Natasza Sikora - Becoming NiuMe

Energetic, positive, and hardworking, 17-year-old Natasza Sikora defies all stereotypes of a “typical” lazy teenager. She lives in Warsaw, Poland, and is a young fashion designer with her own brand called “NiuMe.” The name of her brand is a tribute to the fact that when she first created it, she became a new, better version of herself—it marked the start of her new life. She hopes that everyone wearing her clothing becomes the version of themselves they aspire to be.

Unconventionally enough, Natasza started her brand when she was just 12 years old. At that age, while I was playing with Barbies, she was already pursuing her passion. Funnily enough, Barbie movies also played a role in inspiring her to start the brand—they planted the idea in her head.

When asked about her favorite piece of clothing she has designed during her surprisingly long career for someone her age, she tells me, “It was my first design, called Black Hands. When I was 12, the day before the most important person in my life passed away, I dreamt about black hands. When I woke up, I looked up its meaning, and it symbolized the path to success. So, I created a project titled Black Hands.” The most important person in her life was her grandfather. She describes him as incredibly authentic, influential, and inspirational in his own career. After his passing, she diversified her sources of inspiration—now, she draws from paintings, nature, and the world around her. “I can look at this cactus and design a project,” she says.

For me personally, her motivation is the most astonishing aspect of her character. I have never witnessed her complain, be negative, or back down from a challenge. Where does her drive come from? The sentence she lives by is: “Just believe, because everything is possible if you just believe.” It is both her personal motto and the mission of her brand—to inspire people to believe in themselves and in others.

Natasza aspires to continue her journey by pursuing higher education in London, Dubai, or New York City, aiming to give herself the best possible chances of making a name for herself in the highly competitive fashion industry. How does she plan to do it? “I am very authentic, I am very open, I am very creative. I love colors and new experiences, and I believe that is a plus for me.” She has her brand, her mission, and her goals, and she is determined to achieve them.

Being a part of the Polish designers’ mentoring program, Paprocki & Brzozowski, has given her the opportunity to have a very productive year. Every month, this highly selective program provides its members with resources and encouragement to develop their craft, collaborate with models, and showcase their designs on the runway.

When asked about her dream celebrity or model to wear her creations, Natasza gave a heartwarming answer: “My mom.” Her mother plays a significant role in supporting her career, acting as her manager—though not yet a paid one, a situation Natasza hopes to change in the future.

And how does she want people to feel when wearing her clothes? “Free. I think freedom is the most important value in life because when you feel free, you can truly be yourself.” Her brand’s logo, featuring wings, represents this core belief in freedom. However, she is planning a rebranding and will be updating her logo to better reflect her vision. She wants the phrase “Just believe” to be her legacy—something she passes on with every piece of clothing she designs. A strong motif of hope resonates throughout her brand.

In the next five years, she is determined to create and sell a collection while saving money for her university education. How does a working teenager maintain the sacred work-life-school balance that even many adults struggle with? Throughout the week, she focuses on school, the history of fashion, and fashion studies in general. On weekends, she devotes herself to creative work.

She is most inspired by the brand Chanel because its creator, Gabrielle Chanel, was deeply focused on her work and goals.

One of the first things people notice about Natasza is her beautiful, long hair, nearly reaching her waist, which she often wears in a ponytail. But of course, it serves a purpose—she is growing it out with the intention of cutting and selling it when she turns 18 as yet another way to fund her education. Resourceful is the perfect word to describe her.

In the midst of all of Natasza’s ambitions, one of her life goals is completely unrelated to fashion—she dreams of climbing Mount Everest. Despite her already packed schedule, she still finds time to train regularly in multiple sports, including boxing, dancing, running, and Pilates. And since time is a finite resource, she has a simple solution for how to do it all: “I don’t sleep.”

As a teenager who thrives on sleeping in, for me, not sleeping isn’t even an option. Of course, I am biased, as one of Natasza’s closest friends. But the truth is, everyone who meets her is immediately captivated and infected by her energy. Although I only met her less than a year ago during an international summit in Washington, we have grown incredibly close. And with every new thing I learn about her, I continue to be amazed at how someone so young can have everything so thoroughly figured out.

Natasza Sikora is the kind of person who makes you want to achieve your goals—just as she will undoubtedly achieve hers