The tenth anniversary edition of our series It's Home! deserves something special. We are proud to introduce exhibition modules in the gardens of the Tomáš Baťa Foundation in Zlín, where our metal shelves find themselves in the most exclusive company. Their subtle design and white color almost blend with their surroundings, allowing shoe lasts, machines, or publications spreading the legacy of one of the most important entrepreneurs in our history to stand out.
Gabriela Končitíková Photo: Dita Havránková
We sat down in one of the modules with the director of the foundation, Gabriela Končitíková, who is behind the harmonious exhibition. Among other things, we learned why she chose our furniture as an exhibition surface and what hidden connections exist between the Fleysen brand and the global phenomenon of Baťa.
How did you learn about Fleysen and what caught your attention?
At first, through social media, and I immediately liked the furniture for several of our projects. With other furniture, I had the problem that it was mass-produced, not exceptional, or drew too much attention to itself. But Fleysen highlights both the space and the exhibited items.
And besides, you have that Baťa green, which I was drawn to from the beginning. That color came about by chance at Baťa when he entered the workshop, saw a mess, and said that it couldn’t be like that—clean work couldn’t be done in a dirty environment, so he ordered everything to be painted white. Others didn’t like it, saying white couldn’t stay clean, so they compromised with gray or this light green. These colors aren’t as sensitive, but they're still light enough for any dirt or fingerprints to be visible. Baťa also loved green because it is calming and a symbol of nature.
Photo: Dita Havránková
The shelves, however, are not green...
They are not; it was tempting to place them here, but I had to remember that it wasn’t about satisfying the Baťa ego but about highlighting the essence of the two modules and, of course, the displayed items. Later, I’d like to have Fleysen in the new offices as well, because it's industrial and allows the space to stand out without clashing with our period furniture.
Photo: Dita Havránková
So, will Fleysen furniture also be in the Baťa villa built around 1910? How does such a modern design go with a period space?
By the way, your shelf is very similar to the shelves that used to be in the Baťa company, so stylistically it fits here, and it's a sort of phase 2 for us. There's also another aspect, which I learned from the owner of Fleysen, Filip Dušek—Eric Päsold, the original owner of the factory in Plesná (the factory where all Fleysen furniture is made, editor's note), knew Tomáš Baťa. I found that iconic, and I thought it couldn't have worked out better.
Does it matter to you that the furniture is made of metal?
We simply like the material, and Baťa’s qualities were often compared to iron, concrete, and glass. Also, it's great how minimalist it is.
Photo: Dita Havránková
Back to color, why did you ultimately decide on white?
We were deciding between several "Baťa" colors. I was incredibly drawn to your red. Baťa loved it; it was for him the color of life, energy, blood... We were also drawn to the mentioned green and dark blue, which is again the color of the original Baťa logo... But in the end, we decided we couldn't force a Baťa color at all costs, but that the lasts must stand out, and we wanted furniture that would rather blend in with its surroundings.
What comes to mind when you hear Fleysen?
Durability, tradition, and great customer service. And also quality and an impressive number of possibilities.
Gabriela Končitíková in front of Tomáš Baťa's villa Photo: Dita Havránková
Gabriela Končitíková is the director of the Tomáš Baťa Foundation, a lecturer, and a writer. She has long been dedicated to studying the Baťa legacy and is the author of several books on Baťa. She has been working at the Tomáš Baťa Foundation since 2016, focusing on applying the Baťa management system to the current business environment.
The exhibition includes white standing shelves #1210 and #1211 and medium board #1732.
Are you interested in the connection between Fleysen and traditional Czech brands? Also, read the interview with Cyril Kratochvíl, the director of the Czech Budějovice Orel.
