Keep it Simple Stupid
Project Vlasta Laura & La Femme MiMi
Traditional motifs of folklore and folk costume reflect deeply rooted
perceptions of beauty, identity, and corporeality. The naked body and
subtle eroticism are often hidden within them—like unspoken things
we barely dare to name. In the past, nudity was perceived as a bearer
of magical power, linking the visible world with the spiritual one. That
is why elements such as voluminous skirts or rich colors adorned with
floral and fruit motifs were never merely aesthetic gestures. They carried
symbolism shaped over centuries, awakening fantasy and passion.
Themes of desire, eroticism, and love—seemingly suppressed in the
traditional context—still speak to us through the design of costumes,
dances, and songs. In their metaphors, they answer questions we may not
have dared to ask.
From these unspoken layers arises the photographic series Unspoken
Things, which artist Wlasta Laura has been working on for several years.
In addition to folk songs and traditions, her work draws from ethnographic
texts that explore the body as a cultural phenomenon in folklore.
These very photographs became the initial inspiration for designer
La Femme Mimi to create her new fashion collection Keep it Simple
Stupid—a collection where the boundaries between worlds and cultures
do not exist, yet are intimately present. Like Wlasta Laura, designer Mimi
moves between tradition and vision, past and present, between different
landscapes and worlds. Her work features floral motifs, hand embroidery,
skirts, and a reverence for both Czech and Vietnamese traditions, for
family memory, and for stories.
All of this is done with a mindful approach
to clothing—emphasizing ethical creation and care for nature. Yet Mimi
approaches the design itself with lightness and playfulness. After all,
tradition can be mischievous and sexy too—and this is precisely where
both women agree.
The entire Keep it Simple Stupid project is a playful collaboration between
two creators who inspire and support each other, finding joy in shared and
individual artistic expression. With joy, everything becomes simple.
The project will be seen in Paris at Czech center:
Dans le cadre des Journées européennes du patrimoine et de la Paris Fashion Week, nous vous convions à l’exposition du projet commun de la créatrice tchèque La Femme Mimi et de la photographe Wlasta Laura, Keep it Simple Stupid, dans lequel les artistes réinterprètent le vêtement traditionnel et les motifs folkloriques.
- La première partie de l’exposition aura lieu au Centre tchèque et sera inaugurée à l’occasion des Journées européennes du patrimoine.
- La deuxième partie de l’exposition aura lieu au bureau duParlament européen à Paris et sera inaugurée dans le cadre de la Paris Fashion week.