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Tine Mollatt grew up amongst, and in between theatre stages and old houses, new places. Four years old in the ballet studio, ten years old on stage at the theatre, seventeen years old sewing costumes for the Opera. Every place a new fairy tale. Every dressing room a whole new universe. New scents, new materials. Uncovering costumes from days past, hanging in closets, folded in chests. Laces, capes, sequins, silk. Costumes that came to life at night, on stage. By actresses and opera singers. The old master pieces, created to be used over and over, tailored to fit the next artist, the next play. A Danish poet once wrote: Our childhood is a source from which we ladle our whole life. For founder and creator of by Ti Mo, Tine Mollatt, this was where it all started.
On a peak above the majestic streets of beautiful Frogner, Oslo, lies the grand brick villa, built for the famous physicist Fredrik Georg Gade in 1889, drawn by one of Tines ancestors, Paul Due. A house with great history in its walls, and now house of by Ti Mo. Ever since 2004 Tine Mollatt’s vision was clear. Crystal clear: No financial investors, no bank loans, no compromising of the values she believes in. Merely build it her way. From the bottom up. One brick at the time. With a vision like this one has to know the art of figures as well as the art of tailoring and design. Luckily, for Tine numbers and creativity go hand in hand. It is this combination of a clear vision and her diverse skills that has brought by Ti Mo to its success. After years in the commercial industry Tine needed time to think about what was important to her. She no longer wanted to play their game. She had her own persuasion. To create true and honest women’s clothing, built upon her values and love for the craftsmanship of tailoring. Hence the heart shaped logo, hence her initials representing the brands name.
As in her childhood, Tine still travels from place to place, seeking inspiration and growth. Whether hunting down exquisite vintage treasures at fairs and markets or visiting opera houses and galleries, even overlooking the process of creating her own materials, the details, the hand sewn elements, the high quality; the whole adventure nurtures her passion towards her profession. On every step of the way Tine has full oversight and involvement, from the drawings on her desk, right out to the sales point. Tine Mollatt’s holistic approach manifests itself through every step involved in creating the perfect piece of garment. It all starts within. That’s why at by Ti Mo a life coach has been involved from the very start. A mentor for the employees. A guidance to approach every aspect of life and to help create understanding that all things are related. This is something Tine also greatly believes in. She feels the world is getting smaller and smaller for each day. More globalized and interdependent. Everything from politics, to economics to culture is becoming more universal as we speak. We are all connected to each other in more ways than we can imagine.
For Tine truthfulness and honesty are also guiding beacons. She does not believe in exploitation of any kind to reach her goals. Not towards the people involved on the way, nor towards the animals that provide materials or towards mother earth. She believes in sustainability on all levels. She believes the time of mass consumption is soon to be past. She believes in high quality clothing that’s long lasting. She believes there is a right way to approach the calculation of costs, without cutting any corners. She believes in the value that lies within the garment and she believes in the masterful skill that lies in tailoring.
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