This project is a reinterpretation of historical footwear from the Wallachian region, with the original piece preserved in the archival collections of the Moravian Museum in Brno. The result is a pair of vibrant felted slip-on high-heeled shoes, featuring a handcrafted heel made from pearwood. The design aimed to translate traditional aesthetics into a contemporary fashion context while maintaining the authenticity of the original craftsmanship.
The upper part of the shoe is hand-embroidered with cotton threads, replicating the details found on the historical model with great accuracy. The bold and vivid color scheme was inspired by Vesna, the Slavic goddess of spring, femininity, and fertility—hence the project’s name. The lining is made of black goatskin, and the entire model is designed for a young woman unafraid to express her individuality and stand out from the crowd.
The project was developed as part of a collaboration between the Moravian Museum and the Faculty of Multimedia Communications at Tomas Bata University in Zlín. This footwear was exhibited in the show “Shoes – Reflection of Tradition”, which took place at the Dietrichstein Palace in Brno from October 18, 2024, to April 13, 2025.
The exhibition aimed to present to a 21st-century audience how traditionally crafted footwear looked, how it was made, and what purposes it served in the 19th and 20th centuries in the former Czechoslovakia. It highlighted the important role this type of footwear plays as part of the Czech cultural heritage.
The original historical shoe can be seen in Image No. 2.
Source: Moravian Museum Brno
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