Gosia graduated from Victoria with a Bachelor of Tourism and Services Management in 2000. Seven years later she started her now global fashion house, which has stock in over 200 stores worldwide, employs 20 staff and has showrooms in Auckland, Copenhagen, Melbourne, New York, Tokyo, Venice and Wellington.
We caught up with the founder and designer—who splits her time between London and Wellington—while she was visiting the capital city arranging her new collection.
What have you been doing since graduating?
After I graduated I travelled around New Zealand working in ski-fields and also did some hospitality work but got over the late hours. I decided to start my own business making ethical and sustainable organic cotton clothing.
I’m proud to have created a brand (Kowtow Clothing) that is ethical and sustainable from seed to garment. We are stocked in beautiful boutiques worldwide alongside internationally recognised brands.
Describe your student experience at Victoria.
I was 17 when I started at Victoria, so I was quite young. It was a step up from high school and it was a place where I could develop great adult friendships. I really enjoyed a sense of freedom and fun at Victoria.
I lived on Ghuznee Street above Satay Village. It was my first experience moving out of home and I loved it. I really took to being independent and enjoyed being close to Cuba Street!
What are some of your favourite memories of Victoria University?
Passing my exams and graduating were rewarding, but I also got a lot out of the down time between trimesters. I used breaks to travel which ultimately opened my eyes to the world—this really helped me grow as a person and open up my mind to bigger things.
What was the most useful thing you learnt at Victoria?
Essay writing taught me grammatical structure and I’m very grateful for that. Funnily enough, my most dreaded course (Accounting 101) has come in handy in running my own business.
What life lessons have stayed with you since you graduated from Victoria?
When something feels impossible, you somehow manage to get through it. When you’re pushed to your maximum you can keep going beyond it.