Making Mischief Oral History Project, 'Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival' full

London College of Fashion

Tereza Mazak was born and grew up in Slovakia. She has always been interested in folk traditions and costumes, and her grandmother and great grandmother were both dressmakers. Tereza studied costume design at college and specialised in historical and theatre outfits. After moving to Edinburgh, she attended the Edinburgh Fire Festival, an annual event celebrating the return of summer, and then joined the Beltane Fire Society which organises it. Tereza was asked to design costumes for the May Monarch and the Green Man. Her costumes were inspired by nature and Celtic motifs. They were made as sustainably as possible, using upcycled materials and things from charity shops.