Biography

For 30 years Olivier Strelli has been drawing us into a world of subtile materials and tints accentuated by the use of original prints.

Italian by origin, born in the Belgian Congo in 1946, Olivier Strelli would be bathed throughout his adolescence in a universe colored by the palettes of Africa. It is his father, director of a "boubous" printing factory, who would pass on the passion for textile.

After receiving his baccalaureate in Belgium, Strelli enrolls in a textile school in Tournai and completes his studies by earning a post graduate degree from the London School of Economics. In 1969 he would return to Zaire, his land of inspiration.

After four years of solid apprenticeship at the Calico Printers Association, and tempted more and more by design, he returns to Belgium. There, in 1974, he decides to throw himself into prêt-à-porter and founds his business, la Nissim s.a. With the ambition of making color acceptable to "the northern people," he attacks first the masculine niche by introducing shirts in a more relaxed style.

In 1976 he presents his first designs to SEHM and to the Woman's Salon of Prêt-à-Porter in Paris. Success comes immediately: 24,000 shirts are literally fought over. Encouraged by this enthusiasm, he continues on his path. Assurance aiding, he introduces his first suit coats in apple, russet, straw and coral.
His marriages of materials and colors are unanmioiusly received. In 1980, he creates his first collection, extending the line to include complete silhouettes. 1984 marks the birth of his first exclusive boutique.

A sales strategy for all of Europe, as well as the United States and the Orient, is then developed. Strelli and his team create the signature "22 OCTOBER" in 1988, aimed at young and relaxed women.

Sabena Airlines calls upon Olivier Strelli in 1989 to design their air hostess uniforms. Strelli always moves forward. Since January 1994 he has shown his collection with "Circuit Créateurs Hommes," which unfolds in Paris. Due to the awarding of licenses, the line develops just as well outside prêt-à-porter .

Today, Olivier Strelli is crowned by international success and is a figurehead of Belgian creativity in the fashion world.

Designer

Olivier Strelli

Management

Producer

Nissim S.A
14/16, rue de la Roue
1000 Brussels, Belgium
T : +32 (0)2 512 78 53
F : +32 (0)2 512 77 58
olivier@strelli.be