CGD23

Banshee. A spirit akin but different from the character in traditional tales. But she is one nonetheless. She does not dance in the moonlight. Yet the darkness remains her natural environment. She carries a secret, but different from the one you may expect. It is not recommended to go seeking it out, it’s better to just enjoy its presence. Without a direct answer – because it may be ominous and dangerous.
Banshee. The name of the jewelry collection by young designer Klára Marie Bliss, a shining talent on the Czech and international design scenes. She found inspiration in nature and based her collection on natural materials. What does that say about the collection? That a shell looks like a shell, that a precious gem is reminiscent of a pebble churned by the surf for eons.
But although its style is naturalist, almost raw, Banshee is nothing if not a delicate fashion statement. One which does not bow to time or the trends which line its halls, does not seek acceptance at any cost and does not serve the interests of commerce. Banshee doesn’t need gold to exist – nature is most beautiful in silver, or steel for that matter.
Banshee is perhaps closest to the artist who made her. As Klára Marie Bliss says, she is loud. Ambitious. Complex. Eager. Supernatural. Atypical. Mystical. Proud. And dangerous. She was born under the sign of the Vona brand – those who know Czech think of a self-confident, almost frivolous label. Those who don’t, find it sounding mysterious and posh.
You may remember Klára’s corsets and lingerie which she designed from deadstock and second-hand fabrics. Although she graduated with a degree from fashion and costume design, her work does not sit well with slots and categories. Perhaps her upbringing has something to do with it – she was born in Australia to Czech émigrés but was also significantly impacted by her studies at the prestigious Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. That’s also where she did research and archive work, and discovered her obsession for historical underwear, its impacts on the perception of the female body and body positivity. The academy certainly informed her work, including building her own brand and portfolio. In our nick of the woods, its modern, comprehensive style is indeed a rare sight.

Andrea Běhounková