Jolanta Ozollapa and her creative roots
Jolanta Ozollapa is a fashion designer with a refined style and almost forty years of creative experience. Her outfits are luxurious, rich, and at the same time delicate – they reveal a world where clothing becomes a work of art.
The designer’s life and creative center is Kuldīga and Riga, but her sources of inspiration can be found in childhood memories – summers in Ģipka, Talsi district, where the sea and nature became her first aesthetic experience. Jolanta carries these feelings with her even today – they are reflected in her clothes, which combine natural motifs and color plays.
Stylistic identity and material language
The opulence of the Baroque and Rococo eras is the basis of Jolanta’s visual language. Her works are characterized by aristocratic elegance, finely crafted details and sometimes even a theatrical touch of sophistication. Flowers, birds and landscapes become sources of inspiration, which come to life in fabric paintings, embroidery, collages and appliqués.
Jolanta Ozollapa’s palette consists of velvet, leather, lace, silk, precious stones, as well as her own silver or finely embroidered buttons. The outfits are complemented by luxurious finishes and delicate embroidery, giving each work exclusivity and a unique signature. These are not just clothes – they are wearable works of art, where impeccable craftsmanship and creative freedom merge.
Soul strings in art
The costumes created by Jolanta are not just clothes – they are works with a touch of the soul, created with love and conscious presence. They exude spirituality, harmony and silence that come from deep faith..
Her creative work has always had a calling: to convey a message of faith, hope and love through beauty. Jolanta believes that every person is given a special talent – and this talent should be used to inspire, uplift and strengthen others. This belief lives not only in her words, but also in every garment she creates.
Art that begins with the hands
At the age of 13, Jolanta Ozollapa created her first dress – it was the very beginning of a creative path that grew into a lifelong calling. Her first teacher was her grandmother – a seamstress and needlewoman, who taught her respect for handwork and fine details. This understanding became the basis of Jolanta’s artistic handwriting.
Over time, she learned painting, leather crafting, ceramics, jewelry making, amber processing, pearl and thread embroidery – all these skills organically merged into her creative language. In 2001, Jolanta received a diploma from the Latvian Chamber of Crafts, which was presented to her by the then President of Latvia, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. Natural motifs merge with embroidery, appliqués, pearls, lace and paintings, turning each garment into wearable art.
From sketch to exhibition
The outfits created by Jolanta are not just clothes – they are stories to be worn on the body, combining visual aesthetics with craftsmanship and meaning. Each piece is thought out down to the smallest detail and exudes a luxury that can only be created by hand.
Her talent has been recognized in several collections exhibitions. Her first solo exhibition “I Feel Good in My Skin” took place in 2001. It was followed by “Flowers” (2002), which focused on floral motifs and natural forms, and “Dream Silhouette in an Evening Dress” (2003), where Jolanta experimented with shapes and textures. Later, her outfits were also exhibited at the “Latvija” hotel (2005 and 2007), where the designer continued to develop her style, combining baroque and rococo luxury with contemporary clarity.
“The String of the Soul” – an exhibition that thrilled
In 2009, the opening of the exhibition “The String of the Soul” at the Istaba gallery became a bright event in the Latvian art and fashion scene. The exhibition attracted such a large number of visitors that the lines of people stretched all the way to the intersection of the street – a vivid testament to Jolanta Ozollapa’s power to thrill and captivate with her artistic handwriting.
The resonance of the event went beyond the gallery walls – the program “Bez Tabu” invited Jolanta to talk live about the collection, its sources of inspiration and the creation process. The designer revealed how each outfit became a story about the delicate strings of the soul – they vibrate through colors, textures and embroidery. This interview allowed an even wider audience to look into her world and understand that a dress can be not only a form, but also a feeling.
International stage moment
In 2010, Jolanta’s works were presented at the Baltic Beach Hotel during the international music competition “New Wave” in Jurmala. It was an opportunity to showcase her art outside of Latvia – to an international audience that appreciated the sophisticated and at the same time bold language of Jolanta’s costumes.
Her outfits at this event stood out for their luxury, individual approach and carefully thought-out details, which perfectly harmonized with the elegance and high-class atmosphere of the seaside resort. This presentation strengthened Jolanta’s name beyond the borders of Latvian fashion, confirming the strength of her work in an international context.
The world of life: a dress as a reflection of a woman
In the spring of 2011, from April 15 to May 21, Jolanta Ozollapa’s solo exhibition “The World of Life” was opened at the Istaba gallery. It featured her latest collection of clothing and accessories, which demonstrated the designer’s commitment to the classics and her ability to highlight a woman’s natural beauty.
“Just like continuing the work God has started, I easily put the finishing touches on it,” says Jolanta. “Fashion is constantly changing, but I remain faithful to timeless values – quality fabrics, delicate embroidery and luxurious details.” Her vision of the 21st century woman is fragile but confident, elegant, bold and happy.
Colors, feelings and soul
The exhibition “World of Life” confirmed that Jolanta’s art is more than fashion – it is a fusion of a woman’s essence and an artistic vision that transcends time. Later that year, the collection was exhibited at the Liepāja Art Museum, where it received a wide response and confirmed the designer’s ability to inspire outside the capital.
The collection revealed Jolanta’s love for colors, textures, and high-quality materials. “As I await spring, I’ve been yearning for bright, emotionally rich color schemes. I’m fascinated by the play with shades – light silk, lace, delicate cardigans, cashmere coats, embroidered boots,” she says.
Her work exudes a soulful touch – each outfit is created with love and an attitude towards a woman’s individuality.
The studio as a creative platform
In 2014, Jolanta Ozollapa opened her own fashion studio, where over the course of ten years, personal fashion shows were created – from conceptual evening wear to sophisticated everyday fashion. The studio became a place where Jolanta devoted herself entirely to experiments with the interplay of form, materials and details, developing her signature between classics and creative freedom.
Each show was an event – Jolanta shared her vision of a woman who is confident, elegant and individual. In these works, she remained faithful to handcraft, embroidery, luxurious fabrics and timeless values.
Clients who embody art
The fashion studio created unique outfits that became living carriers of Jolanta’s art. Her clients included the First Lady of Latvia, Iveta Vējone, several ambassadors, as well as other ladies and gentlemen of high society. The outfits were created for both official events and private moments of life – always with symbolic meaning and impeccable quality. They were always more than clothes – they were symbols that carried a posture, a soul and a story.
In this decade, Jolanta proved that fashion is not just about trends – it is an expression of personality and soul through clothing. Her works were appreciated as art, wearable with poise and substance.
A new stage – from a fashion studio to a concept store JO
In 2024, Jolanta Ozollapa begins a new stage in her creative path, teaming up with her sons Ringolds and Niks. At the end of the year, she closes the fashion studio and opens the JO concept store in the center of Riga – at 20 Elizabetes Street, in one of the city’s most elegant districts.
This store is Jolanta’s long-cherished dream – a space where fashion, art and aesthetics meet. The JO concept store becomes the next step in the brand’s development, expanding the accessibility of art to both locals and visitors to Riga.
Visitors to the store can purchase clothes created by Jolanta, as well as jewelry from Māris Šustiņš, Gintis Strēlis, and Marta Krasta, and paintings by various outstanding Latvian artists. It is an environment where creativity is not only viewed, but also worn, carried, and lived.