An Award Presents a Point in Career Against Which You May Rest

Jana Vaterková Ťapaj is this year’s laureate of the Slovak Design Award 2025 — Product Design in the category Fashion and Fashion Accessories. The international jury was impressed by her collection Places, in which she draws on diverse inspirations from her native region of Upper Orava. Although it would seem that her creative approaches stem from stereotypical ideas about the identity of this northernmost part of Slovakia, which is characterised, on the one hand, by idealised images of natural scenery or folk culture, and, on the other hand, by socialist industrialisation, the opposite is true. In Orava, Jana Vaterková Ťapaj discovers many details that seem ordinary at first glance, but were empirically observed and experienced during her adolescence and preparation for her professional career as a textile designer. Although she has already received several no less significant awards, the Slovak Design Award (SDA) is the most prominent award for design work that she could have received in her relatively short period of creative practice.

At the gala evening of the SDA ceremony, you impressed me with your speech. Do you still remember what you said on the stage of the Nová Scéna Theatre in front of a full hall of guests?

I have carried the collection Places in my mind for a long time, like a dream. It was born on the hill Chlapský grúň in the village of Mútne — a place that I consider my heart and where I always like to return. The year of its creation was full of changes: motherhood, moving, new beginnings, doubts, the speed of time, and the simplicity of life.

Not everything went according to plan, but the project was nevertheless successful. Because strength is not in perfection, but in determination. Creating means more than just designing garments. It is a search for values that can carry meaning further, perhaps even for generations following us. I firmly believe that with this project, I managed to demonstrate at least a little that fashion does not have to be superficial; it can tell stories and carry our identity with pride, without losing its beauty or functionality. This award is not only a joy for me, but also a responsibility to continue working, even if the path is often complicated. Design has the capacity to reach more people, express values, and show that even a small creator can transform their vision into something bigger than they can imagine. I carry in my heart those who stood by me, supported me, and believed in me. The true power of creation lies in loyalty, perseverance, and people who help us grow. Thanks to you, Places has come to life, and I know that what we create with our hearts remains.

The jury appreciated that the clothing collection Places “connects the architecture, textiles and cultural heritage of northern Orava into a contemporary artistic language. It is inspired by local tradition, which it transforms into original textiles with their own identity. These are not just clothes, but a medium of memory, dialogue and connection between generations. (…) The work represents a challenge to creative dialogue and shows how design can preserve and develop cultural identity in a contemporary context.” You come from the Orava village of Mútne. What does this place mean to you?

Mútne is not just my hometown for me — it is a place that shaped me and continues to inspire me. Sometimes I looked for ideas far away, but I gradually understood that a lot of inspiration can also be found at home. In the picturesque village below Pilsko, tradition, culture, social and environmental contexts come together — the layers which add depth to my work.