The first day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live 2024 confirmed that fashion and architecture can create the perfect harmony. The Slovak National Gallery is hosting Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live! for the second time, marking the eleventh edition of this prestigious event. Attendees were treated to a wide range of creative approaches and themes inspired by poetry, art, historical eras, as well as contemporary social issues and the impact of artificial intelligence on our lives.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live once again brought contemporary fashion to the Slovak National Gallery, where Slovak designers showcased their latest collections full of originality and daring visual concepts.
From deconstructivism and contrasts to playfulness and elegance, the collections were defined by innovation and artistic expression. Designers such as Monika Mandač (MANDACH), Pavol Dendis, Andrea Pojezdálová, and Petra Kovacs showcased bold experiments with form and materials, while Veronika Kostková and Jakub Matiašovič drew inspiration from the past and brutalist architecture. The audience experienced unique displays of creativity, revealing the courage and vision of Slovak designers.
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The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live 2024 set, created by Juraj Kuchárek, utilized thousands of sheets of tracing paper, adding a unique visual element to the evening that followed a gradient theme. Of particular interest, designers Jakub Matiašovič and Pavol Dendis collaborated with renowned textile designer Juraj Straka, known for his original prints. Straka has worked with global brands such as Jason Wu, Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, and the Slovak brand NEHERA, giving the collections a distinctive global dimension. The connection between fashion and the architecture of the Slovak National Gallery created a unique symbiosis. This iconic space, with its modern aesthetic, beautifully underscored the innovative collections, turning the evening into an unforgettable experience.
The atmosphere of the evening was enhanced by familiar faces from the worlds of fashion, culture, and show business. The presence of the event’s main partner, Mercedes-Benz, which exclusively unveiled its new fully electric G-Class model, added to the prestige of the evening and reaffirmed MBFL!’s status as the most important fashion event in Slovakia.
MANDACH: Beauty in Chaos and Asymmetry
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live 2024 Saturday evening opened with Monika Mandač and her brand MANDACH, showcasing the collection “Discordant Beauty.” This collection celebrates the beauty of chaos and asymmetry through bold silhouettes and contrasting textures. Poetry and art are reflected in her work, where feminism and deconstructivism meet in a play of raw materials and elegant cuts. A predominantly black palette, with accents of white, gray, and brown, symbolizes mystery and purity. Bold cuts and layered textures – leather, silk, and knits – created dynamic garments with unfinished edges, challenging traditional notions of elegance.
Andrea Pojezdálová: Minimalism with Timeless Elegance
Andrea Pojezdálová captivated with her minimalist approach and timeless cuts. Her work emphasizes clean lines and actively incorporates principles of sustainability. The collection explored the connection between the past, present, and future, with a simple yet precise aesthetic appealing to anyone who values enduring elegance that transcends fashion seasons. Never miss a beat in fashion, arts, beauty, and lifestyle, follow FAB L’Style Magazine.
Veronika Kostková: The Romance of Belle Époque Revived
Veronika Kostková’s collection Murmur draws inspiration from the Belle Époque era, a time when French salons were brimming with elegance and feminine creativity. Key materials like velvet, duchess satin, and taffeta create delicate contrasts between softness and structure. Kostková combined these elements with modern design, focusing on authenticity and beauty. The collection brings a timeless elegance that bridges the romance of the past with the strength of the modern woman. The pieces were enhanced by pleated details and large, voluminous capes, adding a sense of drama and dynamism to the presentation. The color palette ranged from soft tones of olive and slate blue to elegant black and bold contrasting lace. Each piece was designed with an emphasis on wearability and functionality, with Veronika also highlighting sustainability by using deadstock materials.
Jakub Matiašovič: Brutalism and Graphic Contrasts in Fashion
One of the highlights of the evening was Jakub Matiašovič’s collection Eclipse, inspired by brutalist architecture. Matiašovič, a finalist for the Best Fashion Talent ’22 award, collaborated with textile designer Juraj Straka to create a series of hand-drawn patterns evoking contrasts of light and shadow. The collection displayed the dynamism of graphic strokes and balanced sophistication with boldness, featuring rich textures and innovative prints.
Petra Kovacs: A Playful Blend of Streetwear and Cocktail Fashion
Petra Kovacs closed the MB Fashion Live 2024 first evening with her vibrant and playful SS ’25 collection titled Whoever said. Her designs balance between cocktail fashion and streetwear, bringing a refreshing energy to the runway. Kovacs innovatively combines modern trends with social issues, including the influence of artificial intelligence and the current societal climate, resulting in a strikingly original collection.
Pavol Dendis: Circus Characters in a Modern Poetic Interpretation
Pavol Dendis wrapped up the evening with his collection FOOLS, offering a modern, poetic take on circus characters. The collection, filled with precise cuts and bold forms, connected contemporary trends with traditional tailoring techniques. Two models designed for L’Oréal Paris, worn by Janka Slačková and Adam Pavlovčin, alongside designs by Juraj Straka, added a unique dimension to the garments.
“The FOOLS collection was created in collaboration with textile designer Juraj Straka. I drew inspiration from the world of circuses, films, and depictions of the Joker or the fool. The main element of the collection became the pattern that Juraj and I developed together. Based on this pattern, I began to design all the pieces. The collection’s name reflects the duality of my emotions—the word ‘fool’ conveys both positive and negative feelings. It’s up to the audience to interpret this nonsense,” added Pavol Dendis, for whom MBFL! is an opportunity to showcase his vision, reflecting his unique blend of innovative approaches and fashion tradition.
About Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live!
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Live! began in 2013 under the name Fashion Live! in response to the need for a fresh, dynamic fashion format in Slovakia. Over time, it has grown into a major 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 global reach, MBFL! is part of the international network of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks, held in fashion capitals such as New York, Sydney, Madrid, Mexico City, and Prague.
Photo Credit: Catwalk – Artur Koff
