All eyes were on Taťána Kuchařová Oct. 1, as the 18-year-old Czech won the Miss World beauty contest in Warsaw. The future fashion model boosted the already-strong image of Czech models worldwide, but the local fashion industry still lags far behind. Jozef Sloboda, owner of his eponymous fashion company in Prague, talks to The Prague Post about whether Czech models' success could help bring the local fashion industry into the spotlight. He also explains why fashion designers should not be labeled as manipulators of public opinion.

Do you believe Czech fashion designers could capitalize on the success of Czech models?

I don't think so. Models can become famous in a relatively short time, but fashion designers and other businessmen need to build their position on the market through work accompanied by adequate marketing and rational business proceedings. This takes time. A model can become 'the face' of some particular brand, but, when it comes to the actual product, the customer cares about its quality and related customer-care services.

What do you think a Czech fashion designer must do to earn recognition on foreign markets?

In September, you opened your second store in Prague. Are you considering foreign expansion anytime soon?

Well, in order to respond to the demand of our foreign clients, we're getting ready to launch an e-shop. Also, we plan to deliver our products to multibrand shops abroad or open our own shops within the European Union. Actually, the second option looks more probable because we will be able to communicate our brand better.

Have you considered other locations outside Prague?

We recently considered opening a shop in Brno. In the end, however, we decided to open another shop in Prague, instead. Brno still has appeal for us, and we'll consider it as a location in the future.

Is it true that you create the interior designs for your shops?

Originally, I planned to cooperate with interior architects, but later I dropped that intention because I was getting a sharper vision of what the inside of our shop should look like. I really like that work, and I can say that I've been receiving positive responses to the final look of our shops.

When designing your fashion collections, you say that you strive to combine current world trends with your own vision to avoid the mundane. How much do you think Czechs long for new looks when the dull was prefered by generations of people under communism?

I would not talk about the past in this context. Changes in the fashion industry are so frequent that the Velvet Revolution looks as if it happened in ancient history, and it has virtually no impact on the present. Judging from my customers, modern Czechs are self-confident, they travel a lot and are rather demanding.

Do you think Czech fashion designers should focus more on men than they have so far?

There's a big difference between the Czech Republic and European or U.S. markets. Out there, the emphasis on men is almost the same as it is on women. In the Czech Republic, the men's market has tremendous growth potential, and it'll grow alongside the rising wealth of households. I think it's just a matter of time before the Czech market is comparable to Western ones.

Fashion designers virtually manipulate public opinion in terms of fashion. Which is more difficult: to come up with a good fashion collection, or to convince the public that this collection is what's 'in'?

It's certainly easier to come up with a collection. Selling it to customers is much more difficult. Still, I do not agree that we manipulate public opinion. In fact, every fashion designer is an entrepreneur who needs to respond to people's demands rather than to force anything on them. Czech customers in particular are not easily manipulated.

Is fashion designers' focus on women here caused by men's skepticism of the industry?

No. Women in general tend to follow fashion and cosmetics. The same can be said about men when it comes to cars. But this is not valid in all cases. Men also want to be liked and to look good, and women also want to have nice cars.

Organizers at recent fashion shows in Madrid and Milan banned models they deemed too skinny. Is this beginning of a revolution in the industry?