CGD

When deciding who would design the ceremonial collections for the Czech Olympic and Paralympic teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Czech Olympic committee reached a fortunate decision: they respected the wishes of the young athletes and selected Jan Černý, giving him free rein to make his vision a reality. The athletes’ intuitive choice paid off. At the drop of a hat, Jan can turn any strong artistic statement into a contemporary streetwear product and, compared to the generally conservative approach of the other teams, the Czech athletes stood out. The design consisted of a visually attractive unisex outfit in the colors of the Czech flag, with slightly shifted hues to make the final form more elegant. Its dominant feature is the unique trench coat where Jan used his signature print of the Rorschach test, a motif he developed from interpreting the prints of Vladimír Boudník in his own style. The trench coat with mirrored, ink-blue spots became the cornerstone for the entire outfit. It creates a dialog between the western trench coat and the classical Czech long coat, and also transcends the usual sports, suit or folklore styles of garments often worn at the Olympic ceremony. The thin, Japanese nylon from which it is made was perfect for the windy banks of the Seine, and although the outfit’s premiere was mired by rain, the trench coat was ideal for keeping the athletes comfortable. Not to mention providing a unique sight for the cameras.

This time, Jan Černý worked with the knit more than usual. He completed the outfit with a polo shirt with color gradient and dress pants, invoking the elegance of the Czech athletes of the First Republic era. Selecting the material was again important, and Jan finally settled on viscose fabric. He also chose a local supplier – the Senbert knitting shop in Tišnov. And naturally, he collaborated on the collection with the entire Jan Société brand team, as community collaboration among young designers has always been at the center of Jan’s work. Boris Kráľ was tasked with producing all the prototypes, as well as ensuring all the technological details were in order. Mikuláš Brukner, fashion designer and virtuoso in programming automatic looms, helped with the patterning. And the hand-drawn details were made by graphic artist Martin Tomáš. Jan Černý and his team prepared themselves for two years, using their experience and creativity to create a genderless outfit which is functional and elegant, shows a pronounced and contemporary artistic vision while working through subtle layers of nostalgia and national tradition. The collection has deservedly received international attention.

Andrea Březinová