Family Store Malé černé
More Than Just a Secondhand – A Creative Hub of Style and Shopping in Prague’s Letná
For those who want to enjoy fashion responsibly, Malé černé offers a unique shopping experience in Prague’s Letná district. It’s a place for anyone seeking authentic and thoughtfully curated pieces that come with their own story and value.
The store’s distinct concept is built around a mother-daughter duo, each bringing something unique to the table: Libuše Kultová contributes her sensitive approach to materials and extensive experience with secondhand fashion, while Barbora Koniakovská adds her creative flair and skills in visual merchandising.
Who is behind the shop Malé černé and where did the idea to start a vintage shop come from? My mom and I opened Malé černé for women ten years ago. At the time, I was working in retail as a visual merchandiser, and my mom already had a solid career in secondhand fashion but had stepped away from it for a while. In the meantime, I grew into it, so we decided to open Malé černé together.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of working as a mother-daughter team? At least in our case, there are many advantages. We have very different approaches and enjoy different things, which makes us strong in different areas. We align in many ways, but there are also situations that only one of us can handle. We complement each other really well. We spend a lot of time together and communicate daily, which can sometimes feel like a disadvantage when you need a little space from each other.
Are there differences between Malé černé for women and Malé černé for men besides the clothing selection? Can you see a difference between how men and women shop? Definitely! Even just looking at how the shops are laid out, you can see a lot of differences. The men's store is more spacious, with plenty of seating, and we don't have a traditional counter where an employee would stand. Men generally need a different approach; they usually don’t enjoy shopping and feel uncomfortable. We try to create the best atmosphere and service for them. Women, on the other hand, are more independent and don’t need much help. They enjoy shopping, and it shows in the size of their purchases. Men tend to buy several things at once so they don’t have to think about clothes for a while, while women often just come in to browse and treat themselves.
Your shop offers beautiful pieces made from exclusive materials like cashmere, silk, linen, and quality leather. Why these materials, and what do you personally enjoy about them? The concept of our shops has evolved over time. I think we were heavily influenced by COS, where I worked for years, often handling materials like cashmere, leather, and silk. We love them because they feel so pleasant to the touch and immediately look luxurious.
Your store has a stylish and clever interior with retro furniture. Who was involved in decorating the shop, and are there any interesting details? The same street is not the only thing that connects both stores. The beautiful original storefronts are a major feature, and we are very happy to have them. There aren’t many like them in Letná, and they are wonderful to work with. Interior design is a passion for both of us, and we furnished the stores ourselves. Most of the key pieces come from a furniture bazaar in Plzeň, and the stands in the women’s shop are by the brand HAY.
Do you focus on any specific decades? What style is closest to you personally? Our only focus when selecting goods is the materials. Decades are completely outside our scope, so our shop isn’t really vintage in that sense. We work mainly with high-quality materials from different decades, so we carry both contemporary items and time-tested ones. We personally lean most towards minimalism.
Do you and your mom have separate roles at Malé černé? Essentially, yes. My mom handles all the repairs, cleaning, and the running of the women’s shop. I focus on managerial and creative work. Shopping, however, is a passion we both share. Equally important to our team are our employees and longtime friends, brothers Ondřej and Mirek. Each of them takes care of one store, and they do it fantastically. Our biggest thanks go to them and our loyal customers.
This year, you collaborated on a fashion show with Czech designer Martin Kohout. How did this partnership come about, and do you plan on more events like this? We love Martin’s work, and over time, he became a family friend. Our collaboration on his fashion show came from our friendship and the feeling that we could give each other a lot. This partnership brought us so much joy, and we’re already dreaming about the next show, which will take place in 2026. It’s certain that we’ll be involved again. We’re open to collaborations and would love to do more in the future.
Where do you find the most inspiration? (places, shops, travels…) The biggest inspiration for our shop windows comes from traveling, culture, and art, as they resonate with us the most. Our current window is inspired by Sicily. We’ve had themed displays like Vivienne Westwood, safari, and the 70s. For me personally, working on the window displays is the thing I love the most.
Describe each other’s style. What do you like most about what the other wears? What I love most about my mom is her poplin shirts and wide pants. Right now, she’s in love with OSKA, which I think suits her perfectly. I usually get the most compliments for my voluminous skirts or high-waisted pants.
When you have a free day in Letná, where do you go? (each of you can answer separately) For fun, we go to the AVU club, Alebrijes, Bio Oko, or Džungke BKAO. We treat ourselves at Nile and Cover over.
