From Bata to Novesta
If you're from the right part of the world, you're probably familiar with Bata footwear. Originally a family-owned company from Zlin, Czech Republic, Bata began to experiment with canvas footwear that featured natural rubber soles in the late 1920s. After the Communists took power and the Bata family was driven away from the country, this operation was moved to Partizanske, Slovakia. Taking advantage of the long history and know-how, they have been making wellies and canvas-based trainers to this date under the "Novesta" brand. One of the few options available on the market under Communism (all the great Czech and Slovak soccer players of today scored their first goals in the rubber-canvas football boots from Partyzanske), the company has been recently revived by young designers, just like the Czech Botas sneakers, and offer cool, designer models that will appeal to every taste, and has collaborated with the leading fashion designers in the Czech Republic, like Leeda, on several models.
Novesta Store, Prague
However, their store at the Elisky Krasnohorske street (called La Gallery Novesta) is far more than just a boots store. In addition to colorful wellies and shoes, they offer clothing and accessories from young Czech designers, including Zorya design (great, modern jewelry), Zuzana Kubíčková, Mirka Talavášková, Pavel Ivančic, Zdenka Imrezceová, Lada Vyvialová, Kateřina Geislerová, Marcel Holubec W, Eva Vontorová and many others (they are actually inviting new designers to present their designs in the shop). They also sell the Meadows scented candles made here in the Czech Republic and shipped in hand-blown glass (we have one at home). We definitely recommend this as a stop during if you plan to do some shopping in Prague!
La Gallery Novesta
Mon-Fri 11-19, Sat 11-18, Sun closed