AFKA: The new Czech upcycled & sustainable & morph to fit fashion brand has launched its first collection

^{Source: Afka & Vendula Niklova}

Afka as a new fashion statement

Afka is a new brand of so-called multi-wear clothing that can be variably worn in several ways. Afka’s vision is for the wearer to build an original wardrobe from a few pieces that are suitable for every occasion – after a little modification, trousers or a jacket transform from business casual to a casual style in which you can seamlessly travel not only around the world, between styles, but also from a meeting in the office to an evening meeting with friends.

Because today’s generation of working people has travel almost in their DNA, the author Vendula Niklová has incorporated well-known elements from backpacks and travel luggage into her designs. Button loops, belts with buckles, straps, cleverly hidden pockets or elastic pulls appear on sweatshirts, coats and trousers. Everything is not only stylish, but above all comfortable and adjustable to your liking. Afka combines fabrics into unexpected forms, always leaving a piece of the final design to the creativity of the wearer.

^{Source: Afka & Vendula Niklova}

Upcycling as the basis of the exclusive Afka collection

Vendula Niklová is a young Czech designer who, after studying at UMPRUM, went on to international internships, specifically in Milan and Holland. Working abroad only strengthened her conviction with which she went into fashion design – that she does not want to make clothes just as cheap consumer goods to fill the wardrobe and thus contribute to an unsustainable amount of fashion waste. She founded Afka as a way back to quality hand-crafting and the production of unique pieces.

“It was already typical for me at UMPRUM that I recycled old materials. While my classmates went around the fabric stores, I brought samples of what we had at home in the workshop to the consultations and pretended that it was also bought. I thought it was pointless to spend money on new fabrics when I had a bunch of them at home. In the beginning, they tapped their foreheads at school, but gradually it became my handwriting. In the end, I always combined different materials and textures in such a way that it looked good, dynamic,” explains Vendula Niklová.

Each unique Afka is hand-sewn in Olomouc

The author draws inspiration for her designs mainly from the busy streets of Prague among people who are not only between meetings, but also between their personal and work lives. But the production itself takes place in a workshop in Olomouc. At Afka, high-quality local processing is always in the first place. Vendula Niklová continues the family tradition with her mother, and her team includes local seamstresses who perfectly master the old hand craft, thanks to which Vendula creates a successful female business.

Afka upcycles quality materials and uses fabric that could not be used elsewhere. Natural fabrics, off-cuts and recycled plastics are involved in production, Afka gives old but high-quality fabrics a second chance with the help of printing. When choosing materials, the origin is taken into account – all organic cotton pieces have the official mark of social and ecological sustainability GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard).

“Yes, we are sustainable. We take it for granted and find it almost embarrassing to brag about it or build marketing around it. We are not here to produce more rags. We upcycle materials and sew in limited quantities. We use what is already there or what would otherwise be thrown away. And when we buy new fabrics, we order from local or European fair suppliers,” adds author Afky.

Afka in person, now and here

Afka recently opened a brick-and-mortar store in Prague’s Strašnice, where it now exhibits autumn novelties – jackets, vests and more colorful variants of staples from the Capsule collection. The capsule is also on display in the showroom and thus offers the opportunity to personally try out the morphing style, adjust it to your liking and, of course, buy it straight away. Purchase is also possible via the afka.life e-shop.

^{Source: Afka & Vendula Niklova}

AFKA – Refashioning ourselves

Afka speaks the language of the urban nomad who wants to have his style in his own hands in every situation. It is a morphing fashion revolution with an emphasis on travel comfort and variability. Each piece from the Afka collection is sewn locally by experienced hands, either from upcycled, high-quality older materials, or from new fabrics with strict social and ecological sustainability certification (GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard). Fabrics are ingeniously paired to create a unique look combined with the wearer’s creativity.

Adjust your Afka according to how you feel and dress with ease for a change.