Tom Kelley, Mads K. Johansen, Olgoj Chorchoj and more recently Arik Levy and E-ggs.
OUR MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD ARE USUALLY MARKED WITH A FEW KEY MOMENTS. FOR MANY THIRTY-SOMETHING CZECHS THESE INCLUDE SCHOOL SKI TRIPS AND SUMMER CAMPS, NEITHER OF WHICH CAN BE IMAGINED WITHOUT ONE OF OUR DOMESTIC CONSTANTS: THE BRAND ARTIS, FOREVER LINKED WITH FUN AND SPORT. WHILE FOR MANY CZECHS THE CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS AND PING-PONG TABLES MADE BY ARTIS MAY HAVE BEEN ORDINARY, THEY WERE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR PASTIME. TODAY FEW ARE AWARE OF JUST HOW INNOVATIVE THIS BRAND WAS. Artis was created in the 1950s as part of the national concern Sport Praha, which included a number of small enterprises making various sport equipment like skis, sleds, hockey sticks and even boats. The brand touched a wide range of sport disciplines and became an integral part of life for several generations of athletes big and small. It was also a source of significant innovation that helped many professional athletes reach top performance levels. When Artis introduced the Sapporo cross-country ski in 1962, for example, it was the first laminated crosscountry ski on the market. Czech national teams naturally embraced all of the innovative products that Artis produced, including the first European hockey sticks with a bent blade, which today are considered a matter of course. After 1989 the national concern was broken up into individual enterprises based on specialisation, and the emerging free market presented a great challenge and opportunity. Following several ownership changes Artis was bought by the current owners in 2011, and they are working hard to systematically revive this Czech legend. They have brought Artis hockey sticks back out of retirement, renewed production of cross-country skis in collaboration with the successful company Sporten, and continue to produce quality equipment for table tennis.
A CZECHOSLOVAK ICON OF THE 1960s, BOTAS SPORTS SHOES ARE INFUSED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GREAT ATHLETES LIKE VĚRA ČÁSLAVSKÁ AND JIŘÍ RAŠKA. THEY ARE RECOGNISABLE BY THEIR DISTINCTIVE SHAPE AND STRIKING COLOURS, WHICH HAVE ENDEARED THEM TO A NEW GENERATION OF FANS. THEIR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE HAS BECOME LESS IMPORTANT, AND THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE SEEN ON THE DANCE FLOOR THAN IN A SPORTS HALL. INTERESTINGLY, THEIR REVIVAL BEGAN IN A SCHOOL. The shoe brand Botas was born in the early 1960s in the state-run shoe factory in Skuteč near Pardubice. The factory produced all manner of sports shoes, from shoes intended for athletics to those used for parachuting. Their iconic design was developed in 1966 by Marcel Scheinpflugsaw, and made at first from the high-quality hide of Mongolian white horses. The Botas brand continued for some time to be regarded as a mark of comfortable and accessible ‘luxury’, but eventually the brand lots its lustre. The credit for the revival of the Botas brand goes to a pair of students from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. Jan Kloss and Jakub Korouš selected the iconic model as a basis for their school project and created their own redesign of the shoes and their packaging. The project won the first prize at the European Design Awards that year, and brought the two young men into contact with the Botas company. As a result, in 2009 the young designers and the company released their joint collection Botas 66. Soon the combination of local design, local production and a good price/quality ratio made the redesigned sports shoes a big hit among young city folk, and this was quickly noticed by tourists visiting the Czech Republic. Collaboration between the Botas firm and the young designers continues, and 2016 saw new colours and modified designs in the Botas sports shoe line.
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Mikulášovice was originally an agricultural village, but in the 18th century it became an industrial centre when knife manufacturing was established there. One of the first knife-manufacturers was the aristocrat Ignaz Rösler, considered the most important individual of that period, but other knife-manufacturers soon followed. When they were incorporated into a state-run enterprise in the 1950s, they became known as Mikov and they still function under this name today. The company looks with pride on the legacy of its predecessors and builds on this legacy in their current practices. One of their most typical products is the little silver fish, originally made with a carbon blade but now of course with a blade from stainless steel and a handle from a zinc alloy. The fish is well suited to great Czech traditions such as tramping, camping and mushroom picking, and this is probably why it is still a national favourite. Since 2007 the company has made a version with a damascus steel blade and a silver handle, and in 2012 there was even a collector’s edition made of gold. Mikov’s product line is not limited to this one iconic piece; the company also makes knives for chefs, soldiers, butchers and hunters. A few months ago it even came out with a new Pocket line created in collaboration with studio Olgoj Chorchoj. The new folding knives from stainless steel come in three variations, and very simply yet elegantly shepherd Mikov’s traditional design into the 21st century.
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THE INVENTOR OF THE SMALL FOLDING KNIFE SHAPED LIKE A SILVER FISH PROBABLY NEVER IMAGINED THAT ONE DAY THE KNIFE WOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL TOOL OF ANY CZECH ADVENTURER. IT IS STILL NOT CLEAR WHO CREATED THE LITTLE FISH, OR WHY IT WAS SHAPED THAT WAY, BUT WE KNOW IT ORIGINATED IN THE NORTH BOHEMIAN TOWN OF MIKULÁŠOVICE, THE CENTRE OF THE CZECH CUTLERY INDUSTRY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT HAS BECOME AN INDISPENSABLE PIECE OF GEAR FOR ANY NATURE-LOVING CZECH WHO NEEDS A RELIABLE AND INEXPENSIVE FOLDING KNIFE.
THEIR BEGINNINGS ARE ROOTED IN A FAMILY-RUN LOCKSMITH WORKSHOP BASED IN BYSTŘICE POD HOSTÝNEM, A SMALL MORAVIAN TOWN KNOWN PRIMARILY AS A PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE. ROBERT SLEZÁK, THE OWNER, WAS A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR WHO STARTED WITH SMALL METAL PRODUCTS AND STEADILY MOVED INTO BUILDING METAL-FRAMED FURNITURE. THE BUSINESS SURVIVED THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND BY THE 1930s HIS FIRM WAS ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT FURNITURE PRODUCERS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA, FILLING FLATS, HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS WITH BENT-METAL FURNITURE. The characteristic style of the Slezákovy závody brand was inspired by functionalism: bent steel pipes plated in chrome, nickel or brass lent themselves to creating simple, practical and elegant pieces of furniture. Their combination of metal and wood became one of the defining decorative elements of many Czechoslovak households, where many are preserved to this day. This is not surprising, as the design of their chairs, beds, coat racks and writing desks with integrated drawers is so timeless that it easily blends into any interior. Unfortunately the successful brand met the same fate as all other large Czechoslovak companies: after the Second World War and the successive political changes the company was nationalised and incorporated into a large state-owned enterprise. Its product range was reduced, and thanks to a lack of competition, quality dropped and so did interest. In the 1990s the company returned to private hands and began the fight to reclaim its good name, and it should be said that it is doing well in this regard. Their bet on tradition seems to have paid off, as seen by their involvement in last year’s renovation of the functionalist hotel Axa in the centre of Prague, where their leather and oak furniture evokes an air of unpretentious luxury.
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M EN’ S G RO O M I N G Barber Shop Comeback
M EN’ S C LUB text: Sára Němečková | styling: SOFFA | photo: Adéla Havelková
BEARDS AND MOUSTACHES OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES ARE BACK IN FASHION AND THEIR POPULARITY HAS SEEN THE RETURN OF THE TRADITIONAL MEN’S BARBER SHOP. IN ADDITION TO THE AESTHETIC CONCERNS THAT DRIVE MEN TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR THEIR WELL-TENDED FACIAL HAIR, THE BARBER SHOP IS SOUGHT OUT AS A PLACE OF REFUGE FROM EVERYDAY STRESS WHERE MEN CAN RELAX IN A DISTINCTLY MALE ENVIRONMENT. IN CURRENT BUSY AND STRESSFUL TIMES IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE BARBER SHOP IS MAKING A COMEBACK. One such barber shop is the recently opened Pepe’s Barbershop in Prague’s Holešovice suburb, the result of years of planning by the shop’s owner José. The shop was furbished and decorated on the basis of José’s own design with the help of the talented architect Marcela Boučková. In addition to his custom-made barber chairs José had commissioned most of the fittings for his shop from an artisan. The shop’s unique grey wall, created by layering different shades of grey, took a number of weeks to make. The goal of Pepe’s Barbershop is to offer a modern take on an old craft, and to this end José uses classic Czech products such as the aftershave Alpa, well loved by our great-grandfathers. Men like returning to their favourite barber shop for the more frequent trimming of their treasured facial hair or the less frequent cutting of their crowning mop. Just like any other barber shop, Pepe’s offers a range of treatments: from a quick adjustment with clippers to a longer trim and a scalp massage, or a shave that involves the warming of facial hair with a hot towel followed by a decadent aftershave treatment, which can be enjoyed while ►
sipping good whiskey. In this manner the act of grooming can become a pleasant and relaxing experience instead of a bothersome necessity. More on: www.pepesbarbershop.cz â– WATCH THE BACKSTAGE VIDEO FROM THE PHOTO SHOOT AT: www.soffamag.com/youtube TOP: The barbershop experience offers a variety of treatments. You can have your face steamed with a hot towel, which softens facial hair and makes it easier to shave, have your scalp massaged, or get a balm applied to your beard or wax to your moustache. But the traditional service of getting a clean shave with a straight razor takes courage and most importantly great faith in your barber, and that is exactly where a glass of fine spirits comes in handy.
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BOTTOM: The barber’s counter was custom-made from planks of larch, which were sanded back by JosÊ himself. The whole interior embodies both modern and traditional elements.
SHAVING BRUSH
OLD RAZORS
BRUSH FOR DUSTING
BOTTOM AND LEFT: JosĂŠ uses a contouring razor to finish all of his haircuts. This makes the shape of the hairstyle more refined than if he used clippers alone, and allows him to highlight the contours of individual haircuts, beards and moustaches. Men who visit his shop can have their scalp and facial hair styled in a variety of looks, be it a seemingly wild, bushy beard, a carefree stubble or a well-waxed handlebar moustache.
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EDITORIAL STAFF
CONTRIBUTORS
Adéla Kudrnová I editor in chief adela@soffamag.com Lenka Hlaváčová I art director & designer lenka@soffamag.com Yasmin Keshmiri Hejduk I creative editor yasmin@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 Sára Němečková I production manager & editor sara@soffamag.com Terézia Bělčáková I marketing & PR terezia@soffamag.com Naďa Fidrmucová I marketing & PR nada@soffamag.com Helena Novotná I editor & distribution helena@soffamag.com
Edith Jeřábková | editor Václav Pavlečka | editor Martin Sova | editor Helena Stiessová | editor Klára Vystrčilová | artist Alžběta Jungrová | photographer Lucia Sceranková | photographer Michaela Roubínková | fashion stylist Eva Bártková, Veronika Jiroušková, Hana Vaňátková | stylists Jana Murínová | illustrator Lucie Šatková | illustrator Aleksandra Sidorina | make-up Tomáš Koblása | hair
THE WINNERS FROM THE FEBRUARY ISSUE: SYN V POHYBU: Michaela Maxová BARBER SHOP: Jana Morávková PUBLISHER: SOFFA, s.r.o. Drtinova 557/10 150 00 Praha 5 www.soffamag.com IČ: 03055671 / DIČ: CZ03055671 registration: MK ČR E 21947, ISSN 2336-5943 Volume 14 published on 13 April 2016
Ingrid Martonova I English translation Peter Stannard I English revision & proofreading CONTACT www.soffamag.com info@soffamag.com +420 775 555 035 +420 777 623 346 DISTRIBUTION Would you like to become a SOFFA dealer? Email us stockist@soffamag.com PRINT: H.R.G. spol. s r.o. Svitavská 1203, 570 01 Litomyšl PRINTED ON FEDRIGONI PAPERS: COVER: Materica Gesso 250 g/m2 INNER PAGES: Arcoprint Milk White 120 g/m2
WRITE AN OLD-FASHIONED LETTER TO SOMEONE NEAR AND DEAR! There are some customs that should be kept and one of them is definitely the writing of old-fashioned letters. Think about it: when was the last time you received a letter or a postcard in your postbox, and how much thrill did it bring you? Make your loved ones happy by sending them an old-fashioned hand-written note. The excitement of opening a sealed envelope is simply irreplaceable.
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