Natália in Matttew frames
Natália remembers her visit to ZITA as one of her most enjoyable experiences. Over the past two years, her Belgian MATTTEW frames have become part of her personal style and everyday life as she studies puppet theatre directing.
9. november 2026, Author: Barbara Garaj, Photo: Jakub Čaprnka
Stepping outside your comfort zone sometimes means taking an important step in life. For Natália, one of those steps was choosing a new pair of glasses. She came to ZITA two years ago to find them, and they have been by her side ever since as she follows her big dream of working in theatre.
Natália first heard about ZITA from her grandmother’s neighbour, who is also one of our customers. But it was our social media and website that inspired her to visit. While browsing the frames online, she began thinking about making a change.
Her previous glasses had a delicate, pale blue frame that was barely noticeable on her face. This time, she wanted something bolder that would make her feel more confident. She imagined a slightly more serious, less girly look, with a shape that would complement her distinctive eyebrows.
Comfort mattered just as much. Plastic frames tended to slide down her nose, so she was looking for glasses with adjustable nose pads. In the end, a Belgian MATTTEW frame combining metal and acetate suited her best. She particularly appreciated the optician’s advice, something she had missed during previous visits to other optical shops.
“In other optical shops, I often received no advice when choosing glasses, and the frames we picked didn’t fit my face properly and kept slipping down my nose. At ZITA, I had a wonderful experience in every way. They really helped me understand what suited me and what didn’t. I’ll definitely be back.”
Natália used to wear understated clothes because she didn’t want to stand out too much. These days, she loves wearing colour, takes an interest in slow fashion brands, and considers her brown MATTTEW frames part of her personal style. She describes them as “timeless extravagance”, a phrase that reflects her personality, although she admits she had to grow into them a little.
She also loves her glasses because they have been with her through one of the most important chapters of her life. Natália studies Puppet Theatre Directing and Dramaturgy at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU), dedicating much of her time to her studies.
Her love of theatre began in childhood, when she attended drama classes at an arts school. But when she started feeling shy on stage, she took a break from acting and devoted more time to sports. Still, she always felt drawn back to theatre. She realised she preferred being on the other side of the stage. After a year at the Faculty of Education, she decided to follow her passion and was accepted into a puppet theatre directing programme.
As a director, Natália brings the initial idea to a production, chooses scripts and thinks about what she wants to communicate to the audience. She is particularly drawn to stories about human relationships, love and life’s more difficult moments. In her upcoming bachelor’s production about Laika, she explores questions of human responsibility towards animals and unconditional love.
Theatre takes up almost all of Natália’s time. She spends long hours with her classmates, both at school and beyond, rehearsing, exchanging ideas and learning from one another. Over the years, her classmates have become close friends whose talent and creativity she deeply admires. Although her studies are demanding, she knows this is a path she wouldn’t want to give up.
Away from the theatre, Natália finds joy in simple pleasures. She loves coffee and works part-time in a café alongside her studies. She also enjoys shooting on film and walking through the vineyards around her hometown of Pezinok, gathering flowers to make bouquets for her neighbours and loved ones. Coffee and gardening are her little moments of zen.
“I really am living my childhood dream. I may not be an actress, but I’m part of the artistic family I’ve found at university. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
