Designer

As a young person, Ranita Sobańska had two passions: fashion and sport. She decided early
on that she would pursue a career in fashion design in her life. She was also interested in
visual arts. Her imagination and artistic skills led her to paint and create collages. It was
therefore natural that she chose to study at the Władysław Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts
in Łódź. In 2004 she graduated from the Faculty of Clothing Design. In 1930, one of the
world’s first museums of modern art was established in Łódź, promoting the avant-garde art
of the 20th century. Ranita spent a lot of time in this museum.

The university in Łódź and visits to the museum shaped Ranita’s sensitivity to new forms. The
patron of the university, Władysław Strzemiński, and his wife Katarzyna Kobro were
associated with the constructivist movement. They were some of the best-known and
influential Polish artists in the world. Strzemiński was a student of Malevich himself.

Constructivism, in addition to new concepts in the field of aesthetics, graphics, fashion,
architecture, also had a social aspect: it promoted women’s equality, taking care of their
appearance, healthy living, egalitarianism, etc. Aestheticism and art were to actively co-create
the modern world.

During this period, women began to realize themselves as creators, designers, etc. An
example is Katarzyna Kobro. There are many outstanding women who came out of the
shadows at that time. Alexander Rodchenko’s wife, Varvara Stepanova, came up with a
modern sports suit.

Ranita worked for 9 years as a clothing designer in the largest Polish sports fashion company
4F. The clothes had to be functional, unified, and simple in their visual message. Designing
suits for Olympic teams, she met these challenges with great success. Polish athletes dressed
by her stood on the podium next to the national team, for which the outfits were designed by
outstanding world designers, including Stella McCartney.

The achievements of the constructivists and their ideas are alive in Ranita’s projects. Today,
“imbued” with these ideas, it promotes an active lifestyle and clothing that is supposed to be
used by women to strengthen their self-confidence, agency, and to improve their social and
professional position. They are supposed to have a positive effect on their emotions and state
of mind. Nice design is no longer enough for women today.