Interview with Katarzyna Ambroziak, stylist, owner of the “Ambris” studio in Gdynia
Let us start on a funny note – did you sew doll dresses as a child?
No, but already as a child I dreamt of designing beautiful clothes for beautiful women, or more precisely, of making women even more beautiful through the clothes I would make. I take the view, that all women are beautiful when provided with appropriate decoration. Women in Poland generally love to dress up, they do not neglect the way they look. Sometimes they might, however, ask for a professional advice – what suits them, what outfit makes them look best.
And you are there to provide them with such advice?
Among different things I do, but most of my actions are based on the assumption that at least some of those women know perfectly what they expect – to such extent, that standard clothing does not satisfy their needs. Even if coming from the most luxurious boutiques. They have their own ideas, projects that I translate into drawings, patterns, and professional making.
Are you specialized in any particular kind of clothing, or do you sew anything?
I do not shun any orders. As seen on hangers, there are exclusive evening and wedding dresses, down jackets, as well as plain skirts and bodysuits.
Let us talk about your workshop.
I work at home at the moment (as my apartment is quite large I have chosen one of my rooms to be my workshop ) and usually by myself. It is only when it becomes unusually busy that I pass some of the works to some partner workshops.
How would you describe your customers?
They are women aged between 30 and 50, often coming from business environments. Also men, who need to refresh their wardrobe and become lost in shopping malls. Then, together, we face the challenge and properly shop for clothes. There are more and more temporary customers coming from abroad, who place orders for whole “wardrobes” of clothes that are to be sufficient for a couple of months. “Businesswoman” type of customers also very often order whole sets of clothes for many kinds of occasions (conferences, trade fairs), during which they might be in need of evening wear, as well as clothes designed for business meetings, trips etc. Because I work as a make-up artist as well, I also give advice on how to properly wear make-up so that a lady looks dewy and interesting.
In running a company, beginnings are usually the most difficult. How was it in your case?
I have started my company four years ago, after suddenly losing my job. I had lots of time to think about what I want to be doing and decided that working on my own account is exactly what I want. By a lucky coincidence it was when the EU project called “Mentoring Women in Business” sprung up to being, and I took part in it. Despite large competition I managed to obtain grants that I spent on the purchase of machines and furnishing the studio.
And since then the “Ambris” studio is, as I understand, active. What is the business model that you have created for your company like?
I do my best to participate in various events that are related to women meetings, during which I usually wear clothes designed by myself, what can be seen as a form of promotion. Because I deal with make-up and styling, I fund prizes during such occasions in forms of consultation with a stylist or short make-up trainings. As a fashion designer I participate in photo shoots, where my works are presented. Pictures can be seen on my website www.ambris.pl. At the moment I am establishing my own on-line store – an undertaking I participate in myself – it will make it possible to purchase individual, made-to-measure patterns (with the use of size charts where a customer will type in details).
My customers call me a “miraclothes worker”, and it makes me proud. I agree, that a professionally made dress, or well-suited clothing that makes us feel good can be the best balm for the soul.