When Klára Jägerová and Eva Jiřičková decided to revive the Kultivar glass workshop in 2023, they included the principles of social entrepreneurship in their plans alongside craftsmanship. They draw on the rich tradition of the region, but do things their own way. Last year, they were successful with their glass dress design at the Crystal Valley Week fashion show, and this year they would like to shine at Designblok with their new collection.

From glass workshop to... glass workshop

Kultivar was founded in 2016 on the initiative of designer Klára Jägerová. She has been involved in the technique of winding and blowing glass using a torch since 2004, when she founded her own workshop, U Kahanu.

However, the space in the center of Liberec was intended to serve a broader purpose. "Kultivar was actually the name of a cultural project and, at the same time, a coworking craft workshop, where we also had the glass workshop. It was supposed to be about exhibitions, workshops, and supporting other artists," Klára describes the atmosphere of the early years.

Over the course of several years, more than 150 lectures and community events were held at the center. "But the cultural activities were so demanding that we were no longer able to keep up. At one point, everything started to fall apart and we had to decide which direction to go in," adds Jägerová.

The dilemma was ultimately resolved by pandemic measures, when the center was transformed into a pop-up format. However, the desire to create did not disappear. The new face of Kultivar began to crystallize in 2023. Klára was joined by Eva Jiřičková, who is behind the successful launch of the local butcher shop Mass.na, and the two began to work together on a single business venture. They were assisted in this by the Regional Development Agency through the Liberec Region business incubator Lipo.ink and the program for start-ups Výkop.

A different kind of glassmaking tradition: neon and glass dresses

Kultivar, which has moved to Františkov in Liberec, currently employs six people. "These people have a connection to design and working with their hands. They want to create, and that's the foundation that makes it work. It's not just about work, they really live it with us," says Eva, describing the atmosphere in the workshop.

The heart of the workshop is original jewelry made using the winding technique. "We also make glasses, carafes, and home accessories. But we don't want to limit ourselves to jewelry and decorations, so we also create installations—originals designed specifically for a particular customer or for public spaces," says Klára.

The workshop diversifies its approach to the craft with semi-forgotten or neglected techniques. "One of them is neon. You can create a lot of interesting things with it. Our broader goal is to ensure that the wound bead does not become extinct and to introduce young people to the craft and keep it alive here in the region," explains Klára.

A major challenge for Kultivar was the creation of glass dresses, which made their debut at the Crystal Valley Week festival. "Membership in the Crystal Valley network brings us publicity, but also challenges that we would not otherwise have taken on. We had had the idea for the dress for a long time, but it only began to take shape with the prospect of presenting it at the festival fashion show," recalls Klára, adding that it took the whole team eight months to complete.

Klára and Eva talked more about Kultivar's artistic work in the podcast Hlavou, srdcem a rukama (With Head, Heart, and Hands), which is produced under the patronage of the LK sobě project supporting traditional crafts in the Liberec Region.

They have many other ideas in store. "Workshops for the public or as a form of team building, customized gifts for companies. This is where we see the next direction for the development of our business," they both agree.

Support from funds? The path to self-sufficiency

Kultivar operates as a social enterprise. It employs people who are disadvantaged in the labor market, such as refugees from Ukraine. Thanks to this, it has partial funding secured from EU funds. "The support is for two years, with the expectation that after two years we should be economically self-sufficient. We hope we will succeed, and we are working towards that goal," Eva explains.

Why this direction? "Right from the start, there was the idea of overlap, so that our business would support us, but at the same time give something back to the region," Eva Jiřičková explains. The plan is therefore to expand the workshop to include places for parents who care for disabled children. "This target group is completely uncovered. Caring parents may only have three hours a day. We would like to offer them the opportunity to work in a sheltered workshop," Klára plans.

Cooperation with the region where they are based and its development agency plays a key role in the development of Kultivar. "ARR is our point of contact for negotiations with the Liberec Region. It is a place where we can consult our project plans and where we always find support or advice on who to turn to."

Klára and Eva want to continue developing their business as an integral part of the local craft tradition. "We want to do traditional things in an unconventional way and become the coolest glass workshop in Europe," they both say with a smile. This year, with this vision and a new collection, they plan to break through at Designblok—but they are already preparing a preview for Crystal Valley Week in August. We at ARR are keeping our fingers crossed for them!