The highlight of the 11th edition of the prestigious fashion event, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live!, was a breathtaking chess match on Monday evening, brought to life by designers Boris Hanečka and Lukáš Krnáč in collaboration with event partner, Ploom. The courtyard of the Slovak National Gallery became the stage for an inventive fashion show, transformed into a chessboard. This grand open-air final show thrilled the astonished audience, who responded with a several-minute standing ovation, confirming the dominance of these two remarkable designers. Never miss a beat in fashion, arts, beauty, and lifestyle, follow FAB L’Style Magazine.
Boris Hanečka and Lukáš Krnáč Present Bold Contrasts in Black and White
The grand chess game between these two masters, where each designer’s moves bore the distinct mark of their fashion style and even conveyed a generational message, formed the concept of the joint presentation of Boris Hanečka and Lukáš Krnáč’s collections at the 11th edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live!. This black-and-white fashion “battle” aimed to contribute to the current trend of exploring a new identity for 21st-century fashion by blending different styles, techniques, and design tools.
Both designers are known for utilizing various artistic mediums to enhance the experience of their collections. This is why Hanečka and Krnáč often incorporate dancers, striking backdrops, storytelling, and elements of theater or cabaret into their runway shows. This time, they combined their creative approaches to surprise fashion lovers with a performance brimming with wit, originality, and offering a fresh perspective on how designers can collaborate and create enriching synergies. Ploom was the partner of this fashion show.
Sixteen pieces that embodied chess pieces
Both designers presented sixteen pieces that embodied chess pieces—eight pawns and eight characters, including the knight, rook, bishop, king, and queen—creating complex, extravagant, yet wearable collections. The stars of the evening, besides the designers, were acting icons Zuzana Fialová and Zuzana Kocúriková, who portrayed the chess queens. The carefully crafted choreography, directed by choreographers Dominika Malenovská and Monika Prikkelová, presented the black and white pieces alternately, as if each designer were taking their turn. Dominika Malenovská was responsible for the choreography of Hanečka’s presentation, while Monika Prikkelová curated the models and performers for Lukáš Krnáč’s collection. In a grand finale, the black and white armies faced off, allowing the audience to closely observe the contrast and dialogue between the two designers.
“I approached Boris Hanečka for this collaboration because I see that we have different target audiences and styles. We wanted to see how our collaboration, which combines the diversity of our work, would be received. Boris came up with the idea of a chess match, as such a ‘battle’ offers interesting interpretations for the audience,” explains Lukáš Krnáč. The black-and-white collections of these two strong fashion creators also reflect the current polarization in society and the tendency to view things in black-and-white terms. “In a time when everyone believes they hold the truth, two armies of chess pieces stand against each other, inviting us to find solidarity, empathy, and compassion within ourselves,” adds Boris Hanečka.
What Boris Hanečka and Lukáš Krnáč’s Collections Tell Us About Fashion’s Future
While Boris Hanečka remained faithful to his poetic style and luxurious materials, including silk and lace, Lukáš Krnáč drew inspiration from punk, emphasized in the styling of his pieces through leather, deconstructed cuts, corsets, and loosely hanging laces. Hanečka’s delicately fierce poetic collection is designed for stylish, mature women with refined taste who seek comfort.
Krnáč’s bold and extravagant punk-inspired collection targets a younger generation unafraid to experiment and mix streetwear elements with daring combinations. “We are extremely pleased that the 11th edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live! united fashion, design, culture, and art into a vibrant, inspiring event that enjoys growing popularity with each passing year. I would like to sincerely thank our partners, whose support allows us to bring high-quality presentations of designers, craftsmanship, sustainability, and quality to the Slovak fashion scene,” adds event manager Zora Husarčíková.
About Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live!
The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live! event began in 2013 under the name Fashion Live! as a response to the need for a new and dynamic fashion format in Slovakia. Over time, it has grown into a significant platform for Slovak and Czech designers with international reach. Since its inception, MBFL has showcased the work of 83 designers and 93 fashion students.
As the only fashion event in Slovakia with international influence, MBFL! is part of the global network of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks, held in fashion capitals such as New York, Sydney, Madrid, Mexico City, and Prague.
MBFL Team:
Event Manager: Zora Husarčíková
Creative Director: Lívia Štokingerová
Set Designer: Juraj Kuchárek
PR Contacts for Media: Andrea Gregorová, Babsy Jagušák
Social Media: Michaela Warenits, Ela Krchnavá
MBFL Partners:
Main Partner: Mercedes-Benz
Supported by: Tatra banka Foundation
Event Partners: Ploom, Douglas, L’Oréal Professionnel, Crowdberry, Malfy, Bistro Ferdinand, Vöslauer, Narbon, Corwin, G.H. Mumm, froosh, topankovo, SOM Store, Vitamin Well, BKIS, Slovak Arts Council
Best Fashion Talent Partner: Slovak Fashion Council
Media Partners: Markíza, EMMA, Refresher, Feminity, diva.sk, Startitup
Website: www.mbfl.sk
Instagram: @mbfl_ba
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bratislavafashion.live/
Media Contacts:
Barbara Jagušák, barbara.jagusak@gmail.com, +421 903 441 441
Andrea Gregorová, andrea@prstories.sk, +421 911 046 309
