Story of OTTOBRE
Dear Visitor,
How wonderful that you are interested in our story! Let’s start right from the beginning.
I was born in a family where handicrafts, such as sewing, knitting, weaving and woodwork, were an integral part of daily life and where art and culture were highly appreciated. I grew up in a creative and inspiring environment, and perhaps because of that I have always loved drawing as well as colors, fabrics and yarns. As a child I designed paper doll clothes and sewed dresses for fashion dolls. In my teens I made clothes both for myself and for my siblings and friends.
After studying textile and fashion design and graduating as a designer, my hobby became my profession. I started a family and began to provide design services to the Finnish clothing industry. We founded our own fashion design studio, Studio Tuumat Oy, in 1987. During the first years of operation, we launched our own colorful collection of children’s cotton clothes that were designed in an eco-friendly way and made locally in a small dressmaker’s shop. So we were actually producing a collection whose concept was decades ahead of its time. Read more about our philosophy of five E’s.
We opened our brick-and-mortar OTTOBRE shop in 1997 and, at the same time, began to develop a collection of sewing patterns for children and adults. The first volume of the OTTOBRE design® kids magazine was published in the year 2000 in Dutch, Finnish and German. The magazines were soon being sold at newsstands and fabric stores worldwide. The choice of language versions was supplemented with the Swedish and English editions (in 2002 and 2003 respectively), and with the French and Spanish editions (in 2013 and 2014 respectively). In 2006, we started publishing a pattern magazine for women twice a year. During the years 2017 to 2019 we also published the OTTOBRE design® family magazine with patterns for the whole family, including men.
Today, almost 40 years later, our small design studio has grown into an international publishing company. This journey has required courage, perseverance, creativity, vision and, of course, uncompromising professionalism. OTTOBRE design® patterns have become favorites among sewing enthusiasts worldwide and are also appreciated by craft professionals. Our patterns, together with detailed sewing instructions, are suitable for all, from beginners to more experienced sewers.
We intend to continue creating high-quality, environmentally conscious designs that are both timeless and practical. Our designs are playful and cheerful with a relaxed Scandinavian air. When designing children’s clothes our own experiences as mothers and grandmothers are invaluable. We also appreciate ideas and requests for patterns from our customers and are happy to carry them out. The OTTOBRE woman® patterns are designed for women of all ages and sizes. We hope that they inspire you to sew well-fitting clothes that make you feel comfortable and happy.
In 2025, we continue operating as a family business and employ, in addition to our family members, a large number of skilled freelancers. We are already involving a third generation in our operations as young models and perhaps soon also as designers. Our collections are created in our small studio in Northern Finland, close to the Arctic Circle. In the same building, we also have a shop that sells fabrics, yarns and sewing supplies. A warm welcome awaits everyone who pops in the shop, whether an old customer or a passing visitor from further afield.
Over the years, we have acquired an extensive international network of like-minded customers, retailers and cooperation partners. The responsibility for our business operations is gradually being shifted to the younger members of the family through the ongoing generational change. Hence fresh, interesting ideas are forthcoming.
Explore our collections! We are sure that you will find inspiring patterns to satisfy your sewing needs.
Tuula Hepola
Designer, Editor-in-Chief
