Ottolinger’s Founders Are The “Cooler Older Sisters You Never Had”
Christa Bösch and Cosima Gadient reflect on 10 years of the brand and why the goal was always freedom over perfection.
Few brands have managed to make imperfection feel as aspirational as Ottolinger. Since launching from a tiny nine-square-meter studio in Berlin a decade ago, founders Christa Bösch and Cosima Gadient have built a label that thrives on contradiction. What began as “a fun project” between two friends has evolved into one of fashion’s most distinctive voices, proving that experimentation, mistakes and constant reinvention can be just as defining as polish. As the creative duo tell Hypebae, “We didn’t know how to run production or how to make clothes, we just had a lot of ideas.”
The Spring/Summer 2026 collection marked Ottolinger’s 10th anniversary, celebrating not only how far the brand has come, but the ethos that’s remained unchanged throughout its journey: a focus on women. Titled “Girlfriend,” the collection was a tribute to female connections and how women uplift and challenge each other. Elaborating on the Ottolinger woman, the designers explain, “she never needed the makeover.” Instead, “She’s loud when she wants to be, quiet when she wants to be and never apologizes for either.”
Of course, building a brand together for a decade hasn’t come without its challenges. “We have lots of disagreements,” the founders admit. “Working with someone is like having a relationship; it’s important to give each other the space and the safety to be honest.” That creative push and pull has become part of Ottolinger’s DNA, shaping a brand that, in their words, is like “the cooler older sister you never had.”
As the conversation continues, Bösch and Gadient reflect on 10 years of Ottolinger, building a fashion house from the ground up and why, after a decade, success still comes down to one simple thing: “the freedom to do what you want.”
Can you tell us about your first runway show?
It was really a moment of, “we did this, we just did it.” Backstage there was such an unfiltered, raw energy. This was the beginning. It was actually when we won the VFiles Awards. All the models had these wigs on that a friend of ours made. It was very chaotic but very beautiful.
What was a turning point for you in Ottolinger’s history?
Our SS18 show, one of our first shows in Paris. We were really tight on budget and were staying at a friend’s place, which was also our fitting room; there was literally someone sewing in the back.
We later tried to recreate this whole vibe as a campaign because I think it really shows the purity of the moment, the chaos and how we worked. We were tight on the budget, but not tight on the ideas. This was also the first time we showcased the signature Wrap Denim, which was one of our best-sellers for a couple of years.
Footwear is such a mainstay for the brand. What can you tell us about your signature Flower Heel and Sneaker Heel?
The Flower Heel was the first high heel we produced. For the prototype, we got a heel from a store and took it apart, added some Fimo clay and it had this flower shape in the front and really extreme padded lacing. We still sell it to this day; it’s a super cute heel, we love it.
The Sneaker Heel we prototyped by cutting up a lot of sneakers and putting them together, and then it became this shape. It’s a chunky shoe, kind of the same shape as a kid’s shoe. You have a very cute foot if you wear it.
Gadient: I’m wearing them now, actually.
We now also make them in different colors and finishings. It has a six-centimeter heel inside so you can cheat a little bit with your height.
What can you tell us about your current studio space?
We started as the two of us in a very small studio in Berlin, nine square meters! It was part of a family apartment, the Ottolinger family, where we shared a mailbox and soon the name. As we grew, we had to move to a bigger and bigger space. Then during COVID, Cosima found the space that we’re in now. It was a kindergarten, so everything was green, the floors brown, there was even a castle in the beginning, but we saw the potential and thought, “We can do this.” Our team painted everything white, and it became the studio where we now work every day, with our own mailbox, and we love it!
