ONCE there was a festive table was founded by Justyna Dembowski and Johanna Hößle, born from a shared idea and a deep love for textiles filled with meaning. From the beginning, the intention was clear: to transform handembroidered festive table linens into garments that carry their stories forward.
These textiles were once created with great care and patience, often by women whose names we do not know. Stitch by stitch, they invested time, skill and devotion into fabrics made for special moments; tables prepared for gatherings, celebrations, conversations and shared lives.
Around these tables, people came together.
They laughed, talked, celebrated, mourned.
The tablelinens were silent witnesses to connection, closeness and everyday rituals filled with meaning.
After Justyna’s passing, the journey continued. ONCE is now carried forward by Johanna.
Guided by the shared vision with which it began.
We believe this lives on.
When these fabrics are transformed into clothing, their energy changes. But it does not disappear. What once lay on a table now rests close to the body. What once gathered people now accompanies you through your own life.
Each ONCE piece is a quiet connection across time.
A dialogue between past and present.
Between the women who stitched before us and the women who wear these garments today.
Our work is guided by deep respect, for craftsmanship, for materials, and for the stories embedded in them. We create slowly, in small series, allowing each piece to remain one of a kind. Every garment is crafted in Nuremberg with care, intention and attention to detail.
Sustainability is not a concept we place at the centre. It is the foundation we stand on. Working with existing textiles, valuing what already exists, and honouring the time and labour within them feels natural to us.
ONCE there was a festive table is an invitation.
To take a seat.
To feel connected.
To wear a piece that carries memory, care and quiet strength. And to continue the story in your own way.
LOVING, COURAGEOUS, HUMBLE
