THE DESIGNER
Michaela Stanová is a fashion student at the University of Applied Arts Prague (UMPRUM), originally from Bratislava.
She entered the fashion world through modeling and later pursued an academic path that includes a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University, participation in an exchange program at Humboldt University in Berlin, and a fashion residency at Accademia Costume & Moda in Milan.
Her practice is driven by curiosity and grounded in research-based, conscious design, with a strong emphasis on sustainability.
In 2025, she won Preciosa’s Master of Crystal competition and was nominated for the Vogue Czechoslovakia Nominee competition.
Her work focuses primarily on knitwear, material experimentation, and conceptual research.
THE COLLECTION
The Soft Power collection explores a feminist reinterpretation of armor as a form of contemporary battlewear.
Inspired by the Lobkowicz armor collections, the project reflects on the often invisible struggles women have faced throughout history and continue to face today, fighting for equality, autonomy, representation, and respect.
These quiet battles are deeply embedded in systems that shape our understanding of power, authority, and womanhood.
Through knitwear combining metal and yarns, the collection transforms the hardness of armor into a flexible, soft structure, using wool, silver-plated wire, and stainless-steel chains.
Sustainability is emphasized through low-waste techniques, ensuring that innovation and ethical responsibility go hand in hand.