Tomasz Ossoliński
He is deemed the best Polish tailor and one of the most recognizable and valued fashion designers in Poland. (His talent was recognized by i.a. “Twój Styl” magazine which awarded him the title of the best 2019 designer, and earlier on “Elle” magazine awarded him the same title). Such a position is a result of an image that has been consistently built as well as 30 years’ experience in the fashion industry. Ossoliński brand stands for respecting the tailoring tradition and quality.
Ossoliński debuted at 16 with his women’s collection, whereas his hallmark was a corset. However, it was a suit that turned out to be his largest passion. He became passionate about creating men’s clothing right after graduating from high school, when Zakłady Odzieżowe Bytom offered him a position of a main designer, which was the fulfilment of his childhood dream. In Silesia, where he comes from, suits produced by this company were a symbol of male elegance and luxury. As many as three thousand people worked in Bytom back then, a design showroom itself accommodated a hundred tailors and fashion constructors; Ossoliński was in charge of this team and was responsible for sewing patterns that were produced there. He was the youngest designer employed by a clothing company in Poland.
At the same time he has been designing collections under his own brand: Tomasz Ossoliński. It is about luxury fashion and bespoke tailoring, which is based on craftsmanship, finishing of the highest quality and top-class fabrics which come from France, Italy and England, i.e. Loro Piana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Cerruti and Vitale Barberis Canonico. Ossoliński atelier has been fulfilling orders requiring even the most atypical shapes and all sizes for years – thanks to the craft as well as the knowledge of tailoring techniques, the atelier is able to prepare clothes for the most demanding clients. Wedding orders constitute a very important part of the brand’s bespoke tailoring – it is the only atelier in Poland which serves both brides and grooms. For years now, Ossoliński brand has been sewing uniforms for state companies and corporations, including banks, hotels and restaurants as well as car manufacturers. In 2019, a new line had its debut: Ossoliński ready-to-wear, which is as comfortable as designs prepared for individual clients and designed with attention to the finest details and quality. However, the only difference is that clothes are more affordable and off the rack. And most of all, they are available online.
Ossoliński’s designs are popular among stars, well-known artists, top models, sportspeople and businesspeople who wear his garments not only for the red carpet. In 2019 he made a gown for Nobel Laureate Olga Tokarczuk. She wore it to the Official dinner at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Tomasz Ossoliński has been responsible for dressing Polish actors and directors during film festivals several times, i.a. in Cannes, Venice and Berlin, or for the ceremony of the European Film Awards. He has sewn attire for Oscar galas four times, whereas a Pole received an Oscar wearing his suit.
Ossoliński often draws inspiration from cinema; several of his collections were created thanks to his fascination with movies such as “The Hours”, “The Damned”, “Babel” or “Queen Margot”. The last one immensely influenced his fashion show entitled “Huguenots” which was held in 2008 at the main stage of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera and whose form was closer to a show rather than a traditional runway: models were appearing from a trapdoor, there was a choir singing live in the background, and at the end the guests could see a movie starring Charlotte Rampling which was made specially for the show.
Ossoliński is an innovator, for whom fashion is a starting point for creative activities in many fields and in many of its manifestations. He is the author of costumes for “Traviata” opera directed by Mariusz Treliński and for over thirty theatre productions. He has been cooperating with the Polonia Theatre and Och-Teatre for years. He also made a suit for “Mr. T.” – a movie directed by Marcin Krzyształowicz.
In 2018, he was a curator and a producer of the exhibition entitled “Jerzy Antkowiak – Polish Fashion”. He hosted TV programs such as “Project Runway” and “Stylish Project” on TVN.
