Richard Rozbora

The talented Slovak fashion designer Richard Rozbora was born in 1975 in Helsinki, Finland. Working in diplomatic services, his parents made it possible for him to know and, due to the long time stays, also absorb the life style and culture of a number of totally different countries. Several years spent in Mongolia, his frequent visits to China and Russia, his studies in Prague, Bratislava, Cyprus and London all added to the experience that shaped his extraordinary personality.

After two years of architecture, interior design and urban studies at FA STU in Bratislava from 1995-1997, Richard Rozbora left with his parents for Cyprus. The flair for arts and his close relation to fashion led him to Frederick Institute of Technology in Nicosia , from1997-1998. Cyprus not only provided a new and inspiring environment for him but, as a former British colony, also the tradition of English fine tailoring. After a year in Cyprus he was admitted to the "Harvard of fashion design" - St.Martin's College of Art & Design in London, graduating in 2001 after completing his dissertation and his final collection. St.Martin's College is a world famous school boasting some well-known names in fashion design like John Galliano, Alexander McQueen or Stella McCartney as its graduates.

Without any doubt the university studies were for Richard Rozbora an important step into the world of fashion. Whilst still at college he won numerous prestigious awards for his unique designs. He won the scholarship at Frederick Institute of Technology in the "Miss Cyprus evening collection" competition. In "Nescafé Club Wear", another competition of young designers, he was awarded a special prize in the category of "Best Foreign Designer". As a member of the art team and the best fashion show organizer he won the first prize in "Laurel Award of International Students House" in London and the second prize in "ARTOZ paper competition" with his paper model. The dress which brought him success was made of 720 cut out paper leaves arranged in such a way to create a plastic pattern.

After completing his studies the talented graduate was offered the position of a technician by the college, which was the job that Alexander McQueen had also done. Richard Rozbora worked with the hat designer Nick Smith, whose hat creations are worn by Madonna among others. He was responsible for the studio and the collection of the designer Robert Cary - Williams for Spring-Summer 2002 at London Fashion Week, he designed the outfits for the American music band Fisher Spooner for their U.S. and Great Britain tour and he was also credited with the outfits worn for the live performance by the So Solid Crew band at Brit Awards.

The year 2003 brought Richard Rozbora to the Slovak fashion scene. He dressed 12 finalists of the Slovak "Model of 2003" and he became board member of "TOP TREND" competition held by the editor of Móda revue magazine in co-operation with Výstaviště Trenčín - the town of fashion.

In late 2003 after many successful shows abroad he presented the Haute Couture collection of exclusive evening wear under his own brand name Richard Rozbora in Bratislava, which raised his public profile greatly.

The honour and appreciation of Richard Rozbora's achievements was also expressed by the British Embassy in Bratislava which invited him to participate in the campaign called "Crossroads of Ideas" related to the accession of Slovakia to the E.U. including "Celebrate New Europe Party". As an "envoy" in fashion he also worked on the U.K. promotion as a partner of the extended E.U.

In early 2004 he started working for the famous fashion house of TAIZA as the new designer of the TAIZA Couture collection line autumn-winter 2004/5. At a brief fashion show held within the grand presentation of the new TAIZA Metamorphosis collection by Katerina Baloun in Slovanský dům in Prague he launched part of his own designer's collection of Haute Couture for spring-summer 2004 for the Czech public. The positive response from the attending guests and journalists suggested just how much his addition will benefit the TAIZA House.