The Bohemian aesthetic comes from joy and discarded things

But most of all, from a strong sense of self.

Discarded colorful armchair taken from the trash by Pepi’s sister, to use while hanging out together with her family outside of the social housing building they live in | Picture by Martina Petkova

The Bohemian lifestyle and aesthetic represent counter-culture, freedom of spirit, and the unusual.

All these things usually emerge in adversity and poverty. A comfortable life doesn’t bring about anything unusual. Because any desire to be free from anything usually gets sapped or sedated.

While the French intellectuals and artists of the 19th century happily borrowed the term “Bohemian” along with many of its markers and elements, they were not the originators. “Bohemian” is what the French called the Romani, because in the 15th century, the Romani entered France from the Kingdom of Bohemia. The Romani were called “Bohemian” for 400 years before the name was taken.

There are many fascinating, riveting stories about cultures and movements that emerge against the mainstream.

But the reason the “Bohemian” or “Boho” label has stuck as a catch-all descriptor, is because the Romani have been counter-culture for over 1,000 years. They have lived in adversity and poverty for over 1,000 years.

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The untold Romani roots of Boho culture

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The mainstream can borrow and borrow and borrow from the Romani, but it could never capture the spark that makes the Roma (or true “Bohemian”) style so enchanting.

What is the recipe?

It’s simple and yet, hard to follow. Because it might bring about an identity crisis.