Our entire interview meandered around topics of positive thinking and experiences, joy and positive energy in general, which is, after all, something that publisher, producer, and politician Jiří Morštadt considers the end-all-be-all of everything he does. And then there’s of course the topic of fashion, inextricably linked with him.
When did you discover that positive thinking was essential for you?
Even before I really started doing anything of substance, I’d already been trying to figure out what I wanted to achieve in life. Back then, I came to the conclusion that I’d enjoy making people happy and spreading good thoughts so that I might leave a positive mark in my path through life one day. There are a lot of people who have already achieved that, and you don’t need to look too far for an example, either. Take Karel Gott’s songs, making generations of people happy. I could name hundreds, thousands of personalities not just from show business, but also from the fields of medicine, education, sports, and many others.
Have you been successful in bringing this idea into the media outlets you run?
Yes, it’s my goal here as well to leave the readers feeling good, to bring interesting and worthwhile news to them, and to make them feel like they want to return to our newspapers or news websites. Obviously, this would never work without an editorial team where everyone feels the same way, where we try to explore interesting and positive topics. In other words – we’re not the bringer of bad news, we don’t want to stress people out or exacerbate the more sour moods in our society. And if we have succeeded in improving our readers’ day by even one percent, then our work is worthwhile.
Do you approach all your other activities in a similar fashion?
Yes, of course, I attempt to do the same in the production domain, be it Czech Fashion Week, the Ústí Region Personality of the Year event, or other projects. As for Czech Fashion Week, a satisfied visitor is our main goal. We want each and every visitor to go home knowing their decision to come was a good one. To have nice memories of it all, and to want to come back. That’s why we pay careful attention to every single detail – from parking to the dressing rooms, all the way to the moment the visitors leave the event. Followup communication and thanking people for attending is a matter of course for us. The same things that apply to a media editorial team apply here as well – if we want the visitors to be happy, the entire team must be happy as well, including designers and models. I believe that this approach is what makes us different from other productions.
What I find really charming about Czech Fashion Week is the effort to bring fashion closer to the general public...
When I was in school, I already appreciated what a great country I’d been born in, how much our ancestors had achieved, and how great and beautiful our people are. And that’s what I’d like to use this project to show, not only to our people but also to everyone abroad. Czechia has a lot to show to the world. Creating a fusion of fashion and design with the rich tapestry of our nation's cultural heritage and scenic wonders can serve as a powerful representation of our country. Czech Fashion Week is perceived as a peak social and cultural event, as confirmed not only by the patronage regularly granted by the president, the prime minister, and the president of the senate, but also by the number of prominent people in attendance, including ambassadors. The way I see it, we’re still just starting out ten years in. I would like to bring fashion, design, and culture even closer to the general public and inspire people in their everyday lives.
With successful model Anna Škodová at Czech Fashion Week Karlovy Vary.
Does Czechia have enough young and talented designers?
The Czech Republic is full of great people from all walks of life, not just in fashion or design. Establishing themselves in today’s globalized world might certainly be a bit more difficult since the global productions of established brands are based on large production capacity and lower prices. Then there’s also the issue of Asia, with its unparalleled capabilities of producing massive amounts of textiles and transporting them all across the world. Despite all of that, I’m convinced that there are a lot of young people in our country with something to show for themselves.
Aren’t we Czechs too conservative to buy designer clothes? Money is also a recurring argument...
Even though I work with prestigious fashion designers, I don’t think that clothing is just about money. On the contrary, I feel like cheaper clothes – in perfect shape, though – are often more effective and attractive. In that same vein, the customer shouldn’t spend too much time thinking about whether the product is of Czech, European, or global make, but rather should prioritize what they like, what makes them happy, and what’s affordable at the same time. Czech fashion designers have the benefit of understanding the Czech man or woman much better, and thus knowing how to meet their demands. After that, it’s up to the customer if they choose an individual approach or a global one.
Do you ever feel like people all look the same when you look around you in the street?
I agree. Sometimes I feel like I don’t meet enough expressive people, and not only when it comes to the way they dress, but make-up as well, for example. I’m currently seeing a trend that I wouldn’t hesitate to call a chronic lack of time. Even though there are still 24 hours in a day, our current age is synonymous with a never-ending rush. People are always in a hurry and they dress according to what’s universal and readily available, without paying it the necessary attention. The outcome is the general public pretty much dressing the same way. Those who spend any time thinking about the journey they set out on, and the way they communicate that, are rare. I’m talking about non- verbal communication, which clothes are a part of. After all, our looks alone evoke a certain feeling or opinion in the people around us, without us saying a single word.
How are we doing when it comes to dressing ourselves, compared to other nations?
For example, if we were to compare the fashion of Italian men with Czech men, Italians will always wear some sort of an accessory, be it a scarf, a kerchief, or something else. Italians also spend at least twice or three times longer getting dressed than Czech men do. I don’t mean to say that our men don’t know how to dress, but it is an Italian's nature to pay close attention to his appearance and to match every little detail. A man like that will spend much more time thinking about all of that and isn’t scared to equip his wardrobe with colorful pieces as well. It’s no coincidence that women consider Italians to be one of the best-dressed men in the world.
We all have our issues with time, but it’s always a matter of priorities...
It’s a bit of a mantra. The more we concentrate on something, the more we manifest that reality into being. If millions of people decided today that they don’t have enough time, then they would surely will that into being. We don’t have less time, we just spend it differently. On the other hand, thanks to technological advancements, our generation should have much more time than those who came before us.
How do you like to dress yourself ?
I’ve loved fashion since the very beginning, which is why I started studying at the College of Mechanical and Textile Engineering in Liberec. Fashion became my way of life, my point of focus. I always pay very close attention to my clothes. I try to think about what I’ll be doing throughout the day, what meetings I’ll be walking into, and where they'll take place so that my clothes can match up with that. My goal is to fit into my surroundings without being too extravagant, but also to stand out a little bit. I’m happy to be an inspiration to those around me.
CV BOX
Jiří Morštadt (born December 29, 1966, in Ústí nad Labem) is a publisher, politician, and producer. } He graduated from the College of Mechanical and Textile Engineering in Liberec. After that,
he worked as the CEO of the Severografie company, and later co-founded the Vltava- Labe-Press publishing house, and spent fourteen years leading the publishing of the regional editions of the Deník journal. In 2007 he founded the METROPOL newspaper and the zpravodajstvionline.cz website.
He also worked in politics, starting in 2010 as a member of the Ústí nad Labem Municipal Assembly and Regional Assembly, and was a member of the Committee on Ethnic Minorities. He also worked as an advisor to Senator Jaroslav Doubrava.
He is dedicated to charity, working together with the Lovosice Shelter for Mothers in Need,
and supporting animal shelters while fighting against animal abuse in our country and throughout Europe.
He lives in Prague.
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