My name is Hollis Kolmansberger, and I’m 25 years old. When I was a kid, I would lie down to go to sleep, and my head would light up with clothing designs. Every night felt like watching a film to my own imagination. When I was 12, I realized that this was something unique, and I decided that I wanted to use it to build a career in fashion design. At 14, I founded By Hollis, with the plan to build my understanding on the business side of fashion, while practicing my designing. I thought of the idea at a soccer tournament, where I saw a heat press in action printing tournament t-shirts. I remember thinking to myself, “I can figure that out.”

The next week, I began to write my plans for a business. After pitching my idea, getting some investments and purchasing my machinery, I began to print. The very first shirt I printed totally botched. After much practice (and numerous YouTube how-to videos), I began to create a product I loved- a super soft tee with a surf-shop inspired graphic.

In 2016, I partnered with the Four Diamonds Foundation, an organization that helps families of children with pediatric cancer pay medical bills, and created a tee that benefits the cause. By Hollis later partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Project Lyme on other beneficial t-shirt campaigns.

In 2017, for my senior year of high school, I moved to Leiria, Portugal to study abroad. I lived with a Portuguese family, and I studied art in the local high school. There were limitless inspirations during this year, and I designed a few collections for By Hollis while being there- most of them were drawn up on the beautiful blue Portuguese coastline.

After I returned home the following summer, I moved to New York City to begin studying fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I also began working at a men’s suiting store (Suitsupply) in the North American flagship location in Soho, Manhattan, where I acquired knowledge on tailoring, styling and fit. After gaining this experience, I vowed for my clothing to be designed reflecting a visible knowledge of tailoring.

I then moved in Florence, Italy for my sophomore year of college, where I studied fashion design abroad at Italy’s top-ranked fashion University, Polimoda. This venture brought forth countless industry experiences, including attending trade-shows Première Vision and Texworld in Paris and WHITE Show in Milan, on top of visiting historic ateliers and the experiencing the stimulating and beautiful energy of Italy.

My final sophomore garment was awarded the People’s Choice Award and Critic’s Honorable Mention Award by FIT in Florence (view it here!).

Throughout school I had the pleasure of interning at both Christopher John Rogers and Oscar de la Renta, in which I was offered full-time positions upon graduation. I started in production at CJR, learning the ins and outs of the New York Garment District. That next fall, I received a call about an opening on the Oscar de la Renta design team, in which I filled and quickly got to work with the team. Nearly two and a half years later, I am still designing at Oscar today (some of which was documented, view it here!).

Throughout the last ten years, I have felt endlessly grateful for the foundation By Hollis has provided me, as it is the most inspiring outlet to share my work with the world — and I say world, because by Hollis pieces have homes everywhere, from Hawaii, to Australia, to Portugal, Belgium and Denmark! Thank you so much for the support! The strong backbone of the by Hollis community allows me to keep going for the dream.

Thank you — Obrigada — Grazie!

Hollis Kolmansberger